New property marks Indiana's 298th nature preserve

The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) approved the dedication of Limberlost Swamp Nature Preserve, which is located across Adams and Jay counties during its regularly scheduled bi-monthly meeting at Fort Harrison State Park today.

This 719.23-acre nature preserve includes a parking area and more than 3 miles of walking trails. A variety of birds can be found at the site, including short-eared owls, Northern harriers, waterfowl, migrating shorebirds, sandhill cranes, and bald eagles.

Indiana’s nature preserves provide permanent protection for significant natural areas within the state. The action increases the number of state-designated sites protected by the Nature Preserves Act to 298, representing more than 53,000 acres of protected land.

The NRC is an autonomous board that addresses topics pertaining to the DNR. More details on this and other actions are available here.

The next regularly scheduled NRC meeting is May 16, also at Fort Harrison State Park.

NRC members include the DNR director, heads of three other state agencies (Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Destination Development Corporation, and the Indiana Department of Transportation), six citizens appointed by the governor on a bipartisan basis, the chair of the DNR’s advisory council, and the president of the Indiana Academy of Science. The Academy of Science president and the agency heads, other than the DNR director, may appoint proxies to serve the commission in their absences.