Indiana WRP Success Story

Wetland Restoration in Muscatatuck River Basin

Thirteen hundred acres of marginal cropland are being restored as wetlands in the Muscatatuck River Basin in Indiana.

Forty-nine of the 1300 acres are part of a 1000 acre farm in Eastern Jackson County. The land was enrolled in the Wetlands Reserve Program in the fall of 1997, and restoration was completed September of 1998. The picture to the left shows the site before constuction.

The crop field that was restored was typically planted to soybeans because the field is usually too wet when corn needs to be planted. Springs located upstream of the site contribute to the wet conditions. The landowner indicated that the field has become wetter and wetter over the years due to beaver damming ditches downstream of the site. In fact, in 1997 a crop was not planted as a result of increased moisture.

When the landowner became aware of the WRP he thought that the 49 acre area would make an "excellent and natural site" for a wetland. A wetland restoration plan was developed with assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The restoration plan is a dynamic document, which provides a guide to operate and maintain installed practices. Prior to restoration, NRCS Engineering Technicians surveyed work to be done, and then prepared an engineering design. Once the landowner approved the design plans, they were reviewed with the landowner's son who is in the construction business. Restoration construction was completed within three days.

The design included a short dike two-foot in height and approximately 600 feet long. The restored area will have water ranging in depth from two feet down to saturated soil conditions. The majority of the water will have a depth of six to twelve inches. A water control structure (shown left) was put in the dike to allow the water level to be varied throughout the year. The total area with water on it will be approximately 25 acres. The remaining 24 acres will remain in woodland, which will act as a buffer for the restoration project.

The picture to the left shows the site after construction. When asked about what he planned to do with the site, the landowner said "that he would like to continue to develop the site into the best wetland that he can." He wants to be active in the management of the area by varying water levels and food sources for waterfowl and migratory birds. Although the landowner is not a hunter, he does enjoy observing the wildlife that use the restored area.

This restoration site is an excellent example of a landowner utilizing the WRP to take cropland that is marginally productive and restore it back to a highly productive wetland.

The site after a flood event in February 1999.	The site in August 2000.

Photographs courtesy of Jerry Roach, NRCS Indiana WRP Coordinator

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