Wabash River Program at Terre Haute


The Wabash Valley Audubon Society and the Terre Haute Parks Department are hosting The Nature Conservancy for a program highlighting the Wabash River. The program will be at the Dobbs Park Native American Museum, 5170 E Poplar Dr. in Terre Haute on Wednesday January 21 at 7:00 p.m.  All are welcome and light refreshments will be provided.  No reservations are required.

For more than two centuries, the Wabash River has served as a vital conduit for trade, travel and settlement in the Midwest. Biologically, the Wabash is a treasure chest of rare and endangered species and a critical migratory path and stop over area for many bird species. But how critical is the Wabash? Kent Wamsley, The Nature Conservancy Wabash Rivers Initiative Field Representative, will cover the basics of why The Nature Conservancy is interested in the Wabash River.  Discuss current status of the river based upon each segment of the Wabash from Indiana/Ohio state lines to its confluence with the Ohio River.  Touch briefly on what role TNC feels that it will play in regards to the Wabash River.  Finally touch base on Best Management Practices that will be utilized along with an example of new technologies that will all play a key role in preserving and protecting the Wabash River and its watershed.

 

From its source in Ohio, the Wabash River Watershed encompasses 33,195 square miles in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.  The Wabash flows freely for 411 miles (661 km) which makes it the longest stretch of free-flowing river in the United States east of the Mississippi River.  The Nature Conservancy contracted with the Midwest Biodiversity Institute to synthesize historical data collected from the Wabash River and its major tributaries and used this data to create a comprehensive Wabash River biological assessment.  Mr. Wamsley will share the results of this assessment. 

 

The Wabash River assessment is still in the works but will identified what animal and plant species depend on the river for habitat and sustenance and where they are found along the river. The assessment also has identified the stresses on the river system, as well as the sources of those stresses.  This is not new data, just a formalization of past data combined into one single format.

 

The portion of the Wabash River near Terre Haute supports good populations of sensitive fish species such as the Blue Sucker and Shovelnose Sturgeon, and large sport fishes such as the Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, and species of bass including Smallmouth, Spotted, and Largemouth.  An emerging challenge is the increase in populations of invasive alien species such as the Bighead Carp and Silver Carp.  There are approximately 61 species of plants, animals, and habitats that are considered endangered, threatened, or rare in this reach of the river.

 

Not only is the Wabash a critical biodiversity resource for Indiana, it is also globally significant, with over 400 occurrences of rare species and communities within the drainage.  Directly and through its tributaries, the Wabash River drains roughly 75% of the State of Indiana.  Seventy-three Indiana counties and many southeastern Illinois counties lie within this watershed.  Over 700,000 Hoosiers live within 15 miles of the Wabash River. 

 

Please come and join us for this very informative program!