Nature Conservancy Purchases 662 acres in Steuben County
Acquisition will protect old growth forest
ANGOLA, INDIANA — July 2009 — Located among the rolling hills and fields of northeast Indiana lies a beautiful nature preserve called Douglas Woods, owned by The Nature Conservancy. Fish Creek, a high-quality stream home to several species of important fish and mussels, runs through the preserve. Recently, the Conservancy and American Electric Power (AEP) announced the addition of 662 acres to Douglas Woods, which include 100 acres along Fish Creek.
AEP included this project as part of a mitigation plan required by a consent decree under the Clean Air Act. Upon approval by EPA, AEP provided partial funding for the acquisition. AEP’s operating company within the state is Indiana Michigan Power (I&M).
Containing one of the last remaining old-growth forest stands in northeast Indiana, Douglas Woods boasts hundreds of acres of old growth forest. The diameters of some of these truly majestic trees reach nearly four feet with canopies easily topping the 100 foot mark. Silver maples mingle with a variety of oak and hickory trees. The remaining acreage is comprised of younger forest, old fields and restored wetlands.
“The Nature Conservancy has identified Fish Creek as an ‘ark’ of biodiversity in the Upper St. Joseph River Watershed, supporting what is probably the most diverse community of freshwater mussels, fish, and associate fauna in the Great Lakes Basin,” said Larry Clemens, Conservation Director for the Conservancy’s Indiana Chapter. “The Conservancy is grateful to AEP for their financial support to conserve this important wildlife habitat for the future.”
“This property is a wonderful area that typifies Indiana’s natural beauty,” said Helen J. Murray, I&M president and chief operating officer. “AEP and I&M are pleased to partner in this effort to protect it.”
Douglas Woods’ forests, buttonbush and sedges, along with its wetlands and ponds, all hang a welcome sign out for a nesting colony of Great Blue Herons, a variety of hawks, pheasants, and deer as well as many amphibians. The neighborhood can be noisy on a warm spring day with the calls of frogs, hawks and herons. Some of the quieter residents include the endangered Blanding’s turtle and the Blue-spotted salamander. The preserve also includes part of Fish Creek, known for several species of mussels including three listed as federally endangered.
Plans for the 662-acre addition include wetland restoration, reforestation and soil hydrology enhancement (such as the removal of drainage tiles, ditches and other structures that affect the hydrology of the property while protecting the interests of neighbors and complying with local drainage laws).
Specific trees to be planted during forest restoration include Red Oak, White Oak, Bur Oak, Swamp White Oak, Black Oak, Black Walnut, Hackberry, Tuliptree, Black Cherry and native Dogwood species.
The Nature Conservancy will retain ownership of the acquisition and will be responsible for its management and restoration.
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.
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