Wabash River Report

Wabash River

Appendices

Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Appendix 4
Appendix 5a
Appendix 5b
Appendix 6
Appendix 7
Appendix 8
Appendix 9
Appendix 10

Public Wabash River Report

The public version of the Wabash River Report is also available. It also comes in two separate documents. Files are large and will take some time to load.

Public Wabash River Report, Part 1

Public Wabash River Report, Part 2

For more than two centuries, the Wabash River has served as a vital conduit for trade, travel and settlement in the Midwest. From it source in Ohio, the Wabash River Watershed encompasses 33,195 square miles that connect Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Not only is it the longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi, but it is ranked among the most diverse rivers in all of the United States. Biologically, the Wabash River is a treasure chest of rare and endangered species and a critical migratory path and stop over area for many bird species.

The Wabash is not only a critical biodiversity resource for Indiana, but is also globally significant. Over 400 occurrences of rare species and communities can be found within the drainage. As the Wabash River drains roughly 75% of Indiana and with over 700,000 Hoosiers living within 15 miles of it, it’s obvious why The Nature Conservancy and its partners are working hard to protect the water quality of the river as well as the species that rely on it.

The Nature Conservancy has identified the Wabash as one of the best opportunities to conserve a large river system The Wabash River and lower White River still contains a relative large proportion of its original fish fauna, although most are reduced in abundance compared to historical abundance and seven fish species have not been seen in recent years. In order to better understand the river, The Nature Conservancy contracted with the Midwest Biodiversity Institute to synthesize historical data collected from the Wabash and its major tributaries to create a comprehensive Wabash River biological assessment. The assessment has identified what animal and plant species depend on the river for habitat and sustenance and where they are found along the river. The evaluation also identified the stresses on the river system and where these sources lie.

The draft report is available in two formats, a condensed public report (in two parts) and a larger, more comprehensive technical report (in two parts with ten appendices). Once we receive comments and suggestions from our partners, the reports will be finalized and distributed via the this web page.

The Wabash River Draft Report

The Wabash River report has been separated into two files, both available in portable document format (pdf). Appendices to the report can be found in the right-hand column. Please be patient; the files are quite large and it will take some time to load.

Wabash River Report, Part I

Wabash River Report, Part II