Collaboration leads to protection of 4,000 acres in Sullivan County
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Nearly 4,000 acres in southwest Indiana considered a cornerstone for biodiversity, clean water and flood mitigation have been permanently protected thanks to a collaboration of nonprofit and government partners.
Now called the Busseron Creek Fish & Wildlife Area, the 3,950 acres near the U.S. military’s Lake Glendora Test Facility in Sullivan County was once part of the Minnehaha Fish and Wildlife Area, according to the Bloomington-based Conservation Law Center.
“Powered by partnerships, the permanent protection of Busseron Creek Fish & Wildlife Area is a win for conservation and a win for Indiana, returning nearly 4,000 acres of land for all Hoosiers to enjoy,” Indiana Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Bortner said in a news release. “Whether you enjoy hunting, fishing, or viewing Indiana’s magnificent wildlife, we look forward to welcoming Hoosiers and visitors alike to Busseron Creek when the property opens to the public in 2025.”
The land was owned by a subsidiary of Peabody Energy. A 191-acre slice listed for sale caught the attention of the Conservation Law Center’s Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape initiative in 2022, the nonprofit said.
A collaboration among the Conservation Law Center, The Conservation Fund, the Department of Defense, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Walmart’s Acres for America program and the state of Indiana secured the entire parcel, which was valued at more than $12 million. The property was recently transferred from The Conservation Fund to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
“This project exemplifies what can be accomplished when organizations unite under a shared vision,” said Michael Spalding, coordinator of the Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape initiative. “Protecting this land secures environmental benefits for generations while strengthening national security and the region’s resilience.”
The Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape initiative, led by the Conservation Law Center, is a collaboration of federal agencies, local governments and nonprofits that aims to support agriculture, forestry and conservation near Indiana’s four military installations in southern Indiana.
“The Conservation Fund was glad to partner with SISL to secure this important property for conservation,” said Emy Brawley, a vice president and regional director for The Conservation Fund, which is based in Arlington, Virginia. “Protecting a site this large provides so much for so many. From recreation-based economic development to wildlife habitat to military readiness – this is the business of conservation, and it’s where TCF shines.”