Commission OKs New, Expanded Nature Preserves

The Wapi-nipi Nature Preserve is in Wayne County.

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission has approved a new nature preserve and the expansion of another. The Wapi-nipi Nature Preserve in Wayne County will be the 270th in the state. The commission also cleared the way for Moraine Nature Preserve in Porter County to nearly double in size with an addition.

The more than 114-acre Wapi-nipi Preserve was acquired with support from the Indiana Heritage Trust and the Bicentennial Nature Trust. It is located north of the Union County/Wayne County line and about 5 miles from Richmond. The preserve’s name comes from the Miami Indian word for the Whitewater River.

The Moraine Nature Preserve currently includes nearly 475 acres and will grow by over 400 with the the new addition. It’s northeast Valparaiso.