The Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the
Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Hamilton County Parks
Department opened the Strawtown public access site on the White
River on May 24.
The opening commemorates the successful cooperation between
federal, state and local government agencies and private citizens in
restoring the White River
"The outstanding support of dedicated citizens was instrumental
to the speed and effectiveness of the efforts to restore the White
River," said DNR Director Kyle Hupfer. "Organizations such as the
White River Watchers, Friends of the White River, White River Rescue
and the White River Citizens Advisory Council contributed heavily to
the effort."
The Strawtown access site is built on property leased from the
Hamilton County Parks Department by the DNR. The access site, which
consists of a boat ramp, an ADA loading platform and parking area,
will be part of the future Lafayette Trace Park.
Funding for the project came from a portion of the $6.25 million
settlement in 2001 with Guide Corp. of Anderson and Crown
Environmental Group for contamination that impacted the White River
in Madison, Hamilton and Marion counties.
Restoration funds are managed through the Natural Resource
Damages Program and overseen by the natural resource trustees. DNR
and IDEM are state co-trustees and USFWS is the federal trustee. The
Natural Resource Trustees make unanimous decisions on how the
restoration funds are spent. The White River Citizens Advisory
Council, composed of public and private officials as well as
citizens, acts as an advisory board to the trustees on project
funding.
The access site is among more than 70 enhancement projects along
White River that include nearly 550 acres in property acquisitions
and conservation easements, over 2,000 acres of habitat restoration,
eight upgraded/new public access sites, several studies, fish
restocking and numerous community river cleanups.
"Community members, organizations and government staff are
working hard to clean up riverbanks, protect and restore habitat and
preserve White River for the public’s safe use and enjoyment," said
IDEM Commissioner Tom Easterly. "Today's unveiling is a celebration
of our partnerships and progress."
A map to the Strawtown site is available at:
http://www.in.gov/dnr/press/StrawtownPASmap.pdf
For more information, visit
http://www.in.gov/idem/
your_environment/wrcac/index.html.
