New preserve

“The Limberlost is life.”

Following a decision this week, it will remain so.

The Natural Resources Commission on Tuesday approved the dedication of Limberlost Swamp Nature Preserve, located in northern Jay County and southern Adams County.

Through the 1967 Nature Preserves Act, areas dedicated are considered “living museums, natural resources which contain a record of Indiana's original natural character.” In the case of the newest nature preserve, the dedication marks continued progress toward bringing back the natural character chronicled by naturalist and author Gene Stratton-Porter — she is quoted above from her book “A Girl of the Limberlost” — before it was drained for agricultural purposes at the turn of the 20th century.

“It means permanent protection,” said east central regional ecologist Ryan Smith, who works out of Limberlost State Historic Site in Geneva and covers a 14-county area that includes Jay County. “The dedication as a nature preserve puts down some extra stipulations as to how it can and cannot be used and that it will remain a natural area.”

The process of dedicating a nature preserve can be pursued by a state agency that has jurisdiction, another unit of government or a private land owner. Those interested in receiving that designation must lay out articles designating management, use, development, transfer, public access and other details regarding how the property will be managed.

The Limberlost Swamp Nature Preserve covers nearly 720 acres in Jay and Adams counties with a small parking area for access to 3 miles of walking trails on the county line just west of U.S. 27. It features “early successional emergent wetlands with upland and floodplain forest. Also present are tree plantings and shrublands that provide mid-successional habitat.”

“Now is a pretty timely time to recognize this area, because it is supporting a large number of migrating waterfowl coming through,” said Smith.

“At this time of year, it’s really invaluable for waterfowl and other birds that are migrating. …

“I was actually out there this afternoon and saw a large flock of American white pelicans. They utilize the area as they migrate through.”

Other species commonly seen in the area include dabbling ducks, such as mallards and northern pintails. Bald eagles also live in the area.

While the property was already owned and managed by Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the designation as a nature preserve will draw some extra attention to the area. That includes placing it on the official map of 298 nature preserves in the state.

“For the Limberlost conservation area as a whole ... having two dedicated nature preserves, especially with the fame of the name Limberlost involved, I think it will attract more attention,” said naturalist Curt Brunette, referencing the nearby Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve. “I think it’s a great, great thing, for sure.”

Limberlost — the state historic site indicates the area is named for “Limber Jim,” who got lost in the swamp — becomes the third dedicated nature preserve in Jay County along with Loblolly and Bell-Croft Woods Nature Preserve, which has an access road on county road 300 South about three quarters of a mile west of Indiana 67.

Two hundred years ago, the Limberlost Swamp was a dense area that covered about 13,000 acres in Jay and Adams counties. But upon the arrival of settlers, the area was cleared and drained to be used as farmland.

Starting in the early 1990s, local resident Ken Brunswick started a restoration effort that led to the formation of conservation groups Limberlost Swamp Remembered and Friends of the Limberlost. More than 1,000 acres had been acquired for restoration by 2002, with drainage tiles blocked or removed. And 10 years later, Loblolly Marsh — its 463 acres are accessible from county road 250 West in northern Jay County — was dedicated as the state’s 250th nature preserve.

The hope is that restoration of the Limberlost Swamp area will continue.

“Long-term, there is always a plan to acquire land and expand because this was historically a very large … wetland,” said Smith. “And that has been mostly converted to agriculture. As we go forward, the goal is to expand this into other suitable habitats around the area and restore those wetlands.”

That includes the possibility of eventually connecting the Limberlost and Loblolly nature preserves, which are currently separated by less than a mile and a half.

“While any restoration is important, habitat size, and the less fragmented a habitat is, the more valuable it is to birds, wildlife and other organisms,” Smith added.

The Natural Resources Commission is made up of the director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the chair of the DNR’s advisory council, the president of the Indiana Academy of Science, the heads of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Destination Development Corporation and Indiana Department of Transportation and six governor appointees.