Retrospect: Restoration process began

Twenty-five years ago this week, a local swamp started its comeback.

The May 29, 1996, edition of The Commercial Review featured coverage of a ceremony during which state and local officials broke drainage tiles to allow the flooding of 188 acres of the Limberlost Swamp as part of a wetlands restoration project.

“I feel good about it,” said rural Bryant resident Ken Brunswick, who spearheaded the effort.

A Heritage Trust grant allowed the purchase of 188 acres of the former swamp to be purchased as part of a wetlands restoration project. Matching funds were provided by Friends of the Limberlost and Ropchan Foundation. Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District was also involved in the project.

The swamp once stretched across almost 13,000 acres of Jay and Adams counties and was the source of inspiration for Hoosier author and naturalist Gene Stratton-Porter. It had been drained around the turn of the century to allow for agricultural production.

Brunswick noted that advances in farm drainage had resulted in new flooding problems for the area.

“Upland drainage has put water back into bottom land that had been farmed,” said Brunswick. “Historically, a lot of areas that can’t be farmed now were farmed before upland drainage was improved.”

Among those in attendance was Richard A. Gantz, executive director of Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites.

“Our division hopes to see marked changes in about one year’s time,” said Gantz.

He said the swamp would eventually host education programs and nature hikes.

“With it restored, we’re going to have an area to make use of to educate the public about the Limberlost and wetlands and general,” agreed Brunswick.