Experience Otter Creek Brings Environmental Education to Markle Mill Park

Last week, Ouabache Land Conservancy hosted Experience Otter Creek at Markle Mill Park in North Terre Haute.

Attendees of all ages explored the diverse ecosystem of the Otter Creek Watershed through engaging demonstrations and activities, including wildlife tracks, invasive species, beekeeping, and more. Captivating presentations by Providence Wildlife Rehabilitation featured Henrietta the red-tailed hawk and Stirling the great horned owl, and IDEM demonstrated fish identification with electrofishing.

In addition to educational exhibits, attendees enjoyed a bounce house, and many took home free trees provided by Ouabache Land Conservancy. The event was made possible by the support of several partners and sponsors, including Purdue Extension, Vigo County Soil and Water Conservation District, Terre Haute Parks & Recreation, IDEM, Vigo County Parks & Recreation, Wabash Valley Audubon Society, Indiana State University, and the Wabash River Heritage Corridor Commission.

The event brought community members together to learn about the wonders of the Otter Creek Watershed.

Best Visual Storytellers

Ouabache Land Conservancy took home the award Best Visual Storytellers at Tablescapes 2025! The theme, designed by board member Denise Marie Sobieski and advisory board member Diana Hews, was “Enjoying 4 Seasons of Land Protection.” Their design reflected wonderful aspects of natural areas throughout the year.

Indiana Land Protection Alliance (ILPA) Spring Gathering

Ouabache Land Conservancy board members joined land trust professionals from across the state at Fort Harrison State Park for the ILPA Spring Gathering. Attendees enjoyed a morning hike through the park’s scenic trails before coming together for lunch at the Reddick and Sycamore shelters. The afternoon featured engaging peer group discussions in Executive Leadership, Fundraising/Development, Stewardship, Outreach and Programs, and Marketing and Communications. It was a valuable day of connection, learning, and collaboration among Indiana’s conservation community. We are so grateful for the wonderful people in our land trust community who care about the land 🌳🌱 and each other.

Indiana Big Trees

Written by OLC Board Member Phil Cox

As I write this, spring is in full swing with the beauty of dogwood and redbud blossoms having left us in favor of the greenery of amazing photosynthesizing leaves.  We are lucky to live in a state that has a diverse array of 101 species of native trees.  These trees (and also non-natives) are greatly expounded on in 101 Trees of Indiana (Indiana University Press) by Dr. Marion T. Jackson — one of the founders of Ouabache Land Conservancy (OLC) and the Indiana Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.  As you visit OLC nature preserves, you are encouraged to admire the big trees and maybe even suggest some for consideration to be included in the Indiana Big Tree Register, as the Indiana Division of Forestry continues to update the register.

Here’s how it works — The Indiana Division of Forestry documents the largest known specimen of each native tree species in Indiana.  To qualify for the register, a tree requires three measurements: 1) trunk circumference, (in inches) at 4 1/2 feet above the ground. 2) total height (in feet). 3) average crown spread (in feet).  The total size of a tree is calculated using this formula: circumference + height + 1/4 average crown spread. The individual tree of each Indiana native tree species with the highest total points will be that tree species’ big tree champion. All nominations will be reviewed as received, but only the nominations with the highest scores will be verified.  Nominations for all tree species, as well as the following species that do not have a current champion are being accepted:  Umbrella Magnolia and Canada Plum.  

The tallest listed Indiana tree is a 152-ft. Bitternut Hickory growing in Hamilton County, the largest in circumference is a 361-in (9.58 ft. in diameter) Silver Maple in Lawrence County, and the widest crown is a 224-ft Blackjack Oak in Vanderburg County.  Vanderburg County can also lay claim to being the Big Tree Capitol of Indiana with 19 species of champions.  To review the updated Indiana Big Tree Register, view detailed measurement instructions and nominate a tree, see https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/forestry-publications-and-presentations/indiana-big-tree-register.

Unfortunately, of the 561 species in the 2021 National Register of Champion Trees, there are no Indiana trees listed.  The surrounding four states have at least two each, with Ohio leading the way with 16.  However, a small consolation for Kentucky and Illinois is that they hold bragging rights as co-champions to the largest Ohio Buckeye trees in the nation.  For more information about the National Register, see https://www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/champion-trees-registry.

Jim Nardi with an Ironwood tree that scored 127.75 points. The current record is 131.41.

In 2025, I encourage everyone to look for big trees.  If you discover a big tree, please consider measuring it and submitting the online form to be the next big tree champion.  Measuring trees is a fun activity for young and old alike, even if it doesn’t measure up to the registry trees.  Myself and Jim Nardi experienced this as we measured an Ironwood and Sassafras for bigness at Atherton Island Natural Area this spring.  Nothing ventured nothing gained was our motto!  If you need help with this process, please contact OLC at ouabachelandconsevancy@gmail.com.  In addition, if your big tree is in Vigo County, TREES Inc. keeps a registry for all of the species of largest trees there. For more information about their Big Tree Registry, see: https://www.treesinc.org/projects.  

Even if you don’t start looking for big trees right away, now is the time to be thinking about planting the next big tree champions for future generations.  Indiana landowners can order inexpensive, high-quality tree and shrub seedlings from the Indiana DNR Division of Forestry nurseries. These seedlings are 1-, 2- and 3-year-old bare-root seedlings intended for conservation plantings: windbreaks, wildlife habitat, reforestation, erosion control and other conservation uses in Indiana.  Trees are available in multiples of 50 or 100; or in packets containing a mixture of species for different planting purposes like nuts, fine hardwoods, upland or bottomland or wildlife plantings.  I suggest that you start planning now and order as soon as possible in October to get the species you prefer for planting next spring.  For detailed information refer to the Indiana Division of Forestry tree seedling nurseries website at https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/tree-seedling-nurseries or call the Vallonia State Nursery at 812-358-3621.

Phil Cox with a Sassafras tree that scored 231 points.  The current record is a tree with 273.02 points.

Spring Emphemerals at Atherton Island Natural Area

Written by OLC Board Member Jim Nardi

As the spring ephemeral flowers finish blooming on the forest floor, the trees overhead are unfurling their tender young leaves.  I had often wondered why red oaks and white oaks received their names. At this time of year, the reason for assigning these names is clear:

The first leaves of red oaks are bright red; the first leaves of white oaks are a pale, ghostly green. 

First leaves of red oak.

First leaves of white oak.

On some of the white oaks, you will notice white, woolly balls dappled with red spots.  These are known as wool-sower galls that have a remarkable story to tell.    In a couple of weeks about 200 tiny gall wasps will emerge from each woolly ball.  The mother of these wasps emerged several weeks earlier from the leaf litter and deposited her eggs on a bud of the white oak.  The act of egg laying induced the white oak cells to form this elaborate and ornate gall that the oak would never have formed during its normal development.  The little wasp manipulates the hormones and genes of the white oak to awaken the oak’s latent creative abilities. 

Wool-sower gall of the gall wasp, Callirhytis seminator on a white oak twig.

The female gall wasp (left) and the male gall wasp (right) that emerge from the wool-sower gall in late May. 

All photographs taken on Liriodendron Loop trail at Atherton Island Natural Area. 

DNR Motus Tower Site Visit

Allisyn-Marie Gillet, State Ornithologist, and Rachelle Lange, Avian Technology Coordinator

OLC Board Members spent time with DNR this week, working to determine if a Motus tower would be a good fit at Atherton Island Natural Area.

After DNR's site visit, we enjoyed a nice hike listening for birds.

What is Motus?

Motus is an international research community working together to study the movement and behavior of birds, bats, and insects. These animals carry miniaturized tags that transmit information to stations placed across the landscape. This powerful conservation tool transforms how we understand and protect biodiversity.

It’s Warbler Migration Time!

Written By OLC Board member Denise Marie Sobieski; Photos by OLC Board Member Bill Mitchell

There are many reasons to love springtime, and the migration of warblers, birds of the family Parulidae, is one of them! If you visit any of the OLC nature preserves, you will likely see or hear warblers, a diverse group of active little birds, many of them with beautiful plumage and songs. Because warblers mainly feed on insects, they are found during our seasons of warm weather. Many of them flit among the high branches of the trees but look for others skulking in the vegetation much closer to the ground, like the Black and White Warbler who loves to crawl along the trunks and large branches of trees like a nuthatch. Look for these early migrants. Happy birding!

Black-and-white warbler

Northern parula

Louisiana waterthrush

Pine warbler

Black-throated green warbler

A Chilly Morning Hike with Indiana DNR!

Today, Ouabache Land Conservancy board members spent a perfect spring morning at Atherton Island Natural Area with Indiana Department of Natural Resources Director Alan Morrison, Director of the Division of Nature Preserves Ron Hellmich, and Indiana Land Protection Alliance Executive Director Andrea Huntington! During the hike, OLC board members shared information about this truly incredible place and our work.

We saw so many spring ephemerals - phlox, red trillium, trout lily, bellwort, cut-leaf toothwort, spring beauties, hepatica, bloodroot, dutchman's breeches, rue anemone, maidenhair ferns, and mayapples! And, we saw a tiny snake weaving through the grass!

Land Trusts Get 'Er Done!

Written by OLC board member Tom Zeller

The Hoosier State is served by twenty-two land trusts that collectively protect about 160,000 acres, nearly equal to the size of all the state forests combined. They provide Hoosiers with 127 miles of nature trails, 29 of which are universally accessible. The groups are powered by their 7,000 members and 1,600 volunteers. The groups have done the painstaking work of raising enough funds to hire about 52 paid staff. The oldest land trust in the state dates to 1960, the youngest to 2015.

For example, the Sycamore Land Trust was formed in Bloomington in 1990 and protects about 14,000 acres in the unglaciated hills of southwestern Indiana. The younger Ouabache Land Conservancy, based in Terre Haute, protects over 1,000 acres in six counties along the Wabash lowland (Ouabache is the French version of the name given the river by the Native Americans: Wabashiki). Further north, in the glacially created landscapes, land trusts protect dunes, bogs and prairies. One offers a home to a herd of buffalo. The Karst Conservancy protects caves (and bat habitat) as well as stewarding the surface lands above.

Nationally 1,281 land trusts offer nearly 10,000 miles of trails, 1,000 miles of which are universally accessible in the U.S. They have 6.3 million members, 233,000 volunteers, and 12,000 paid staff. The oldest dates to 1843, the youngest to 2020, with a median age of 34 years.

Land trusts are growing. The 61 million acres of land under land trust stewardship is up 33% since 2010. Protected land provides a variety of benefits: habitat for wildlife, cleaner water, reduced flooding, a connection to nature for humans, a natural classroom for all ages, a quiet mental and spiritual respite from everyday life, and increased resiliency from the impacts of climate change.

Because of land trusts, natural areas are nearby for you to visit. Get out there! And once you’ve enjoyed an outing, remember to support a land trust, by joining, donating, and or giving your time to help with the myriad tasks involved.

Sources:
Land Trust Alliance

Indiana Land Protection Alliance

The author was a founding member of Sycamore Land Trust and currently serves on the board of directors of Ouabache Land Conservancy.

Ouabache Land Conservancy Advisory Board Member to Speak at Wabash Valley Audubon Society Annual Meeting April 16

OLC Advisory Board member Dr. Jim Speer

The Wabash Valley Audubon Society will hold its annual meeting and dinner on Wednesday, April 16th at the Vigo County History Center, 929 Wabash Ave, Terre Haute. The guest speaker will be Dr. Jim Speer, ISU Professor of Geography and Geology (and OLC Advisory Board member!), discussing “Tree-Ring Research & Climate Change in 2025”.  Speer will discuss some of the recent evidence of climate change and how tree-ring research contributes to our knowledge of climate change through time. He will conclude with some local predictions for the Midwest of what will happen in the coming decades related to changes in temperature, precipitation, and vegetation shifts that will likely affect bird habitat.  Speer is also author of a 3-book fiction exposé series concerning climate change, sustainability, and agriculture. Those books The Storm, The Chase, The Fire, as well as, Fundamentals of Tree-Ring Research will be available beforehand at a book signing.  The annual meeting is sponsored by Bird Watcher’s Digest. 

The social hour, silent auction, live violin music, and book signing start at 5:30 pm with dinner catered by Piloni’s Italian Restaurant at 6:30 pm, and Dr. Speer’s presentation to follow at 7:30 pm.  Members and non-members alike are invited to this event for $25 per person. Seating is limited and advance reservations are required by April 11th by registering online via https://bit.ly/WVASDinner or contacting Carissa Lovett at 812-877-1095.  In addition, those wishing to donate silent auction items please contact Carissa by April 4th for details. The Wabash Valley Audubon Society serves Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo counties. To learn more about the Wabash Valley Audubon Society like their Facebook page or visit their website at www.wabashvalleyaudubonsociety.org .

OLC Joins the Indiana Land Protection Alliance Bi-Annual Statehouse Luncheon

On March 19, OLC attended the Indiana Land Protection Alliance (ILPA) bi-annual Statehouse Luncheon, which brings together land trust members, state legislators, and leaders. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect, share our conservation vision, and celebrate the impact of our work.

OLC President Alysa Morley, who also serves on the ILPA board, is pictured here with fellow ILPA board members.

OLC President Alysa Morley with Indiana State Representative Tonya Pfaff.

OLC President Alysa Morley with Indiana State Representative Tim Yocum.

OLC President Alysa Morley with Indiana State Representative Bob Heaton.

Students Helping to Design Parking Area

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology freshman civil engineering students met with members of the OLC Board of Directors and Advisory Board on March 17th.  These students will apply their problem-solving skills to design a new parking area at Bushnell’s North Star Woods in anticipation of its grand opening later this year.

Pictured (from left): Britton Luther, Dr. Michelle Marincel Payne, Audrey Sheldon, Julia Burt, Nova Gladden, Brendan Kearns, and Eli McIntyre.

Ouabache Land Conservancy 15th Annual Celebration Awards

Each year at the Ouabache Land Conservancy Annual Celebration, two awards are presented - the Marion T. Jackson Conservationist of the Year Award and the Gerald H. McGlone Volunteer of the Year Award.

Barbara Weber received the MARION T. JACKSON CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR AWARD

This award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding work in promoting conservation of our natural areas. The award is named in honor of its first recipient, former OLC board member Dr. Marion T. Jackson, who passed away in 2019. Marion was a professor of Life Sciences at Indiana State University for 37 years and mentored many students who went on to become conservationists themselves. He spent his summers working for the U.S. Forest Service, The National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He authored several books on Indiana's natural heritage and biodiversity, and held leadership roles in numerous conservation organizations, as well as in the Indiana Academy of Science.

Barb, an OLC advisory board member, received this award because of her dedication to managing invasive plant species. In addition to her involvement with OLC, Barb is involved with local volunteer group Vigo Invasives Management, which provides education about invasive plants in Vigo County, Indiana. Barb participates in local Weed Wrangles, works hard to spread awareness about the importance of managing invasive plant species, and much more!

Barbara Weber is pictured here with her award and OLC President Alysa Morley

Bill Mitchell and Denise Marie Sobieski received the GERALD H. MCGLONE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD

This award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer contributions of time and effort in order to advance the cause of Ouabache Land Conservancy. This award is named in honor of its first recipient, Terre Haute attorney Gerald (Jerry) H. McGlone, a current member of the OLC advisory board. One of Jerry’s exemplary trial cases involved a river bayou in Sullivan County that was threatened with takeover by private landowners. Jerry undertook a lawsuit to have the bayou declared public property under the ordinance of Congress which created Indiana and other states in the Northwest territory. After a 10-year legal battle and a jury trial, the seven-mile-long bayou was declared public property, preserving a piece of Indiana in its natural state. This litigation was done as a public service to the people of Indiana without charge.

Bill and Denise are both OLC board members, and they received this award for many reasons - the ideas, energy, teamwork, and enthusiasm they have brought to OLC, their willingness to take on various different roles, and their long-term support of OLC (both of them previously served on the board). Each of them is working to help take OLC to the next level. They were also both co-chairs of this year’s annual celebration!

Bill Mitchell and Denise Marie Sobieski are pictured here with their award and OLC board member Jim Nardi

Scott Russell Sanders Inspires with Conservationist Message at Ouabache Land Conservancy Annual Celebration

Scott Russell Sanders with OLC Board member Phil Cox

TERRE HAUTE, IN — Acclaimed author and conservationist Scott Russell Sanders delivered a powerful keynote address at the annual Ouabache Land Conservancy (OLC) celebration, urging attendees to embrace their roles as stewards of the environment. The Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English at Indiana University and fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences spoke on themes of law, hope, and conservation, drawing from his extensive literary work.

Sanders, whose latest books include The Way of Imagination—a reflection on healing and renewal—and Small Marvels, a novel in stories, captivated the audience with his thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be a "good ancestor." He acknowledged the dire state of the environment, citing record-breaking global temperatures, widespread wildfires, and the alarming loss of biodiversity. Yet, he emphasized the resilience of nature and the importance of grassroots efforts, sharing his personal experiences volunteering with Sycamore Land Trust to restore native plant species.

“The fancy name for what land trusts and their volunteers do is ecological restoration. The informal name is rewilding. I like the latter term because it reminds us that we are only assistants to nature in healing abused lands and waters,” Sanders said.

Through his characteristic blend of wisdom, storytelling, and deep reverence for the natural world, Sanders encouraged listeners not to be discouraged by the vast scale of environmental challenges. He reminded them that every small act of conservation—from planting milkweed for butterflies to restoring wetlands for wildlife—contributes to a greater legacy of sustainability.

The audience, made up of conservationists, landowners, and environmental advocates, was left inspired by Sanders' call to action. As OLC continues its mission of preserving and protecting Indiana’s natural landscapes, his words served as both a reminder of the challenges ahead and a beacon of hope for the future.

Scott Russell Sanders' legacy as both a writer and conservationist remains deeply rooted in the values of honest work, unselfishness, and devotion to community—qualities that resonate profoundly with the mission of Ouabache Land Conservancy.

Meet Jane Santucci!

In September 2024, a small group of Ouabache Land Conservancy (OLC) board members and advisors advocated for OLC to hire a marketing consultant to enhance our outreach and community impact. As OLC is currently an all-volunteer organization, this is an important step in growing our organization to help us hire staff in the future and, of course, protect more land! The board voted on a marketing budget, and we contracted with Jane Santucci of Sustainably Smart LLC.

Board members then formed an OLC Marketing Committee in October 2024 with Denise Marie Sobieski as chair, along with Alysa Morley, Michelle Marincel Payne, and Marty Jones. The committee is thrilled to be working with Jane for many reasons. She has served on the OLC Advisory Board and been a member for several years, and she knows OLC and our community well. Jane also works with Riverscape, Parke Trails Alliance, Vermillion Trails Alliance, and TREES Inc., other organizations in our service area with underlying environmental themes. 

Jane is a valuable asset to Ouabache Land Conservancy due to her extensive background in communications, marketing, and public relations, combined with her deep-rooted involvement in environmental and community initiatives. Her experience in journalism, digital media, and strategic marketing uniquely positions her to effectively engage with the public, craft compelling narratives, and enhance Ouabache Land Conservancy's outreach efforts.

With Jane’s help, OLC has solidified our brand, produced our first annual report, elevated our social media presence, and so much more. Our membership is growing, our events are reaching more people, and our 15th Annual Celebration sold out several weeks before the event scheduled for March 12th, 2025! 

 “Jane has been terrific to work with because of her high level of professionalism and marketing expertise, plus she knows us. She’s a real asset, and the committee loves working with her,” says Marketing Committee Chair, Denise Marie Sobieski.

Dr. Dan Bradley, Ouabache Land Conservancy Board Member, Joins Sycamore Hall of Fame

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Dr. Daniel Bradley, a dedicated Board Member of the Ouabache Land Conservancy and former President of Indiana State University, has been inducted into the Indiana State Department of Athletics’ 32nd Sycamore Hall of Fame Class. Bradley was honored alongside four other distinguished individuals during a ceremony on Friday, January 10, at the Sycamore Banquet Center.

Dr. Bradley served as ISU’s 11th president from 2008 to 2018, achieving remarkable milestones that extended far beyond campus. Under his leadership, ISU ranked #1 in the nation for community service hours in 2013, completed over $300 million in capital projects, and significantly improved retention and graduation rates. Bradley also played a pivotal role in redeveloping downtown Terre Haute and enhancing the riverfront area.

His commitment to environmental stewardship has carried over to his current role with the Ouabache Land Conservancy. As a Board Member, Bradley continues to champion the preservation of natural spaces and sustainable land management. His experience in revitalization and community building has been instrumental in helping the Conservancy surpass 1,000 acres of conserved land and in setting priorities for future conservation efforts in the region.

“Dan’s leadership and vision have greatly benefited the Conservancy,” said Ouabache Land Conservancy President Alysa Morley. “His recognition in the Sycamore Hall of Fame is well-deserved and reflects his deep commitment to our community and its natural resources.”

Bradley’s induction highlights his far-reaching impact as a leader, educator, and conservation advocate. His enduring efforts with the Ouabache Land Conservancy and his legacy at Indiana State University exemplify his dedication to building a stronger, more sustainable future for Terre Haute and beyond.

Update on IDEM 319 Implementation Grant for Otter Creek Watershed

Our IDEM Section 319 Implementation Grant continues to fund practices to improve water quality in Otter Creek.  This year, we began our second implementation grant, providing funds for three years.

In 2024, the Otter Creek project implemented the following:

• 677 acres of cover crop including two equipment modifications

• 295 acres of no-till via one equipment modification

• 1,001 acres of nutrient management via four equipment modifications

• 4,768 acres of heavy use area protection.

These improvements resulted in 3,063 tons less sediment, 20,723 lb less phosphorus, and 43,492 lb less nitrogen entering Otter Creek.  Over the three-year grant period, the project withheld 11,078 tons sediment, 37211 lb phosphorus and 59,150 lb nitrogen from Otter Creek.

One strength of our grant has been regional collaboration, and we thank our Steering Committee members for their dedication and time.  Looking ahead, please mark your calendar for Experience Otter Creek on May 17th, 2025 from 9 am to noon.  Planning is underway for this fun-filled day with the aim to educate our community about water quality, watersheds, river ecosystems, and more.  The event will be hands-on and interesting for all ages!