Home / Environment / 33-Year Wetland Dream Realized by Indiana Son
33-Year Wetland Dream Realized by Indiana Son
4 Sep
Summary
- Nearly 48 acres in St. Joseph County restored to natural wetland.
- Restoration began with landowner's father in 1993, completed recently.
- The Wicks WRE now supports native wildlife and migratory birds.
A decades-long vision to restore a flood-prone farm field into a natural wetland has been realized in St. Joseph County, Indiana. Nearly 48 acres, managed by Jim Wicks and Tom Malcolm, were permanently protected through the USDA NRCS's Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
The restoration effort, initiated by Wicks' father in 1993, faced bureaucratic delays before Wicks and Malcolm revived the project. This involved altering drainage systems and reshaping the land to encourage natural water collection, fostering habitats for waterfowl and amphibians.
This preserved area, now known as the Wicks WRE, serves as a crucial resting and feeding ground for migratory birds. The project exemplifies a growing trend among Indiana landowners to convert marginal farmland into permanent conservation sites that support biodiversity.
