Busseron Creek to offer prime spot for outdoor recreation and support for national security interests

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has closed on the acquisition of 3,950 acres of forests, marshland, and upland habitat in Sullivan County, which will be known as Busseron Creek Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA).

The permanently conserved land, once part of the former Minnehaha FWA, was protected through a collaboration with the Conservation Law Center and its Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape initiative, and The Conservation Fund. Additional project support came from The Nature Conservancy in Indiana.

“Powered by partnerships, the permanent protection of Busseron Creek Fish & Wildlife Area is a win for conservation and a win for Indiana, returning nearly 4,000 acres of land for all Hoosiers to enjoy,” said Dan Bortner, DNR director. “Whether you enjoy hunting, fishing, or viewing Indiana’s magnificent wildlife, we look forward to welcoming Hoosiers and visitors alike to Busseron Creek when the property opens to the public in 2025.”

DNR paid $10.8 million for the property, a total that includes funding support from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program. The U.S. Navy paid an additional $910,000 to support a conservation easement on a portion of the land, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation provided an additional $600,000 competitive grant through Walmart’s Acres for America program.

“This project exemplifies what can be accomplished when organizations unite under a shared vision. Protecting this land secures environmental benefits for generations while strengthening national security and the region’s resilience,” said Michael Spalding, Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape coordinator for the Conservation Law Center.

This land will provide key habitat for wildlife including turkey, deer, waterfowl, rabbit, and quail. DNR will work to establish hunting units, parking areas, and access trails before opening the FWA. The property will be a prime spot for wildlife viewing, hunting, trapping, fishing, and foraging.

For more than 30 years, DNR leased this property, operating it as Minnehaha FWA. In 2016, the property owner declined to renew its lease with the state, and Minnehaha FWA closed.

In 2022, a small parcel of this property was listed for sale, signaling the potential for securing the entire holdings. In partnership, The Conservation Fund and the Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape initiative negotiated with American Land Holdings of Indiana, a subsidiary of Peabody Energy, to purchase the full 3,950 acres to maintain the ecological integrity of the land. The Conservation Fund’s pre-purchase of the property for future public ownership allowed DNR to officially purchase the property this month.

“The Conservation Fund was glad to partner with Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape to secure this important property for conservation,” said Emy Brawley, vice president and regional director for The Conservation Fund. “Protecting a site this large provides so much for so many. From recreation-based economic development to wildlife habitat to military readiness – this is the business of conservation, and it’s where The Conservation Fund shines.”

“The Nature Conservancy is proud to have helped set the wheels in motion for this project, and we’re honored to have worked with this group of partners,” said Larry Clemens, state director for The Nature Conservancy in Indiana. “As with The Nature Conservancy projects throughout the state, this investment in outdoor recreation and conservation will leave a permanent legacy for the natural heritage of Indiana.”

“Walmart’s Acres for America program is excited to be part of the innovative collaboration that made the Busseron Creek project possible,” said Ryan Pettigrew, senior manager, Walmart U.S. Real Estate and Acres for America. “Acres for America aims to protect vital natural habitat and provide access to outdoor recreation, and this project will do just that in southern Indiana for generations to come.”

The property is located near the Lake Glendora Test Facility, an area of Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane. The facility’s mission is to support proof of concept testing for risk reduction purposes prior to full scale or open water testing.

To provide an undeveloped land buffer near the military facility, safeguard key natural resources, and ensure environmental sustainability near the defense operations, the U.S. Navy provided strategic support and funding for a conservation easement on the Busseron Creek watershed and surrounding lands, permanently protecting it from development.

“The Busseron Creek Conservation Project and the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program have allowed critical mission support and warfighter readiness to continue at Lake Glendora Test Facility while strengthening our community and conservation partnerships,” said CDR Luis Martinez, installation commanding officer of NSA Crane. “We celebrate this innovative and collaborative effort by numerous organizations to enable military encroachment protections while providing community enhancement, conservation, and environmental stewardship."

More information about Busseron Creek FWA and the land’s history is available here. Photos of the property are available below for download, and video can be accessed here.

[The reference to any company, its products, or services in this document does not imply Navy endorsement.]

To view more DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.