Indiana NRC Approves New Nature Preserve

The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) approved the designation of Ginn Woods Nature Preserve in Delaware County during its regularly scheduled meeting today at Fort Harrison State Park.

The action increases to 292 the number of state-designated sites protected by the Nature Preserves Act.

Ginn Woods Nature Preserve is an exceptional area of 161.31 acres that comprises the second-largest tract of protected old-growth forest in Indiana. The site supports a diversity of plants and animals that are uncommon in the fragmented landscape of east-central Indiana and is dominated by beech and maple. The site supports rich flora, including spring ephemerals and a variety of fern communities, and is owned by Ball State University.

In other action, the NRC:

— adopted a new nonrule policy document, a roster of the state’s low-head dams.
— accepted a DNR Committee report in support of a citizen petition for the establishment of an idle zone along the Riverfront Development Area in Fort Wayne on portions of the St. Marys, St. Joseph, and Maumee rivers, due to increases in boating and pedestrian activities in the designated area.
— approved a request from the owner, Sycamore Land Trust, to amend the articles of dedication for Dilcher-Turner Canyon Forest Nature Preserve, which was designated in May 2020, to officially change the preserve’s name to Canyon Forest Nature Preserve.
— approved a 3.5% increase over current rates, or 1.75% per year over two years, as requested by Kent’s Harbor on Brookville Lake, as well as a lodging increase of 15% to 22% over current approved rates, both taking effect Jan. 1, 2022.
— readopted 312 IAC 14, governing standards for timber buyers, their agents, and timber growers; 312 IAC 17, governing standards for other petroleum regulation; and 312 IAC 15, governing standards for forest and resource management.

The NRC is an autonomous board that addresses topics pertaining to the DNR. More details on these actions are at nrc.IN.gov/2354.htm under “May Agenda.”

The next regularly scheduled NRC meeting is July 20, also at Fort Harrison State Park.

NRC members include the DNR director, heads of three other state agencies (Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Destination Development Corporation, and the Indiana Department of Transportation), six citizens appointed by the governor on a bipartisan basis, the chair of the DNR’s advisory council, and the president of the Indiana Academy of Science. The Academy of Science president and the agency heads, other than the DNR director, may appoint proxies to serve the commission in their absences.

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

Media contact: JB Brindle, Division of Communications, 317-232-4003, jbrindle@dnr.IN.gov