Funding
Approximately $46 million from several conservation agencies and organizations fund land acquisitions and conservation easements with willing landowners. These include:
- $21.5 million from the Lifetime License Trust Fund and Game Bird Habitat Stamps *
- $10 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- $10 million from the Natural Resources Conservation Service
- $2.5 million from The Nature Conservancy
- $1 million from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act
- $700,000 through the Indiana Heritage Trust
*The Lifetime License Trust Fund contains revenue from the sale of lifetime fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses, which the DNR stopped selling in 2005. The Game Bird Habitat Stamp includes revenue from the sale of Game Bird Habitat Stamps, which is required to hunt game birds in Indiana.
Partnerships
Department of Natural Resources
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency that works to protect, enhance, preserve and wisely use natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefit of Indiana’s citizens through professional leadership, management and education.
The DNR is leading the Healthy Rivers INitiative to permanently protect land along waterways in the project areas.
The DNR and the following partners are working together to ensure the protection of our natural resources for the benefit of Indiana citizen’s through the Healthy Rivers INitiative.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the federal agency that works hand-in-hand with the American people to conserve natural resources on private lands. NRCS assists landowners with conservation planning and assistance to benefit the soil, water, air, plants and animals for productive lands and healthy ecosystems.
NRCS encourages landowners in the Healthy Rivers INitiative project areas to contact NRCS for assistance with conservation planning and technical assistance, and possible financial assistance through Farm Bill programs. They encourage landowners farming eligible marginal lands to explore the option of retiring them from agricultural production through enrollment in programs such as the Wetlands Reserve Program and other conservation programs.
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a natural resources organization that works to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.
Having worked on Indiana’s significant freshwater rivers statewide for more than two decades, The Nature Conservancy is a partner dedicated to restoring the health of the project areas within the Healthy Rivers Initiative, by investing significant financial and technical assistance to acquire land. TNC places a strong emphasis on collaboration, leveraging the work of many conservation partners to produce results.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is a federal bureau located within the Department of Interior that, works with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
FWS provides financial assistance to the DNR through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program to help acquire and restore wildlife habitat to benefit Indiana sportsmen and women.
Other Partners
- American Electric Power
- City of Terre Haute
- Ducks Unlimited
- Eli Lilly & Co.
- Friends of Sugar Creek
- Indiana Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
- Indiana Natural Resources Foundation
- Indiana State Department of Agriculture
- Indiana Wildlife Federation
- Ouabache Land Conservancy
- Pheasants Forever
- Quail Unlimited
- Vigo County Parks & Recreation