Conservation Priority Areas: How ACRES Protects Natural Treasures
For ACRES, the idea of priority areas is not new. Since the 1960s we have targeted acquisitions in areas of geological, cultural and biological significance. Relatively recently, as we mapped these areas, we have labeled them “conservation priority areas.”
While acquiring and protecting high-quality natural areas, we learned they are often found where unusual or even unique geological occurrences have taken place.
Many of our unique and most diverse plant communities are within these priority areas. Once lost, restoring them to what they once were is nearly impossible. Time is of the essence: we must identify and label priority areas while they are still somewhat intact. Many of these areas are experiencing development pressure and subsequent severe negative impacts from changes to surrounding land use.
Across its service area, ACRES has identified 10 priority areas totaling 214,000 acres. We currently own and manage just 3,000 acres within these identified areas. ACRES earliest priority area, the Cedar Creek Corridor, is now home to nearly 1,300 acres owned and protected by ACRES. While there is still much protection work to be done along Cedar Creek, there is even more in the other nine priority areas. Each has been identified and mapped because it contains significant natural areas with high levels of biodiversity and habitat connectivity, and is more resilient to climate change, another reason to focus our efforts here. Because our work within these areas goes further than anywhere else in our service area, acquisition, restoration and enhancement are emphasized.
Why Priority Areas Matter for Conservation
One of the advantages of identifying and calling attention to these areas is the resulting increase in support. As we tell others about our concentrated efforts in a specific location, we often find we are not alone in identifying these places as especially important. Local county or city parks, friends groups, watershed initiatives and other conservation organizations almost always emerge. A priority area is often very near or adjacent to a neighboring area of focus identified by one of our partners. When we can partner and combine efforts, our work goes even further!
Although our priority areas may change over time, they will always be important. It is ideal for our areas of focus to shift over time with the goal of connecting—or expanding upon—historic priority areas, thus making a much larger, more resilient, connective habitat. We also aim to identify new priority areas that once contained significant natural features, such as wet prairies, flat woods and savanna plant communities. These projects would focus more on restoration than on preservation.
1. Tippecanoe River
This priority area focuses on over 24 miles of the Tippecanoe River, beginning northeast of Rochester in Fulton County, and extending west to the Pulaski County line.
Although this is one of ACRES newest focal areas, we expect to increase our presence here by nearly 200 acres by the end of 2024.
2. Little Elkhart
Nearly 20,000 acres have been targeted south of the St. Joseph River, east of the city of Elkhart, extending northeasterly to the convergence of Elkhart and LaGrange counties with the Michigan state line.
This area offers many intact forests and riparian habitats, providing a great deal of connectivity extending well into Michigan.
3. South Branch Elkhart River
Named for the 14 miles of river within its region, this priority area begins southwest of Albion in Noble County and extends west of Wawaka. Nearly 1,000 acres of emergent wetland and riparian forest are protected within the DNR’s Mallard Roost and other Wetland Conservation Area properties.
There are several thousand acres more of each community type worthy of protection.
4. North Branch Elkhart River
One of ACRES largest priority areas, the North Branch Elkhart River area, is centered around Oliver Lake and the Dallas Lake chain in southern LaGrange County.
This area is home to a wetland complex that may be large enough to sustain populations of several state-endangered species, including Blanding’s turtles and the massasauga rattlesnake.
5. Marsh Lake
More than 2,000 acres have been protected within this area in northern Steuben County. Most of these acres are found in Pokagon State Park, Trine State Recreation Area and the Marsh Lake Wetland Conservation Area.
ACRES will continue to buffer these properties to protect some of the highest-quality coldwater lakes remaining in Indiana, and the unique plant communities that surround them.
6. Forks of the St. Joe
Much like our priority areas in Indiana, this area spanning southern Michigan and northwest Ohio is intended to build upon the work done by our DNR partners in each of these states.
The focus here is protecting riparian habitat, associated fen wetlands and the adjacent upland forests.
7. Perfect Lake
Located just west of Hamilton in Steuben County, this area expands on the Fish Creek priority area initially identified by The Nature Conservancy, and has been a focal point for many years.
The goal is to eventually connect the Perfect Lake and Marsh Lake conservation priority areas.
8. Cedar Creek Corridor
With the help of several partners, ACRES pioneer priority area now contains nearly 2,000 acres of permanently protected habitat.
The area of focus extends from the headwaters of Cedar Creek, northwest of Waterloo in DeKalb County, south to its confluence with the St. Joseph River, south of Leo in Allen County.
9. Huntington Moraine
Beginning 2.5 miles east of Markle, this priority area extends along the Wabash River west to the city of Huntington.
ACRES aims to expand upon the J. Edward Roush Fish & Wildlife Area to increase connectivity and resilience while enhancing water quality.
10. Salamonie Confluence
One of ACRES smaller priority areas, the Salamonie Confluence (Salamonie and Wabash Rivers), expands on two DNR-managed lands within Wabash County: the Salamonie Reservoir and Salamonie River State Forest.
Together, these areas of planned conservation total nearly 22,000 acres.
Join Us in Protecting Our Priority Areas
Ready to join a community of folks protecting land throughout our region of Indiana, Ohio and Michigan?
Here are a few ways you can get involved:
- If you own land in one of these priority areas and want to see it protected forever, reach out to us and start a conversation!
- If you don’t have land to protect but want to save natural spaces from development pressures, consider donating your time or money toward the cause!
