By Andi Anderson
On the banks of the Wabash River in Indiana, the Ouiatenon Preserve is proving that conservation and history can work hand in hand. This unique effort protects centuries-old archaeological treasures while restoring vital wildlife habitat, creating a living link between past and present.
The 186-acre site was once home to Indigenous communities and later became an 18th-century French trading post. Today, it is managed through a partnership of private landowners, archaeologists, conservationists, and government agencies. “Most people come in and say they want to plant a prairie,” said Angie Garcia Miller, Area Biologist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). “But in this case, the property owners wanted to protect an archaeological site. That was a first for me.”
The project uses the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Indiana’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to restore wetlands and buffer zones that improve water quality and create pollinator habitat.
The NRCS provided technical assistance, developing a plan that considered both the region’s complex soils and its archaeological sensitivity. “We had to select plants without deep taproots that could disturb artifacts,” Garcia Miller explained.
Restoration began in 2017 and was completed in 2020, with phases designed to handle the Wabash floodplain’s challenging conditions—weeks of spring flooding followed by dry summers. Funding from the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Wildlife Program allowed the use of high-quality seed mixes to attract bees and butterflies.
Colby Barlett, archaeologist and Director of the Ouiatenon Preserve, praised the partnership. “By working with all these groups, we were able to add more plants that directly benefit pollinators. It’s amazing to see how many butterflies and bees are thriving now,” he said.
The success of the project highlights the power of collaboration. Federal and state agencies, local historical groups, and private landowners all contributed to preserving the site’s cultural legacy while bringing new ecological life to the Wabash floodplain.
The Ouiatenon Preserve now stands as a vibrant reminder that protecting history and restoring nature can strengthen both the land and the stories it carries.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-fotokostic
Categories: Indiana, General