That has been the most frequently asked question about a 50-mile stretch of the White River from Anderson to Indianapolis ever since the Guide Corporation discharged a contaminant in December 1999 that resulted in the loss of an estimated 5 million fish.
The remarkable answer to the question is that the fish are doing pretty darned well.
DNR biologists developed and executed a plan to stock nearly a million bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish to jumpstart restoration of the fishery.
Some fish were produced by our hatcheries, but many were purchased using donations to White River Rescue 2000, a group that raised money to purchase fish.
The number and size of fish have grown each year. Fishing keeps getting better and more people are out there throwing in a line. Also, herons, kingfishers and even ospreys have returned.
Restoration hasn’t stopped with the fishery. Several major projects are underway to protect wildlife habitat, improve water quality, and to increase and improve access to the river for recreation.
Guide paid about $8 million in fines and penalties, and another $6 million that went into a special fund managed by three natural resources trustees for river restoration and improvement.
The trustees (John Davis, DNR; Beth Admire, IDEM; and Scott Pruitt U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) fund projects with advice from a volunteer advisory council.
The trustees have funded several major in-stream clean-up projects and removal of two illegal trash dumps. Volunteers have done most of the work, but professionals using some pretty serious equipment also have participated.
Among the more interesting debris removed are two automobiles and a portion of an old interurban car that will be restored and displayed in a local museum.
The trustees have purchased wildlife habitat and they have partnered with the Central Indiana Land Trust, Red Tail Conservancy, Indy Parks and Anderson city parks to own and manage the properties.
Some of the easiest sounding projects can be the most challenging. Almost four years ago, White River Rescue’s John Bundy and Steve Schwartz suggested that identification signs be placed on bridges over the river so people would know where they are, especially if they needed to use a cell phone to call for help.
The bridges have different owners so it took a lot of discussion between state, county and municipal governments. The city of Indianapolis made the signs and the Indiana Dept. of Transportation installed them.
The trustees have been very deliberate in deciding which projects to fund out of the many proposals they receive. So far, they have obligated about half of the $6 million in the restoration fund.
Some of the funding in the future will go for more public access, more wildlife habitat and additional protection of the tree-lined riparian corridor that filters and reduces pollutants.
I spent a fair amount of time with the late Gov. Frank O’Bannon dealing with the White River. He was determined to see that justice was done and he challenged us to restore and improve the river.
I think he would be proud of what has been accomplished and excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.
Learn more about White River restoration at www.in.gov/idem/mycommunity/wrcac/index.html.
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Stephen Sellers, editor
