Wabash River Wabash River Restoration and Restoration and

Reclamation ProjectReclamation Project

Specific PurposeSpecific Purpose

Our goal today is to inform Mrs. Moneybags and the Our goal today is to inform Mrs. Moneybags and the Committee of the negative effects of the polluted Committee of the negative effects of the polluted Wabash River and its surrounding area. And to Wabash River and its surrounding area. And to present some solutions to this environmental present some solutions to this environmental problem and eyesore. problem and eyesore.

In order to beautify and sanitize our state resource, In order to beautify and sanitize our state resource, the Wabash River, we must first recognize all of the Wabash River, we must first recognize all of the negative effects from several different points the negative effects from several different points of view, then present possible solutions to these of view, then present possible solutions to these murky waters and littered shores. We will be murky waters and littered shores. We will be highlighting some basic information on the area, highlighting some basic information on the area, describe some of the problems it currently has, describe some of the problems it currently has, and describe our ideas for possible solutions and describe our ideas for possible solutions

Which would you drink?Which would you drink?

Here are three water sources: one Here are three water sources: one from the Wabash River, one from the from the Wabash River, one from the tap water here at Purdue, and one is tap water here at Purdue, and one is filtered water.filtered water.

Which would you want to drink????Which would you want to drink????

It’s everybodys problemIt’s everybodys problem

We as knowledgeable experts on the We as knowledgeable experts on the topic are not the only people who topic are not the only people who notice or are forced to deal with this notice or are forced to deal with this problem. However, we feel that problem. However, we feel that cleaning up the river and surounding cleaning up the river and surounding area would be most beneficial to the area would be most beneficial to the community and state as a whole. community and state as a whole.

Basic Information on the Wabash Basic Information on the Wabash RiverRiver

The Heritage of the Wabash River

The Wabash river was originally named, Wah-Bah-Shik-Ki, which means “pure white”As settlers moved into the Wabash Valley region, they discovered the potential of resources of the landscape for development of production centers and significant industries.

The Heritage of the Wabash River

As technology advanced and ideas of development grew, many cities saw opportunities with the birth of the Wabash and Erie canal in 1826. By 1852 the Wabash and Erie Canal linked the Great lakes with the Ohio and became a major highway for travel, trade and settlement. By 1975, the Wabash and Erie Canal became obsolete.

The largest river in Indiana The largest river in Indiana

                          1.  The Wabash River flows from western 1.  The Wabash River flows from western

Ohio across northern Indiana from east to Ohio across northern Indiana from east to west, then south along the Indiana/Illinois west, then south along the Indiana/Illinois border until it flows into the Ohio River border until it flows into the Ohio River ( roughly 475 miles in length).( roughly 475 miles in length).

The largest river in IndianaThe largest river in Indiana

2. The upper part of the Wabash reaches up 2. The upper part of the Wabash reaches up to 300 feet wide in to 300 feet wide in certain places. certain places.                          

3.  The lower part of the Wabash becomes 3.  The lower part of the Wabash becomes broader and then opens up as it nears the broader and then opens up as it nears the Ohio River. Ohio River.

The largest river in IndianaThe largest river in Indiana

4. The Wabash has moderate year around 4. The Wabash has moderate year around rainfall rainfall                                 – a. March and April are highest water months, a. March and April are highest water months,

with average flow through summer until with average flow through summer until October, then building up over winter.October, then building up over winter.                    

.  Land along the Wabash River

1.  The Wabash runs through mostly Agricultural land                  a.  If you were to go

canoeing, you would describe it as a pastoral rather than a wilderness experience.

b.  The river is lined with mixed hardwood vegetation, including silver, maple, cottonwood, and elm.             

Land along the Wabash River

2.  The farmland and small communities of Indiana that lie along the Wabash are typical of America's Midwest, and offer a pleasant backdrop.             

Land along the Wabash River

3.  There is little or no public land along the river.                   

a.  All the land is privately owned and mostly agricultural.

b.  Under Indiana law, the riverbed up to the bank is considered public land, so camping on islands, sandbars, and low banks is customary.

Problems caused by destruction of Problems caused by destruction of riverriver

Loss of animal habitat

Animal habitat is the #1 cause of extinction for animals.

Here is the list of endangered or threatened animals in Indiana. – (different page)

We will have more and more unhealthy animals that we have to deal with.

Pollution of ground water Pollution of ground water

• Most of the water Most of the water that we use comes that we use comes from ground water. from ground water. The pollution in the The pollution in the river will poisons our river will poisons our future water needs.future water needs.

• The Pollution affects The Pollution affects large area beyond large area beyond the area near the area near Wabash River.Wabash River.

Esthetic and recreational valuesEsthetic and recreational values

• Lose of tourist results in lose in finance and commerce.

• Lose of nice places where children can visit.

• Lose of good hunting and fishing area.

Flooding problems due to loss of Flooding problems due to loss of vegetationvegetation

The flooding ruins the crop The flooding ruins the crop fields surrounding the river.fields surrounding the river.

It damages the houses around It damages the houses around the river.the river.

Mudslides and landslides are Mudslides and landslides are dangerous to anyone nearby.dangerous to anyone nearby.

It damages the bridges that we It damages the bridges that we use everyday.use everyday.

Lose of fresh water.Lose of fresh water.

Explain how problem will be solved, Explain how problem will be solved, describe benefits from each point of describe benefits from each point of

view view

Shore restoration 35% TotalShore restoration 35% Total

Erosion control – fencing and rock mulch 15Erosion control – fencing and rock mulch 151. Grand Canyon1. Grand Canyon2. Colorado River2. Colorado River

Re-forestation – planting and seeding 10%Re-forestation – planting and seeding 10%1. Flood control – vegetation1. Flood control – vegetation2. New habitat 2. New habitat 3. Recreation3. Recreation

Shore pollution – tires, bricks, trash, etc 10%Shore pollution – tires, bricks, trash, etc 10%

Additional property 40% TotalAdditional property 40% Total

Almost all private land (CanoeCamping.org)Almost all private land (CanoeCamping.org) Purchase more land along river 35%Purchase more land along river 35% Evaluate land in path of river for productivity Evaluate land in path of river for productivity

5%5%

Restoration of water 25% TotalRestoration of water 25% Total

Improve water treatment plants, install gaits Improve water treatment plants, install gaits 20%20%

a. Overflow problems a. Overflow problems Analyze pollution problems 5%Analyze pollution problems 5%

Estimated Costs Estimated Costs Currently $23.33 a day for West Lafayette (WL City Currently $23.33 a day for West Lafayette (WL City

Attorney)Attorney) Current 4.1 million dollar budgetCurrent 4.1 million dollar budget 1 million dollar expansion to cover overflow 1 million dollar expansion to cover overflow

pollutionpollution Increase in property and recreational values would Increase in property and recreational values would

pay for itself pay for itself Total project costs estimated at 6 million dollars Total project costs estimated at 6 million dollars

1. One time cost1. One time cost2. Requires some additional city budgeting to 2. Requires some additional city budgeting to maintain new equipment.maintain new equipment.

% Budget

Additional Property

40%

Erosion control35%

Restoration of Water25%

Erosion control

Additional Property

Restoration of Water