It is not difficult to see why Hoosier National Forest amasses over 300,000 visitors a year, as the forest boasts many unique features that make it an extremely worthwhile place to visit. Not only is it Indiana’s only national forest, it is a remnant of what was once the largest temperate deciduous hardwood forest on the planet, and is home to underground cave systems and rock formations. Located near Bedford, it is a popular destination for residents of Indiana as well as the surrounding areas. The forest is within a two hour drive from Cincinnati, Evansville, Indianapolis, and Louisville, which makes it easily accessible to people all around the Midwest.
What is a Karst landscape?
One distinct feature of the Hoosier National Forest is the karst landscapes throughout the area. The Mitchell Plain in the forest is home to most of Indiana’s 2,500 caves. Karst landscapes are areas made up of soluble stone, such as the limestone that makes up these areas in Hoosier National Forest, which eventually is dissolved due to repeated water interaction. This interaction creates fractures and holes in the stone, which eventually turns into sinkholes, springs, and cave systems. In Hoosier National Forest, many of these features have been created by the Lost River, which has been flowing through the forest for thousands of years and has created a vast network of caves. Some popular destinations include Patton Cave and Hemlock Cliffs. These landscapes attract visitors, but they also create habitat for species such as the seven species of bats that live in the forest that are federally endangered, threatened, or are species of special concern. These include the Indiana bat, the Gray bat, the Northern Long-Eared bat, the Little Brown bat, the Tri-Colored bat, the Evening bat, and the Eastern Red bat. White nose syndrome has had a significant impact on the bat populations in the forest, killing 90% or more of Northern Long-Eared, Little Brown, and Tri-Colored bats since 2009. The caves are also home to several species of cave invertebrates as well as the Hoosier Cavefish.
Caving and climbing are popular recreational activities in the forest, however, the National Forest has issued a Forest Order prohibiting the entering of any cave on National Forest System lands within the Hoosier National Forest between September 1 and April 30 to protect bats from the spread of white nose syndrome.
Wildlife in the Forest
The karst landscapes and caves are not the only biodiverse areas of the forest. There are multiple wildlife viewing areas throughout the forest, where visitors can see common mammals such as white-tailed deer, fox, woodchuck, opossum, and gray squirrel. Common bird species in the forest include turkey, pileated woodpecker, several neotropical migrant songbirds, and migratory waterfowl. The forest is also home to the endangered Cerulean Warbler and Timber Rattlesnake, as well as Species of Special Concern such as the Eastern Box Turtle, the Pygmy Shrew, the Rough Green Snake, the Worm Eating Warbler, the Black and White Warbler, and the Hooded Warbler.
Like many other national forests and wilderness areas in the United States, Hoosier National Forest faces the threats of non-native invasive species and the endangerment of native wildlife. However, the way that these issues are being managed is concerning to many environmental groups and residents of the area.
The Buffalo Spring Project and Houston South Project are both restoration projects proposed by the U.S. Forest Service. According to the Forest Service website, the major goal of both of these projects is to “treat vegetation and conduct related management activities improving forest health and sustainability of the oak-hickory ecosystems while also improving wildlife habitat.” According to the Indiana Forest Alliance, The Buffalo Springs Project, which has an estimated implementation date of July 2025, would allow for logging on 5,124 acres of land, which is half of the forested area in the Buffalo Springs district of the forest. It would also allow prescribed burns on over 15,000 acres, and chemical and pesticide applications on over 700 acres. This project would mostly remove pine trees from the forest, which make up important habitat for wildlife. Many species of birds and other animals thrive in these old growth areas, such as bats who need these areas for maternity roosting, and decaying logs provide areas for moss to grow, as well as provide habitat for salamanders, mice, and other animals.
The Houston South Project has already started as is expected to move forward, with similar goals, and also raises similar concerns. It also could have negative impacts on the water quality of the forest and surrounding areas. The Houston South area is located in the Monroe watershed, which provides water for 120,000 people in the Monroe County area. The clearing and prescribed burning of forests will increase the amount of erodible soils and silts that infiltrate the water. Lake Monroe already faces the issues of excessive nutrients and algal blooms, and this would just be one more obstacle to residents of the area receiving clean water.
Authors
Ellen runs campaigns to protect America’s beautiful places, from local beachfronts to remote mountain peaks. She sits on the Steering Committee of the Arctic Defense Campaign and co-coordinates the Climate Forests Campaign. Ellen previously worked as the organizing director for Environment America’s Climate Defenders campaign and managed grassroots campaign offices across the country. Ellen lives in Denver, where she likes to hike in Colorado’s mountains.
