In celebration of World Rivers Day this September 22nd, we wanted to take some time to highlight some incredible rivers that flow in Indiana. Picture Indiana as one giant, fertile floodplain, teeming with lakes, wetlands, streams, and rivers. Our great state is situated in the headwaters, or beginnings, of the Mississippi River watershed—the third largest water drainage system on Earth—making it a globally important region for water management.
Indiana has an abundance of beautiful rivers that are vital for the development of our cities and provide inspiration for our art. These rivers supply us with sanitary water for our homes and businesses, give us a place to dispose of wastewater, serve as critical wildlife habitat and migration routes, provide recreational opportunities, and are a strong visual reminder that we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves. In honor of these irreplaceable ecosystems, we want to highlight three incredible Indiana rivers we love this on this World Rivers Day.
Ohio River
Forming Indiana’s entire southern border, the Ohio River is one of the most incredible rivers in our state. The Ohio is the single largest river (by volume) in the Mississippi River watershed, stretching all the way from Pennsylvania to Missouri. Its watershed provides drinking water for over 5 million people, and it is a critical artery in supporting energy, industry, and transportation in Indiana and beyond.
The name Ohio comes from the Seneca (Iroquoian) word “ohiiyo’” which translates to “good river.” Several public and private forests surround the river, and the forested, rolling hills that border portions of the river create some of the most scenic and peaceful backdrops in the state.
The Ohio crosses through several Indiana cities and towns including Lawrenceburg, Rising Sun, Madison, Jeffersonville, Clarksville, New Albany, Tell City, Evansville, and Mt. Vernon. The river is home to a handful of fantastic parks and nature preserves along its course, including Clifty Falls State Park, Charlestown State Park, O’Bannon Woods State Park, Falls of the Ohio, Mosquito Creek Nature Preserve, and Harrison County Glades.
Hiking, fishing, boating, bird watching, and rockhounding are some of the most popular activities on and along the river. The Ohio is home to 390-million-year-old fossil beds, which are among the largest exposed Devonian fossil beds in the world and can be accessed at Falls of the Ohio Park.
Threats: The Ohio River was historically used as a primary transportation route during westward expansion, and as a result has been subjected to intense development pressure for decades. Agriculture is common near the river, along with power plants, coal ash disposal sites, and industrial and mining operations. Nonpoint source pollution from agriculture, urban runoff from cities, and abandoned mines are some of the major sources of river pollution (Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission). The Ohio was recently named America’s Most Endangered River in 2023, largely due to industrial and manufacturing process that have historically occurred and continue to operate along the river, coupled with the loss of wetlands and forests along its banks.
Wabash River
The Wabash River is one of Indiana’s most iconic and well-known rivers. Covering 73 out of 92 counties in Indiana, the Wabash River watershed is the single largest in the state and provides drinking water for nearly 70 percent of Indiana’s counties. The Wabash begins in western Ohio and flows southwest throughout the state, forming Indiana’s jagged southwestern border.
The name Wabash is derived from the Miami (Myaamiaki) word “Wah-bah-shik-ki,” which means “water flowing over white stones.” The land surrounding the river is a mix of agriculture, urban, and forested areas, with forested areas becoming more common as the river flows south. The mighty Wabash traverses through several small towns and larger cities including Huntington, Peru, Logansport, Delphi, Lafayette, West Lafayette, Vincennes, and Terre Haute.
The river provides remarkable wildlife habitat – home to 120 endangered, rare, and threatened plants and animals and hosting nearly 150 species of fish – making it one of the most ecologically important rivers in our state (The Nature Conservancy). One Ball State University researcher has stated that conservation of the Wabash could serve as a local and global example for other communities to follow suit.
The Wabash River is popular for recreational activities like fishing, kayaking, bird watching, and hiking. Notable parks and nature preserves that run along its course include Prophetstown State Park, Acres Along the Wabash, Ouabache State Park, Weiler-Leopold Nature Reserve, Black Rock Barrens, and Waapaahsiki Siipiiwi Mound Historical Park.
The famous Limberlost Swamp, once a nationally known 13,000-acre wetland region, was situated in the headwaters of the Wabash River. The swamp was almost entirely drained, but historical accounts exist thanks to famous female Indiana naturalist Gene Stratton Porter, who wrote about the ongoing threats to the Limberlost. Today, there are two nature preserves, the Loblolly Marsh and the Limberlost Swamp Wetland Preserve, both attempts to restore and preserve the cultural significance of the Limberlost.
Threats: Major threats to the Wabash include deforestation, agriculture, and mining (Banks of the Wabash). The loss of wetlands and lack of protection of the riparian areas surrounding the river also degrade the river’s quality. According to Purdue University, nearly all the water that flows through the Wabash is used by homes, businesses, and industries. The proposed LEAP development in Lebanon, which is exploring the possibility of water extraction from the aquifer in which the Wabash receives portions of its water from, is publicly perceived as a potential threat to water levels in the river.
White River
The White River is divided into two forks and meanders through central and southern Indiana, beginning in Randolph County and flowing generally southwest until it meets the Wabash River. The west fork of the White River is the main branch of the river and was called “Wapahani” or “Waapikamiiki” by the Miami (Myaamiaki), meaning “white sands.” White sandy “beaches” can be found along its banks, especially in the Indianapolis region.
The west fork of the White River watershed provides water for 30 percent of Indiana’s population, flowing through several large cities including Muncie, Anderson, Noblesville, Carmel, Fishers, Indianapolis, and Martinsville. The east fork flows through several small towns in Indiana, as well as more notable cities like Columbus, Seymour, Bedford, and Shoals, and serves as a cultural symbol of rural Indiana.
The White River contains a good portion of forested buffers along both forks. Agriculture is also common along both forks of the river, with urban and industrial uses dominating the more developed west fork. The west fork is a popular tourist destination for floating, canoeing, and kayaking trips, especially in the summer. Significant effort has been undertaken by a group of stakeholders, including HEC, in recent years to bring attention to the west fork’s cultural, environmental, and economic importance.
River accessibility is greater on the west fork, and there are several parks including Mounds State Park, White River State Park, and Indiana’s oldest state park, McCormick’s Creek, along its course. Bluespring Caverns, dubbed America’s longest underground navigable river, is a popular tourist destination along the east fork in Bedford.
Threats: The White River flows through Indiana’s most populated city, Indianapolis, and is subjected to development pressures and pollution from urban activities. There are several mining operations along the river, and the loss of wetlands within its watershed has created flooding, water quality, and water use concerns. In 1999, approximately 4.6 million fish were killed in the west fork caused by a chemical release from an automotive manufacturing company. Agriculture and pesticide pollution are also a major threat to the river.
How can we protect our rivers?
Rivers represent our livelihoods, and the health of our rivers is a direct reflection of the health of our communities, economy, and ecosystems. Climate change and global warming are placing unprecedented threats on our rivers, leading to increases in extreme weather like flooding and drought, which place incredible stress on our river ecosystems. To protect our rivers for future generations, there are several actions we can take to ensure that our children are able to enjoy the beauty of a free flowing, clean river:
- Enact policies that require river (riparian) corridor buffers
- Preserve, restore, and protect wetlands
- Reduce and eliminate chemical use, especially in manufacturing and agriculture
- Spend time recreating in or near rivers and reestablish sacred connections with our rivers
- Advocate for river protections
- Enact policies that require green infrastructure installments in new developments