Green Sanctuary Task Force: Your Support is Needed to Expand the Deam Wilderness in the Hoosier National Forest

By Marcia Veldman

On September 28 Senator Braun introduced the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area and Wilderness Establishment Act of 2023 (S. 2990). The bill would more than double the size of the existing Deam Wilderness, increasing it by 15,300 acres on existing Hoosier National Forest land. Additionally it would create the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area on 29,382 acres in the HNF, establishing the first National Recreation Area (NRA) in Indiana.

This bill needs the support of Senator Young and Representative Houchin in order to get across the finish line and become law. The Green Sanctuary Task Force asks that you take action today and ask Senator Young to co-sponsor the bill and Representative Houchin to introduce a companion bill in the House.

Senator Braun has worked with diverse partners and constituents in the development of this bill. This collaborative process has created a bill with multiple economic and environmental benefits from protecting Lake Monroe as a water and recreational resource to protecting old growth forest such as the following.

• Mature and old growth forests have an immense capacity for holding water which is especially critical during flooding events that are happening more frequently in our area. Specifically, the passage of this bill will help protect Lake Monroe as a water supply for over 150,000 people, making it integral to the economic vitality of Bloomington, Ellettsville, and outlying areas in Brown and Lawrence counties.
• As the largest lake in Indiana, maintaining Lake Monroe’s health for tourism is critical to the regional economy.
• The bill provides a balanced approach - protecting old growth forests and fragile landscapes while increasing the recreational profile of the HNF by turning existing HNF acreage into a National Recreation Area. This, at a time when people’s interest in outdoor recreation is growing. While the bill calls for the public to be engaged in the development of the management plan for the Benjamin Harrison NRA, we know it will allow for diverse outdoor recreation opportunities, as long as they don’t threaten the water quality in Lake Monroe.
• The expansion of the Deam Wilderness, provides an unmatched opportunity in the lower Midwest for people to enjoy old growth forests with extensive opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and horseback riding.
• Most importantly, science tells us that forests play a critical role in storing carbon pollution and cleaning the air. By doubling the size of the Deam Wilderness, we will help ensure that these old trees can store that carbon and purify the air now and for generations to come.

It is for these reasons that the Green Sanctuary Task Force asks you to contact Senator Young and Representative Houchin in support of this bill.