Video courtesy WACF
SYRACUSE — After a full 20 years of negotiations with the property owner, Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation has acquired what is arguably their most important property. This area (across from Runaway Bay) filters approximately 43 percent of water flowing into Lake Wawasee.
The “final filter” before it flows into the lake is a 66-acre property recently acquired by the WACF that will now be called the Turkey Creek Inlet Preserve. This key property includes 44 acres of wetland, three natural springs, 2,480 feet of Turkey Creek shoreline (both sides), and 1,600 feet of a branch of Turkey Creek flowing from an adjoining WACF property. This is the second largest property acquisition of the 58 WACF properties and arguably the most important to date.
This property was identified as a “must have” acquisition for WACF by a study commissioned in the mid 1990s because it serves as the “final filter” before the water flows into the lake. Land Acquisition Committee Chairman Tom Yoder began discussions with the property owner in 1998. He remained in touch over the years and in late 2018, completed this key acquisition.
“We are thrilled to secure this all-important property as part of our overall strategy to protect, preserve and enhance the Wawasee Area Watershed for generations to come,” stated Doug Yoder, board chairman. “And thank you to our donors and community volunteers who have worked alongside us to raise the funds needed to purchase key properties such as this. Thanks to their generosity, we were ready when it mattered most.”
The Turkey Creek Inlet Preserve centers on Turkey Creek in its last stretches to Wawasee. The creek runs through a large wetland area, upstream from Runaway Bay, in a big wetland bowl that runs East toward County Line Road at the Jehovah’s Witness church, and north of CR 1000N.
Shown are Heather Harwood, WACF executive director and Tom Yoder, land acquisition committee chairman, at the new acquisition by WACF.
The Turkey Creek Inlet Preserve centers on Turkey Creek in it’s last stretches to Wawasee. The creek runs through a large wetland area, upstream from Runaway Bay, in a big wetland bowl that runs East toward County Line Road at the Jehovah Witness church, and North of 1000N.