On Saturday morning April 18, I was invited by Jeff Ray, president of Friends of the Big Blue River, a local organization that works continuously in protecting the river, to assist him in planting some Tussock sedge plants and swamp white oak trees along the river. The area is approximately 20 acres of floodplain/wetland south and west of New Castle bordered by Road 100S, River Road and the Big Blue River. This area is OWNED by Red-tail Conservancy and has been since December 2004. Red-tail Conservancy is an organization that preserves, protects and restores natural areas and farm land in East Central Indiana. One of its goals is increasing awareness of our natural heritage.

What we discovered upon our arrival, was that sometime in the last two weeks, someone had decided to take a "joyride" with an ATV right through and over 100 sedge plants that Jeff, Judy and Michelle Ray planted there in 2008. Buttonbush shrubs and small trees planted in 2005 were also damaged.

It was disappointing to see the effort to preserve and protect natural wetlands damaged in this way.

Jeff had removed large areas of invasive bush honeysuckle and privet to make way for planting native plants and it appears that the open area was too much of an invite to trespass! I am hoping that by writing this letter, we can attract attention to the floodplain wetlands area from the local nearby residents and recruit their assistance in contacting the Henry County Sheriff's Department "non-emergency" phone number with information concerning trespass activity.

Jeff Ray
2700 Lakeview Dr.
New Castle, IN 47362
765-524-1753
765-987-8783