4 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 
BIG WALNUT CREEK: 
‘A world unlike any other’ in Indiana, 
but the next ‘project’ for the Engineers. 
by RAYMOND C. E. PAIGE 
Thirty-five miles west of Indianapolis, the Big Walnut Creek crosses Hi 
way 36. Here one can escape the heat of the Indiana summer by desce 
ing into deep gorges of glacial origin carved by glacial streams é 
post-glacial water erosion. One enters a world unlike any other in Indi: 
and important even on a national scale. The area north of Highway 
particularly between Pine Bluff Covered Bridge and Rolling Stone Cov 
ed Bridge, is so unique that, in May of 1968, the U.S. Department of | 
Interior declared it eligible for recognition as a National Natural Landma 
For over 12,000 years, clear, unpolluted waters have been cary 
a twisting valley, bubbling over glacial erratics, till, and residual gra\ 
The cool, moist micro-climate of the north-facing slopes of the valley he 
preserved much of the flora and invertebrate faune of the post-gla 
forests of 6,000 years ago which followed the retreating Wisconsin 
sheet northward. The isolated stands of eastern hemlock with their Cana 
an yew understory are far from their current ranges and harbor flora a 
fauna typical of areas much farther north. 
The old-growth flood-plain forest is unique in that it is composed 
beech, sugar maple and tulip poplar growing on alluvial soil—spec 
which cannot tolerate water level fluctuations and prolonged innundati 
These species have been eradicated from most flood plains in India 
The valley also contains trees of record proportions including Indian 
two largest sassafras trees, its largest hemlock, and perhaps the worl 
largest sugar maple. 
The valley is a birder’s paradise. In less than half a year on o 
a few acres, over 125 species were noted including 24 species of wa 
lers (among them the cerulean and the worm eating), 7 species of haw 
and three species of owls. In the upland beech forest is found an act 
great blue heron rookery which contains forty nests and has been in 
for 55 years. Perhaps the most exciting moment for the birder is a fle 
of black and white glimpsed from the corner of his eye followed by 1 
clear sighting of one of the resident pileated woodpeckers which n: 
in the area. This alone would justify saving the valley. 
The Big Walnut is important as a refuge for rare wildlife and plar 
and consequently it is important as an area for study of, and research 
the natural sciences. The Corps of Engineers, however, has other plat 
Is the fate of the Big Walnut to be that of all free flowing stream: 
dammed by the Corps? It is uo to YOU! 
