Multiple environmental agencies are working on a collaborative project. The White River Mainstem Project is a collaborative effort to sample the West Fork White River and White River mainstem from its headwaters to its confluence with the Wabash River. Over the coming months, water quality, fish communities, and water insects will be sampled at 63 sites along the entire 356 miles. Biologists will evaluate different aspects of these rivers, which will help the agencies better understand the water quality and the rivers’ ability to support healthy and diverse fish.
This project is the first of its kind for Indiana, with multiple agencies working together to extensively sample an entire river. It will also be the most comprehensive sampling of the White River that has been done.
Southern Fishery Research Biologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Sandy Clark-Kolaks explains what the project entails…
The data provided by this study will be essential for future recommendations to improve the river’s health for the fish, wildlife, and human communities that depend on it.
Sandy also explains what kinds of fish they will be surveying or hope to find…
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will use monitoring data to provide a comprehensive assessment of the White River’s ability to support aquatic life to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
