Fish Conservation

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  Reduce tillage to increase organic matter in soil and the soil’s water-holding capacity. This decreases nutrient runoff into local waterways. Minimal soil disturbance keeps nutrients in the field where they belong. Photo Credit:  Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative 

 Plant cover crops to build organic matter and provide a living shield that prevents erosion and runoff. Cover Crops act as a biological sponge, soaking up excess nitrogen and decreasing potential water pollution. Common cover crops include cereal rye, oats and radish, and crimson clover. Photo Credit:  Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative 

Utilize IPM practices, such as pest monitoring, pest prevention, mechanical control, and biological control, to decrease the need for chemical pesticides and reduce chemical pesticide runoff into local waterways.

o Pest monitoring: monitor for and accurately identify pests

o Pest prevention: crop rotation, pest-resistant varieties

o Mechanical control: trapping or weeding

o Biological control: introduce natural enemies

Photo Credit:  Chris Lee, Indiana USDA-NRCS 

  Establish field edges to herbaceous or woody plants to filter water leaving the field. Deep-rooted native plants absorb excess nutrients from the soil. Photo Credit: Robert Suseland, Tippecanoe County SWCD

Remove invasive plants along streams and field edges. Invasive plants typically have shallower root systems than native species and are less effective at reducing agricultural runoff.  Amur Honeysuckle is one of the most common invasive species here along streams in Indiana. Photo Credit: Robert Suseland, Tippecanoe Invasive Cooperative Taskforce (TICT)

Mow High: Set your mower height to 3 inches or higher. Taller grass develops deeper roots, which helps the soil absorb more water and prevents erosion. It may seem counterintuitive, but grass cut higher requires less mowing. Cutting grass too short induces an emergency response in the plant triggering quick regrowth. 

Natural Fertilization: Leave grass clippings on the lawn after mowing. They act as a natural, slow-release fertilizer and keep organic matter in your soil rather than in the storm drain.

Fertilize Responsibly: If you must use store-bought fertilizer, choose slow-release formulas and apply only the amount recommended by a soil test. Avoid applying before heavy rain. Photo Credit: Robert Suseland, Tippecanoe County SWCD

Rain Gardens: Plant a bowl-shaped garden with native plants. This captures and filters stormwater, allowing it to soak into the ground naturally.

Rain Barrels: Install barrels to collect runoff from your roof. This reduces the volume of water hitting the pavement and provides "soft" water for your garden.

Reduce Impervious Surfaces: Where possible, use gravel or permeable pavers instead of solid concrete to allow water to reach the soil. Photo Credit: Rick Parsons, Tippecanoe County SWCD

Replace turf grass with native Indiana vegetation. Use native plants in your landscaping. Native plants have deep root systems that filter pollutants much better than standard lawn grass.  Photo Credit: Robert Suseland, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever

Remove Invasive Plants: Identify and remove invasive plants like bush honeysuckle, burning bush, Japanese barberry, and privet. Invasive plants outcompete native plants that protect our riverbanks and provide food for local wildlife. Photo Credit: Robert Suseland, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever

Septic System Maintenance: Have your septic tank inspected and pumped every 3–5 years. Leaking septic systems are a major source of E. coli and nutrient pollution in the Wabash River.

Secure Your Waste: Ensure trash and recycling bin lids are tightly secured. Loose litter often ends up in storm drains, which lead directly to fish habitats. Photo Credit: Robert Suseland, Tippecanoe County SWCD

If you live near a stream or pond maintain a "no-mow" buffer zone of native grasses and shrubs along the edge of the water to trap sediment before it enters the stream. Photo Credit: Robert Suseland, Tippecanoe County SWCD

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) gained their name due to the dark blue color around the sides of their head!  These fish are often eaten by larger fish. The larvae of many freshwater mussel species attach to the gills and fins of bluegill. These fish are spread all throughout North America. Photo Credit: Bluegill, Raver, Duane, Public Domain, www.fws.gov/media/bluegill-7

Buffalo fish (Ictiobus cyprinellus) is the largest member of the sucker family and is a very long-lived fish. The oldest to be recorded was 127 years old! Buffalo fish have a rich history in Tippecanoe County. The word Tippecanoe is the American English version for the Miami Native American phrase, The place of the succor fish. This was because the succor fish, or buffalo fish, are abundant in the Wabash River.  

These fish can be found in Lake Erie, through the Mississippi river basin, down to the Gulf. Photo Credit: Bigmouth Buffalo, Raver, Duane, Public Domain, www.fws.gov/media/bigmouth-buffalo

  Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is one of North America’s most abundant species of catfish. Along with many other catfish species, channel catfish have tastebuds on their skin.  These fish can be found from southern Canada into northern Mexico, found across the entirety of the United States. Photo Credit: Channel Catfish, Raver, Duane, Public Domain, www.fws.gov/media/chanel-catfish

Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) are olive on their sides and back. Flathead catfish are also called the mudcat or shovelhead cat. They eat insects, crustaceans, and other fish.   These fish are widespread area of the United States throughout the Mississippi river, rivers that feed towards the Gulf, and many smaller rivers about those areas. Photo Credit: Flathead Catfish, Raver, Duane, Public Domain, www.fws.gov/media/flathead-catfish

 The freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) is the only member of its family in North America that lives in freshwater! They’re nicknamed The Gaspergoo. The Freshwater Drum has special muscles in its abdomen that allow it to produce a deep thudding sound.  These fish are generally found east of the Rocky Mountains in the Mississippi River basin. This range is from southern Canada to the bottom of Texas. Photo Credit: Freshwater Drum, Raver, Duane, Public Domain, www.fws.gov/media/freshwater-drum-2

Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) have a greenish body with a vertical line. They are a popular sportfish. The largest largemouth bass ever recorded was 22 pounds.  Adult largemouth bass eat mainly fish, crayfish, and large insects. These fish can be found throughout the United States including the Mississippi River basin, the great lakes, and more. Photo Credit: Largemouth Bass, Raver, Duane, Public Domain, www.fws.gov/media/largemouth-bass-5

 Sauger (Sander canidensis) are close relatives to the walleyes but are notably smaller. Sauger and wallety can reproduce and create a hybrid called saugeye. Like their relative, the walleye, they can see in low light conditions.   These fish are found in the great lakes and the Mississippi River basin, from southern Canada to Alabama. Photo Credit: Sauger, Raver, Duane, Public Domain, https://www.fws.gov/media/sauger-2

 Indiana's current record shortnose gar (Lepisosteus platostomus) was caught in the Wabash River in Tippecanoe County on June 17, 2024! Gar are easily identified by their long, cylindrical bodies with long beaks and prominent teeth. These fish can be found within the Mississippi river basin in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Alabama, Louisiana, and Montana.  Photo Credit: Shortnose Gar, Raver, Duane, Public Domain, www.fws.gov/media/shortnose-gar

Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) have a brownish body with vertical lines. They will eat zooplankton and insects when young, but move on to other fish, crayfish, and amphibians once they're older.  Location: These fish are spread throughout the United States including the Mississippi river basin and the great lakes, with a range from southern Canada to Alabama. Photo Credit: Smallmouth Bass, Raver, Duane, Public Domain, www.fws.gov/media/smallmouth-bass-19

 Walleye (Sander vitreus) are specialized for low light conditions, aiding in their dusk to dawn lifestyle. As with most nocturnal animals, the feature that helps create this specialized vision is a reflective pigment layer in their eyes. Some can live up to 20 years. These fish are spread all throughout North America. Photo Credit: Walleye, Raver, Duane, Public Domain, www.fws.gov/media/walleye-1