IFA Welcomes Back Jeff Stant as Executive Director

Seeking to revamp its programs to restore Indiana’s native forests, the IFA Board of Directors asked Jeff Stant to resume the position of IFA’s Executive Director to replace Jason Flickner, who stepped down in May. Jeff, who has been serving as a consultant and advisor to IFA on the Hoosier National Forest and state forest management since leaving the Executive Director role at the end of 2024, will re-assume the top staff position on August 3rd. In commenting on his 
return, Jeff states, “I’m returning not to stay forever, but to strengthen IFA, mentor my successor, and restore our leadership in protecting Indiana’s forests. As IFA’s impact grows, we’ll attract the people who will lead its future.”

Governor Braun is Moving the State Forests Away From Logging Toward Recreation

On June 23rd, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources announced that Salamonie River and Frances Slocum State Forests have become Indiana’s two newest State Parks (see IFA Breaking News: June 24). This is the first of what we hope will be several major changes to the management of the state forests to preserve their ecological value and develop them for recreation. Stay tuned for more announcements soon! 

Over the past nine years, IFA has organized many meetings with citizens and officials and led a petition drive to transfer the 1,000-acre Salamonie and 500-acre Frances Slocum State Forests from the DNR’s Division of Forestry to the Division of State Parks.  Our objectives were to halt logging in these forests, preserve their ecological habitats, and develop their recreational potential. 

Jeff Stant explains, “The forested bluffs, rocky streams, waterfalls, huge trees, and bald eagle roosts along the Salamonie and Mississinewa Rivers in these forests are an ecological secret in northeast Indiana that few Hoosiers know about. This area has a rich history of the Miami Indians that could be showcased here. Instead of logging Salamonie and Frances Slocum, the state should be buying more land for these forests and connecting them with a trail along the Wabash River.”  

Outdoor recreation is big business in Indiana. With some attention and investment, Salamonie and Frances Slocum could become ‘the Shades and Turkey Run State Parks’ of northern Indiana, giving the surrounding regional economy a real shot in the arm.

But first, Hoosiers need to thank Governor Mike Braun and DNR Director Alan Morrison for listening to the people when previous officials would not. Please call Governor Braun at 317-232-4567 or visit contact Governor Braun online. Call Director Morrison at 317-232-4020 or email him at amorrison@dnr.IN.gov. Tell them THANK YOU for taking this far-sighted action and urge them to continue pursuing this vision to protect the natural values and develop the recreational potential of Indiana’s public lands,” concludes Stant

Urge Brown County Commissioners to Support the Expansion of the Charles Deam Wilderness

On July 1, Jeff Stant and local residents asked the Brown County Commission to support expanding the Deam Wilderness and establishing the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area on adjacent lands in the Hoosier National Forest. We also asked the Commission to vacate (remove from county road maps) the closed Combs Road within the expanded Deam Wilderness area. Vacating this county road would end the threat of off-road vehicle (ORV) groups convincing the County to reopen it, which would subject the Nebo Ridge area to considerable ORV damage, littering, and vandalism that were rampant before the road was closed 20 years ago.

HNF Supervisor Mike Chaveas appeared at the meeting to oppose expanding the Deam Wilderness. Chaveas also informed Commissioners that if Brown County vacated the Combs Road, the US Forest Service would likely prohibit mountain bikers and horseback riders from using the trail the County has allowed on the closed road. 

We are asking IFA members and residents from Brown and surrounding counties to please attend the next Brown County Commission meeting on Wednesday, July 15, to ask the Commissioners to support the expansion of the Deam Wilderness and the creation of the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area. More specifically, IFA is asking the Commissioners to formally request that IN 9th District Representative Erin Houchin introduce and seek passage of federal Deam Wilderness Expansion legislation in the US House, and that IN Senators Banks and Young do the same in the US Senate. This is the same legislation that Governor Braun (as a Senator) and Rep. Houchin introduced in 2024. We are also urging the County to vacate Combs Road, contingent upon the Forest Service agreeing to formally establish a multi-use trail for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders on the old road’s alignment. This multi-use trail would also be established if the wilderness expansion legislation is enacted, in a “non-wilderness corridor” specified in the legislation.  

The Commissioners are scheduled to vote on whether to support the Deam Wilderness expansion at the July 15 meeting. A large crowd of Deam Wilderness supporters will be crucial to convincing the Commissioners to support expansion of the Deam, Indiana’s only federal wilderness. Their support, in turn, is crucial to convincing Houchin, Banks, and Young to reintroduce and seek passage of the legislation in Congress. Please help us on July 15! The meeting will start at 6:00 pm in the Salmon Room at the Brown County Office Building, 201 Locust Lane, Nashville, IN.  

Public Meeting on the Pumpkin Ridge Road Set for July 16th

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are holding a public information meeting about the proposed Pumpkin Ridge Road upgrade for the Mountain Tea State Forest on Thursday, July 16, at Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park. The meeting will run from 5:30 to 7:00 PM and will include a video presentation on the project’s history, a review of alternatives, and an overview of next steps. The announcement notes that attendees will have the opportunity to respond to the proposal and offer input through several formats. 

There has been considerable public concern in Brown County about the impact of upgrading Pumpkin Ridge Road on the rugged, primitive conditions of Mountain Tea State Forest and the surrounding private forest in northeastern Brown County. IFA is urging the DNR to protect the natural condition of Mountain Tea State Forest and to undertake the minimum upgrade necessary to provide access to this state forest for primitive recreation, with the least possible impact on private landowners.