Forested wetlands helped reduce flooding along White River

Thousands of trees planted slowed water’s flow along the river during flooding

The Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. (CILTI) has spent two decades saving forested wetlands and planting thousands of trees in three areas along the White River in Hamilton County that aid in slowing down and reducing flooding along the river.

While the historic flood of 2026 has been devastating to so many people and areas, the flooding could have been much worse along the White River had it not been for conservation efforts to save and restore the forested wetlands. The trees are located in a floodplain that acts as a natural bathtub, filling up with water during flooding events. In areas with forested wetlands, the water is slowed down because it has to navigate between millions of trees and shrubs that resist the water’s flow and reduce the amount of flooding in the area.

“Flooding will still happen in these areas, because they are floodplains and nature designed them to flood,” CILTI President Cliff Chapman. “But by purchasing these lands and saving and planting trees, we’ve mitigated the severity of the floodwaters’ damage. If this land had remained as farmland or grassy areas – or if it had been developed – we’d be looking at an even worse scenario. When we say CILTI is strategic about protecting natural areas, this is exactly the kind of thing we mean.”

CILTI areas with forested wetlands along the White River in Hamilton County:

• Burr Oak Bend Nature Preserve: The nature preserve sits along 206^th Street and the White River on the southern end of Noblesville. CILTI began purchasing the land in 2002, restoring the floodplain by planting trees to improve water quality and reduce flooding. In 2022, CILTI gifted the preserve to the Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department. The nature preserve is home to the Riverwood Canoe Landing.
• Nonie Werbe Krauss Nature Preserve: The 77-acre nature preserve is located at 116^th Street and Eller Road in Fishers in Hamilton County and was purchased to restore forested wetland and reduce flooding. CILTI planted 19,000 trees in 2008 and an additional 15,000 trees in early 2025 in the nature preserve.
• Stony Creek Conservation Easement: The privately owned property is located along Allisonville Road just south of downtown Noblesville. CILTI holds a conservation easement on the property, protecting the forested wetland found there in perpetuity.

Farther south, CILTI owns and maintains Oliver’s Woods Nature Preserve, a 53-acre urban nature preserve located off River Road just south of I-465 in Marion County. The nature preserve, which is where Carmel Creek and the White River meet, holds millions of gallons of water during flood events. Over the years, CILTI staff, with the help of thousands of volunteers, spent countless hours removing invasive species that had eroded the banks of the White River on the property. Restoring the forested wetlands here helped improve soil stability and floodwater absorption. When the White River floods, floodwater flows backwards in Carmel Creek. Had this area been developed for commercial and residential use, the flooding in this area – and downstream on the river – would have been far more significant.

To date, CILTI has planted more than 73,000 trees in these properties and continues to seek areas to restore additional forested wetlands.

About the Central Indiana Land Trust
The Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. (CILTI) preserves the best of Central Indiana’s natural areas, protecting plants and animals, so Hoosiers can experience the wonder of the state’s natural heritage. Since it was created in 1990, CILTI has protected nearly 8,700 acres of land that meet science-based criteria for conservation value. A key vehicle for this is the donor-supported Evergreen Fund for Nature, a revolving fund for land protection. More information at ConservingIndiana.org.