Expand Indiana's Deam Wilderness and establish the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area!

Flourishing natural areas and parks are indispensable to people’s health, prosperity, cultural traditions, and enjoyment. They also play a critical role in combating the climate and extinction crises.

In April, Indiana Senator Mike Braun introduced an important bill to protect our public lands by more than doubling the size of the Charles Deam Wilderness Area near Bloomington and establishing the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area nearby. Recently, Representative Erin Houchin recently introduced a companion bill (H.R.8535) in the House.

Hoosiers have an important role to play in helping us achieve this goal by supporting legislation that would more than double the size of the Charles Deam Wilderness Area and establish the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area.

Take action now! Tell your members of Congress to support legislation to expand the Deam Wilderness and establish the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area.

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Expand Indiana's Deam Wilderness and establish the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area!

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As a proud Hoosier and a passionate advocate for our planet, I am writing in support of S.4402/H.R.8535, the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area and Wilderness Establishment Act of 2023. In May of 2024, Senator Mike Braun introduced S.4402, the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area and Wilderness Establishment Act of 2023 and Representative Erin Houchin recently introduced a companion House Bill (H.R.8535). This important legislation will more than double the size of the Charles Deam Wilderness Area in the Hoosier National Forest, increasing it by 15,300 acres. It will also establish the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area on an additional 29,382 acres of national forest land explicitly to protect the Monroe Reservoir drinking water supply. The Monroe Reservoir is the sole source of drinking water for nearly 120,000 residents of Monroe and Brown Counties. As a constituent and from one Hoosier to another, I am asking you to co-sponsor S.4402/H.R.8535, if you haven’t already done so, so this legislation can move forward. Natural areas like the Deam Wilderness Area and the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area that this bill would establish provide essential services to our state. They allow people to enjoy the outdoors and connect with the land, while also enhancing biodiversity and providing essential ecosystem services. The bill would enhance the quality of life for Hoosiers by protecting an area of unprecedented size in Indiana for all types of wilderness recreation. It would allow opportunities unsurpassed in the lower Midwest for hiking, backpacking, wilderness camping, horseback riding and mountain biking. Expanding the Deam Wilderness Area and establishing the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area will help maintain Indiana’s only national forest, and will allow Hoosiers to continue to enjoy this beautiful landscape for generations to come. Please support S.4402/H.R.8535 and help ensure a legacy of conservation and sustainability for our great state. If you’ve already signed on in support of the legislation, thank you for doing so.

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Sunset over the Deam - photo credit Steven Higgs.