Floodwaters in the Upper Wabash region of Indiana are receding, and as a result all electric campsites at Salamonie Lake in Andrews have re-opened.
At neighboring Mississinewa Lake near Peru, however, campsites will remain closed through Aug. 24.
“The water is finally heading in the right direction—down,” said Christie Sorrels, DNR business services program director. “But work to restore our lake properties to the lush condition our guests have come to expect is just beginning. We hope customers will continue to be patient during this long process.”
At Salamonie, power has been restored, and property staff has cleaned previously flooded sites of debris. Affected campsites are devoid of grass or vegetation due to prolonged submersion. They can become muddy during rain. The DNR expects that vegetation and grass in affected areas along Salamonie, Mississinewa and J.E. Roush lakes will not recover until next year.
All Salamonie boat ramps have re-opened, but the courtesy docks remain unusable due to high water. The swimming beach and youth tent areas remain closed. Horse trails can be used, but some areas may still be impassible due to high water and debris.
Mississinewa Lake is still experiencing flooding. The Red Bridge and Francis Slocum boat ramps have been re-opened, with Francis Slocum being the easier to use. All campsites, cabins, shelters, youth tent areas, fishing piers and the beach area remain closed.
The DNR recommends that motorized boats stay off both lakes due to floating debris and possible submerged objects. If you go out, operate at idle speed for safety.
Water is still higher than normal at many reservoirs across the state. Beaches remain closed at Lieber, Mississinewa, Monroe, Patoka, Raccoon and Salamonie lakes. Some or all of the boat ramps at each reservoir property have been re-opened, except Lieber State Recreation Area, where boats can still be launched from the main road.
To make reservations at DNR campgrounds, go to camp.IN.gov or call 1-866-622-6746. For updates, please check dnr.IN.gov and search for the appropriate property’s name.
To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.
