The story of the Crooked Lake Nature Preserve begins in the 1830’s with the Leaman family traveling from Pennsylvania and headed westward. The family paused near Crooked Lake.  Agnes, the family’s young daughter, was just about to turn 16 when she became ill and died.  The family buried her on a bluff overlooking the lake. They also decided they couldn’t leave Agnes here alone, so they bought the land surrounding that portion of the lake, comprised of 91 acres, and started farming..   That farm stayed in the Leaman/Stewart family from 1834 until 1975 (141 years) during which time it’s estimated that several other family members were also buried in the little cemetery on the bluff. That cemetery has been preserved and can still be visited as it is now part of the Crooked Lake Nature Preserve. And this leads us to the next part of the story: The creation of the Crooked Lake Nature Preserve of Indiana. In 1971 the first meeting of the Crooked Lake Association was held. Their mission was to help keep the two basins of the lake in their natural state and unpolluted, and to promote environmentally sensitive future development. Secondly, they strove to acquire real estate for the preservation and protection of the natural beauty of Crooked Lake. In June of 1974, the 91 acre Leaman/Stewart farm comprising a significant portion of the eastern shore, including the Leaman cemetery, was up for sale. Besides the lake association, ACRES Land Trust was interested in helping secure the land as well. It was suggested that the property be designated a State Nature Preserve. The selling price of $250,000 was met by the lake association generating $73,000, with another $25,000 received from ACRES Land Trust, and lastly with the designation of Nature Preserve by the State of Indiana, came an additional $150,000. The Crooked Lake Nature Preserve was dedicated on July 21, 1979. The Nature Preserve is arguably the most talked about aspect of living on this lake. Having such an unspoiled wilderness is a definite plus and forms such a significant part of the shoreline. Since the dedication of the Nature Preserve, the residents have maintained their desire to promote environmentally sound projects. Thus with every piece of land bordering on the lake that came up for sale, the owner was encouraged to work with the lake association so the land could be purchased and included into the existing State Nature Preserve. The Result: To date (2024) the Crooked Lake Nature Preserve has increased in size from an initial 91 acres to its current size of 181 acres, having almost doubled in size. Thanks to resident’s forethought and focus on their original mission of preserving and protecting the natural beauty of the lake.

In the 1950’s Indiana University chose Crooked Lake for the site of its biological field station. Its intended use would be for research as well as a site for students to take classes in various biological disciplines. Our lake was chosen because of its depth, quality of water, and close proximity to the Ft. Wayne campus.  For many years several academic institutions besides Indiana used the station, including Purdue, St. Francis, Ivy Tech and Goshen College. Classes were taught on fish ecology, invertebrates, aquatic plants, mussels and many other biological pursuits. However, over the last several years the number of classes using the facility had decreased and the facility needed an upgrade to remain a viable institution of higher learning. Thus in 2019 the property was bought by the Indiana Dept. of Nat. Resources. The research building was razed and to date in 2024, all that remains is the boathouse. The 25 acres of property has been incorporated into the Crooked Lake Nature Preserve. This increased the Nature Preserve’s shoreline by some 3,100 feet and as of 2024, the Nature Preserve now totals 191 acres.  

Latest update.

Exert of letter from Adam B.

11/18/24

One other thing of interest is that there will be a couple visible changes along portions of the shoreline. The first change is that I have a contractor that will be following through with the boathouse demolition that was associated with the old University Bio Station. That will be happening this winter once the ground conditions are better for their equipment. I will likely be

closing the trail access near there for safety reasons associated with their equipment use. Second, I have some winter restoration tasks planned for the fens along the shoreline. This will involve

removing non-native and invasive shrubs to keep these areas open as they should be for the native

vegetation.

This hasn't been fully worked out, but I am hoping to encourage more community involvement with the nature preserve. That may be in the forms of volunteer workdays, educational hikes, or

something I haven't thought of yet. That won't happen until next spring at the earliest, but something to be looking for if there are people who might be interested.

Please let me know if you have any questions on this or anything else. Feel free to give me a call if

you'd prefer to talk through any of this as well.

Regards,

Adam Balzer

Northeast Region Ecologist

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Division of Nature Preserves

1040E 700 N

Columbia City, IN 46725

Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers

AIS harm recreation, our environment, and the economy of communities that depend upon healthy lakes, rivers, estuaries, and oceans. AIS threaten America’s heritage by changing how we and future generations use and enjoy our waters. From A-Z (Asian carp to Zebra mussels), AIS are non-native plants, animals, and pathogens that harm municipal water supplies, recreation, agriculture, aquaculture, many other businesses, and human health. Nationally, these invaders cause billions of dollars in damage each year.

 Asiatic clam 

 **quagga mussel 

 **zebra musse

 ** Indicates species that are federal injurious species 

Cisco are listed as a state endangered species (effective December 17, 2020) and anglers should be advised that under IC 14-22-34-12 it is unlawful to take or possess state endangered species. The 2015 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) used the lake catchments of known cisco populations to define six Conservation Opportunity Areas (COAs) in northern Indiana to focus the conservation community’s efforts on coldwater habitat protection and restoration. The long-term protection of Indiana’s remaining cisco populations will rely largely on collaborative efforts to preserve coldwater habitat through the application of best management practices (BMPs) that reduce the quantity of nutrients entering Indiana’s waterways.

Freshwater mussel harvest was legal in Indiana until 1991, when it was suspended to help protect dwindling populations. It is illegal to take or possess a live mussel or dead shell material from Indiana waters. (312 IAC 9-9-3 Mussels) 

Every September, local citizen scientists of all ages come together for one afternoon to collect, test, and analyze water samples from across our watershed!

Sep18

September 18, 2025 @ 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

P, 15

The use of fertilizer in one’s yard is acceptable so long as the phosphate percentage is zero (0).  On the fertilizer bag is listed the various percentages of chemicals, usually in three numbers separated by a dash, i.e., 15-5-10.  The middle number is the amount of phosphate and this should be zero for lawns bordering lakes and streams. Anything chemical used on this “riparian” land will eventually end up in the lake through natural drainage, but it’s the phosphates that promotes algae growth which is hazardous to water quality. Certain types of algae can be hazardous to humans and pets as well. Most shoreline vegetation filters out the phosphates and are thus beneficial to keeping the water healthy.  

N, 7

 Excess nitrogen in water can significantly degrade water quality by causing excessive algae growth, leading to depleted oxygen levels, harmful algal blooms, and ultimately harming aquatic life, including fish, due to the disruption of the ecosystem balance; this is primarily caused by agricultural runoff from fertilizers containing nitrogen, which can enter waterways and stimulate plant growth 

Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Redear Sunfish, Warmouth, Brook Silverside, Lake Chubsucker, Yellow Perch, Black Bullhead, Cisco, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Spotted Gar,Pickerel, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Blackchin Shiner, Bluntnose Minnow, Golden Shiner,  Yellow Bullhead. 

While it may seem harmless and fun to feed ducks and geese, what comes out the other end creates dangerous pollution problems for our waterways. Take the action pledge below to make a commitment to protect our water by not feeding waterfowl.

How Do They Impact Water Quality?

Excessive waterfowl waste can contaminate nearby bodies of water. A single Canada goose can  create as much as 2–3 pounds of waste per day. It's easy to see how that can add up if large groups of geese are crowding together in one place. Not only are their droppings unsightly, but they can add nutrients and bacteria like E. coli to our lakes and streams, resulting in dangerous algae problems. These pollutants can also be harmful to the people who recreate nearby.

Ways to Deter Waterfowl.

There are a few measures you can take to deter waterfowl from gathering near lakes, streams, and ponds. The simplest action is to refrain from feeding them. Feeding geese and ducks with bread and crackers is not only bad for their health, but also encourages them to visit areas frequented by humans, leading to overcrowding. Another option is to create deep, shoreline buffers around and along lakes, ponds, and streams. Lush green turf grass planted right up to the edges of our lakes, ponds, and streams creates the perfect habitat for their populations to explode. Creating a shoreline buffer will help deter waterfowl from overpopulating along lakes, ponds, and streams.

Waterfowl FAQs

Should I be worried about ALL kinds of waterfowl?

Most kinds of waterfowl, including resident and migratory ducks, do not present a significant threat to water quality or human health. The primary concern is with overly large populations of Canada Geese, Mute Swans (which are not native to Indiana), and domestic or Mallard ducks. What's the best way to discourage waterfowl from my yard? There are several ways to discourage waterfowl from your yard. First, never, ever feed them! If you are already feeding the waterfowl, STOP NOW!  Waterfowl, especially Canada geese, prefer beaches or short, mown shorelines so they can watch out for predators. Create a barrier/buffer along your shoreline by planting taller native grasses, flowers, or shrubs. Barriers can also be created with rocks or fence. To learn more about planting a shoreline with native plants visit the Clear Choices Clean Water Native Plants Shoreline page. Waterfowl can also be deterred using several other methods such as scaring them away, using chemical repellants, removing nesting materials and eggs, or hunting them. The latter two items require permits/licenses and must be performed in compliance with state and federal regulations. Visit Deterring Waterfowl for more information on these methods. Encouraging wildlife to your property is something you should do, BUT it needs to be done in a healthy manner. By feeding or otherwise encouraging large populations of waterfowl to one’s property and encouraging the waterfowl to remain is not producing a healthy population–it is producing an artificially large population that has negative impacts on the overall ecosystem. To find out why this is undesirable, check out the Waterfowl Impacts page.

Are there any wildlife that are okay to feed?

Seeing wildlife up close on your property can bring great joy, and there are many ways you can help

support native species and encourage them to visit your property. It is important for their health, however, that feeding these species relies as much as possible on their native food sources. Using native plants in your landscape can draw a variety of birds and other land animals by providing foods they naturally enjoy. Natural shorelines will not only deter nuisance waterfowl, but they can help support native fish populations. Feel free to fill your bird feeders and offer them a variety of seeds. The Audubon Society provides some great tips on feeding birds and types of bird seed to use. If I stop feeding them, will they be able to survive?

Waterfowl are wild creatures with wild instincts. While they enjoy a free handout as much as anyone else,their instincts will generally kick in when they realize no one is going to feed them, and they will survive just fine by foraging on their own.

Is it okay to feed abandoned babies?

Although baby birds and other animals are cute and cuddly-looking, please avoid feeding abandoned or orphaned animals you find! More than likely the young animal has not been abanonded. These natural creatures will have no trouble learning to find food on their own does NOT need help. Feeding a baby animal actually makes them dependent on you and less likely to be able to survive on their own in the wild. It also encourages them to remain (and poop) on your property. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources provides information on what to do if you find an abandoned or orphaned animal.

How dangerous can geese and swans be to people and pets?

Geese and swans can both be aggressive towards people and other animals (including pets and other waterfowl), especially when they are nesting or protecting their brood. They have been known to aggressively charge people and their pets, even biting them at times. While a goose bite might startle you more than anything, swans are very large birds and attack by one could result in an injury to people or pets. Try to stay away from obviously aggressive waterfowl, especially if you know they have a nest nearby.

Should I worry about my kids playing in an area that has waterfowl droppings?

Yes, as a parent you should do your best to keep children away from areas heavily covered in droppings. Contact with waterfowl droppings can put you at risk for a number of health-related issues. Waterfowl poop, specifically that of geese, may contain parasites that cause gastrointestinal problems and/or bacteria like E. coli. If you come into contact with waste, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before coming into contact with your face or other people. Thoroughly wash any shoes, feet, or clothes that come into contact with droppings as well.

How can I clean up waterfowl poop in my yard?

If you own a pet, you know the most important part of scooping the poop is proper disposal. The same is true for cleaning up waterfowl poop on your shoreline, yard, or pier–make sure you are disposing of the droppings properly. Don’t sweep or wash them from your lawn or pier into the water–that’s just adding more nutrients and bacteria to the lake or stream! Instead, scoop the droppings and throw them in the trash, flush them down the toilet, bury them in the yard, or put them in an underground pet waste digester. Many of the same resources that are helpful for scooping pet poop can be used when scooping waterfowl poop as well!

Don't swans keep geese away?

No. While geese populations may decrease initially with swans present, the geese will eventually return and both species will live together in unity. In fact, swans on a body of water often indicate to a gaggle of flying geese that there is plenty of food below.

Am I allowed to hunt nuisance waterfowl?

Canada geese and ducks can be hunted in compliance with state and federal regulations during the regular waterfowl season from November to February, with specific dates varying annually. There is also a special early hunting season for geese that typically runs the first two weeks of September. Mute Swans are a federally protected bird and currently do not have a regulated hunting season, so refrain from hunting them! If a swan becomes a nuisance on your property, you can contact the IDNR Division of Fish and Wildlife for assistance with control.

If I find a nest can I get rid of it?

If you notice a pair of geese or swans building a nest on your property, you can remove the nesting

material on a daily basis in order to encourage them to build elsewhere. Because both swans and geese are federally protected species once the nest is complete with eggs, it is illegal to disturb it without permission from the Indiana DNR and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Currently, resident Canada Geese are the only species whose nests and eggs can be destroyed by individuals.