Development of Indiana's Reservoir Enhancement Program through the Creation of a Habitat Enhancement Zone

In many Midwest states, including Indiana, large reservoirs are highly utilized by anglers but they are also aging and aquatic habitat is deteriorating or nonexistent. DNR is working to create a reservoir aquatic habitat enhancement program similar to other Midwest states using artificial structures. General recommendations of the number of structures to place in a complex (i.e. 20 cribs per acre) are widely available but the question of how much aquatic habitat is needed is still unanswered.  Indiana DNR is attempting to use a quantitative measure of habitat enhancement by calculating a Habitat Enhancement Zone (HEZ) where structures will be placed. The HEZ is calculated using detailed bathometric maps which are created using Lowrance HDS depth finder and BioBase software. Based on these individual structure impact acreages, Indiana DNR hopes to increase available habitat by 5% to 20% in the Habitat Enhancement Zone in project lakes.