Changes coming to Prairie Creek Reservoir to better keep drinking water supply healthy

Changes are coming to Prairie Creek Reservoir, as Indiana American Water says it will more closely monitor the body of water that heavily contributes to Muncie’s drinking water supply.  IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.

The White River and Prairie Creek Reservoir bring 70 percent of Muncie’s drinking water.  The reservoir is owned by Indiana American Water, which leases it to the city for recreational activities for $10 a year.  About a decade ago, that agreement was extended through the year 2072.

But the water company has seen increased algae blooms and cyanotoxins in the water at Prairie Creek.  So, Wade Amos, Indiana American Water’s State Director of Operations, says the company will collaborate with the city and state to increase the health of the reservoir.

As it told the Muncie Parks and Recreation Board on Tuesday night, the most concrete step in the plan for now is getting rid of ATV and horse trail usage by the end of this year.

“We have nothing against ATVs and we have nothing against horse folks.  There’s a place for those activities and we firmly believe it’s not around a drinking water reservoir.”

Read More: Prairie Creek Reservoir trail expansion to cost more than $260,000

Greg Wilkins is president of the Muncie Light Horse Club.  He says the Muncie parks board approved the horse trails in 1990.  His organization has used grants to put about $12,000 into the trails in the last 18 months, including updating trail signs and combating invasive species around the trails.

Amos also says the number of camp sites and boat docks will be looked at and possibly adjusted, especially with state-cited problems with Prairie Creek’s current wastewater system.  The Indiana Department of Health has called that system “porous,” saying it will likely leak into the reservoir.

“How many boats can this reservoir sustain safely and, you know, from a water quality perspective as well?  And the same goes with the campground.”

Indiana American Water agreed to about 50 camp sites in a late-1980s proposal.  That number has ballooned to more than 230 sites.  Amos says it wants to work directly with the city parks department to do the right-sizing work.

Read More: Muncie parks board mulls changes to Prairie Creek dock leases

Muncie parks board president Brad Marshall says the company’s plan is in line with what the board has tried to do over the last several years in establishing new, written, and agreed-to rules for those using Prairie Creek camp sites and boat docks.  Security and access points have also been upgraded recently.

Read More: Parks ordinance change means alcohol is officially legal at Prairie Creek campsites

Indiana American Water officials are quick to point out that there’s been no cyanotoxins in what they call “finished water,” which is the treated drinking water that comes out of your faucets.  But they say keeping Prairie Creek Reservoir healthy is key to that.

Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host.  Contact her at [email protected].