Southern Indiana's River Country Has Plenty of WaterWhile most of Indiana is still experiencing a persistent drought, the southern one-quarter of Indiana has received 22.15 inches of rainfall since December 6th. This compares to only 2.83 inches in the same length period beginning July 1st of last year. While the groundwater, rivers and lakes in central and northern Indiana are still extremely low, the rivers and lakes down south are full.This area includes 15 counties bordering the Ohio River. The state tourism department has given this area the nametag "Indiana's River Country" in recognition of its outstanding waterways. The Ohio River recently experienced its highest water level in nearly three years. Its most pristine tributary is the Blue River, Indiana's first scenic river. The Blue is highly regarded by canoe enthusiasts as one of Indiana's premier paddling destinations. The canoeing season on the Blue was a short one in 1999 as the drought produced abnormally low water levels from mid-July on. Both the Ohio River and the Blue experienced near record low levels in the low levels in the late summer and fall of 1999. However, the 21 inches of rain in only 14 weeks have now fully recharged the groundwater in this area and the nearby 8,800 acre Patoka Lake is also full. According to the owners of Cave Country Canoes in Milltown, the major canoe rental company on the Blue River, the river now has normal springtime water levels and they are expecting terrific paddling conditions when the season opens April 1st. The extraordinarily warm weather since mid-January has brought an especially early spring with many of the trees along the rivers beginning to leaf out before the middle of March. The Blue River drains much of southern Indiana's extensive cave area. Springs flowing from the high limestone bluffs along the river are now running full. Owners of Marengo Cave National Landmark and Wyandotte Cave report the stalactites are again dripping at normal rates. During the height of last year's drought, many of the two cave's speleothems (cave formations) became inactive for a time. Bob Cadwallader, President of the Lincoln Hills-Patoka Lake Tourism Region- a part of Indiana’s River Country, said "People throughout the drought stricken areas of Indiana and surrounding states should find plenty of water to meet their recreational needs in southern Indiana this spring. We expect a lot of new visitors to Patoka Lake and the area's rivers."
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