J. Edward Roush Lake is the smallest of the three reservoirs in the Upper Wabash Valley. Salamonie, Mississinewa and J. Edward Roush Lakes were built to help control flooding in the Wabash River Basin, lower Wabash and Ohio River.   The J. Edward Roush Lake area is 8,217 acres large, with a 870 acre lake.  It was established in 1970.  Twenty two Resource Management Units (4-26) surround Roush Lake.  They are used for hunting, fishing, bird watching and other recreational uses. Roush Lake has two State Recreation Areas. The Little Turtle S.R.A. is on the south side of the lake and is accessed from S.R. 5, just south of the Dam.  The Beach is located in Little Turtle S.R.A.  The Kil-So-Quah S.R.A. is on the north side of the lake and is accessed from S.R. 224, driving east from S.R. 5.  The site which offers the best chance for a rare species is the Little Turtle S.R.A. Beach. Shorebirds, waders and seabirds use the Beach to feed and rest during migration, especially when low water levels expose lots of mud.  The off season is the best time to visit the Beach, because it is not being used for recreational purposes. Good birds might be found at the Beach in late March, April, May, late August, September, October and November.  Another key site would be that section of Roush Lake between C. R. 200 E. and C.R. 300E.  The lake begins to narrow, and become more shallow, at the C.R. 200 E. Bridge. Extensive mud flats can exist on both sides of the bridge, if water levels are at normal, or below normal levels. The mud flats in this section of Roush Lake can also be viewed from C.R. 300 E., where it dead ends on the south side of the lake, in Unit 21D.   Thirteen of the twenty two Resource Management Units are on the south side of Roush Lake. Habitat for migrating sparrows in the Resource Management Units on the south side of the lake is outstanding. They are a bit too weedy for quality nesting grassland species, but I found good numbers of migrating sparrows here in October of 2004. 

 

DIRECTIONS TO J. EDWARD ROUSH LAKE: From the intersection of I-465 and I-69 in Indianapolis, drive north on I-69 for roughly 77 miles.  Veer right onto Exit 78 / S.R. 5 / Huntington-Warren.  Turn left (north) on S.R. 5.  Drive north roughly 9 miles to J. Edward Roush Lake.

DIRECTIONS TO SITES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF J. EDWARD ROUSH LAKE: From the intersection of I-69 and S.R. 5, drive north on S.R. 5 for roughly 8.5 miles.  Just before Roush Lake and the Little Turtle S.R.A., turn right (east) on Division Road.  Go past Meridian Road and veer left when the road splits (you will see a sign "Boat Ramp/Picnic Area").  Park in the Little Turtle Boat Ramp parking lot.  Walk down the ramp and scan the lake from the shore.  Turn around and head back south to Division Road.  At the stop sign, turn sharply left (east) onto Division Road.  Turn right (south) onto C.R. 100 E.  Turn left (east) onto C.R. 100 S.  Turn left (north) onto C.R. 200 E.  Just before you reach the C.R. 200 E. Bridge, turn right (east) into the grassy/gravel parking lot (a Resource Unit parking Lot).  Walk north to the bridge. Use your scope to scan Roush Lake on both sides of the bridge.  DO NOT PARK ON THE BRIDGE.  When finished, turn around and drive south on C.R. 200 E.  Turn left (east) on C.R. 100 S.  Turn left (north) on C.R. 300 E. (gravel road). Wygant Woods Natural Area will be to your immediate right (east). You may search this woods for migrating songbirds.  After searching Wygant Woods for migrating songbirds, continue driving north on C.R. 300 E. to the dead end / T-section. Turn right (east) on the unnamed river road.   As you drive east, scan the lake on the left (north) side of the road. There are a few Unit parking lots along this unnamed river road. You can park in one of them and work the fields for migrating sparrows, in May and October.  Contiue birding this road to the I-69 underpass.

A map of the J. Edward Roush Lake Area can be obtained at The Little Turtle State Recreation Area on S.R. 5, just south of the dam.

References: Indiana D.N.R. Map of J. Edward Roush Lake and Text.