Flooding Costs Indiana DNR $670K In Revenue

WEST LAFAYETTE -- Indiana Department of Natural Resources officials say heavy rains earlier this year have caused them to miss out on a significant amount of money.

“We’ve had to cancel and/or refund over 4,000 cabin or campground reservations, resulting in the reduction of about – or revenue that we have not received – of about $670,000,” DNR Deputy Director Mike Smith said.

He brought those worrisome numbers to the State Budget Committee, and says if the reservations aren’t made up or if more rain re-floods some of the areas that have been under water, the department might not be able to swallow the cost.

What’s more, Smith compared the algae and green slime left over from flooding in the parks to a bathtub ringed with mildew. He says he hopes DNR crews can clean up the mess themselves, but the agency may have to pay for outside help to remediate the parks in a timely fashion – potentially adding more cost for an agency that’s almost underwater financially already.