Geist Watershed Alliance

Now that the Geist Watershed Alliance (GWA) has received its grant of $54,000 from the Lake and River Enhancements (LARE) section of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), it is positioned to make a major impact on the future health of Geist Reservoir, as well as the other waters in this regional basin.

Important decisions are slated to be made during the course of the next few months, and the GWA needs input and direction from the area’s citizens. The steering committee is still being formed, and presently only consists of about 8 active members - just one of which is an actual resident of the immediate Geist Reservoir area.

By the time this issue of the atGeist Newsletter is printed, the steering committee will have drafted and submitted a Request for Proposals (RFP) to prospective watershed management co-ordinators, and we will be seeking input from informed residents concerning the final choice of specialists who will be devising the path to restoring the reservoir’s health. As recommended by LARE, we will be also soliciting advice and recruiting steering committee members from outlying connected watersheds; therefore, we are concerned that the focus on the immediate Geist area could be under-represented if more participation from local citizens is not generated.

We are thankful this year that weather conditions have not been conducive to explosive toxic algal growth. But we must maintain our awareness that the risk is always present for this to occur in summers to come unless we work now towards a solution to understanding and preventing the conditions that allowed the algae to plague Geist Reservoir in the Summer of 2007.

Come help your community and the GWA as it works to address the water quality issues affecting the lake. You will not be required to devote a great deal of time, but you can become educated and help to educate others while helping the GWA to make informed decisions about how to protect Geist Reservoir and your own property’s value.

More information about meetings and issues can be found at the GWA’s website: www.GeistWatershedAlliance.com. During the August steering committee meeting, a new schedule for monthly meetings will have been determined and posted on the website. It only takes a minute to make the cyber-visit and learn when the next meeting will take place. Please check us out!

After learning the news that the Geist Watershed Alliance received an award of $54,000 to fund its mission to protect the reservoir’s water quality, we contacted the Gwen White of the Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) section of Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources to learn more about what this means for our community. Gwen was very open and enthusiastic about the broad benefits this award will bring to not only Geist Reservoir, but also the waters leading into and away from our lake. The GWA is consequently positioned to help make a major contribution in terms of water quality for the whole region.

Gwen also made sure to congratulate and thank Dave Sylvester for his hard work in making this award become a reality. Like the rest of us involved with the Geist Watershed Alliance, she will miss his participation but wishes him well in the future.

Because the scope of this award is broad and fairly technical, Ms White kindly forwarded an easy-to-understand summary of its details and described what the GWA’s next steps will be. Her message is pasted below so that everyone can learn directly from the source about how the grant award will work.

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The IDNR Lake & River Enhancement Program (LARE) is providing an award that would cover 90% of the costs up to $54,000 for development of a Watershed Management Plan.

Components of the project will be:

• Update water quality or biological data, as necessary
• Summarize historical information on trends in land use and water quality
• Map and describe current reservoir and watershed conditions, as necessary
• Hydrology, shoreline and stream bank erosion, and sediment deposition
• Model nonpoint source pollution in lakes and subwatersheds
• Facilitate steering committee, stakeholder, and public meetings
• Complete a 5-year Aquatic Plant Vegetation Management Plan (AVMP)
• Complete a Watershed Management Plan

Important aspects of this project are:

• Since the reservoir is a critical resource for Indianapolis area water consumers and recreational users, multiple organizations and agencies are working together to build a long-term water quality protection plan, based on data collected by IUPUI, IDEM and others.
• The outcome will be to provide an interpretation of a great deal of scientific data to aid in the development of long-term guidance (watershed management plan) that focuses on addressing soil erosion, nutrient runoff, and invasive aquatic plants (milfoil) in the 1,900 acre reservoir and tributary streams throughout the 140,162 acre watershed draining to the reservoir. The project will address all aspects of nonpoint source pollution (runoff), including impacts on the growth of bluegreen algae.
• The project partnership will solicit active public participation through a series of meetings and other communication mechanisms to identify and expand positive actions and to address any concerns related to water quality and use. The local sponsors will help the contractor to identify the most effective ways to reach the broader community for input during this process. Part of the plan will be to identify the most effective mechanisms for future education and outreach on issues that are significant for the community.
• The resulting plan will prioritize strategic actions and will meet eligibility requirements for funding to implement future projects through both IDNR LARE state funding and IDEM Section 319 federal funding sources.

The recent flooding in Central and Southern Indiana is a stark reminder of how important water management is for sustaining our local economies and protecting downstream areas. This is an opportunity for the public to get involved by providing insight and creativity to address these issues. Each individual and organization in the area can make a difference.

During the initial coordination meeting on July 22 at 7 pm, we will go over the components of the plan in the Request for Proposals, which the GWA will then send to at least three contractors. The group can then identify contractors to interview and will select one to complete the project. I will then work with you to finalize a contract. Funding is available and work can start immediately. Projects typically last about 18 months. I will be at the meeting to answer any questions about LARE. I believe Bonny Elifritz will also be attending to ensure that we are coordinating efforts with the IDEM Section 319 program.

By Wendy Thanisch
Wendy@atGeist.com

The Geist Community’s own non-profit water quality protection organization, the Geist Watershed Alliance (GWA), was notified on July 9^th that it has been awarded $54,000 from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to fund the development of a watershed management plan. This is the GWA’s first big achievement, and is significant for not only for Geist, but also numerous other watershed groups in the region.

According to Gwen White of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, her agency is extremely excited to make this award because it will be funding a unique project – one which has not been done on such a large scale in this state. Specifically, it is designed to permit multiple agencies and organizations the ability to work together to share data, resources and solutions for protecting the region’s water quality.

One of the GWA’s first steps will be to hire a watershed coordinator. This contractor will serve as an administrator to organize and manage the GWA’s affairs, administer the grant’s guidelines and execute the strategies determined by its steering committee. Ultimately, the funding will allow this paid coordinator to streamline the tasks related to GWA’s mission without risk of failing to meet its goals due to inadequate volunteer participation, skills or resources.

During the course of the next 18 months, the GWA will develop a workable watershed management plan based on the technical data generated by the various government agencies, institutions and the feedback from all types of stakeholders. The plan will outline various projects and initiatives, which up to this point have not been started due to lack of funding, manpower and scientific research.

As described by DNR’s Gwen White, her agency anticipates that the GWA’s award will result in a plan that offers resources and benefits to a number of other connected communities and watersheds, and thereby contribute to the overall health of the lakes, streams, rivers and reservoirs in the region. Ms. White adds that other smaller watershed groups will be subsequently positioned to apply for future grants to fund their own projects.

At the end of July, the GWA’s Steering Committee will be meeting with representatives from DNR’s Lake and River Enhancement Program (LARE), the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and IUPUI to determine the organization’s structure and prepare a solicitation for bids in order to select a contracted watershed coordinator. In the meantime, residents interested in learning more about the Geist Watershed Alliance and its mission can visit their website at www.GeistWatershed.com. Full details about the grant and its objectives are available online.

The Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District’s urban conservationist, Shaena Smith, has been working hard to help the Geist community get the information and resources it needs to address the reservoir’s high nutrient levels.

In the June issue of the atGeist Newsletter, the following article will appear which promotes a workshop organized by the Hamilton County SWCD that will take place on the evening of the GWA’s regularly scheduled meeting for July. We hope that everyone will make a special effort to attend, as this workshop will be full of useful information that not only addresses the GWA’s mission, but also gives homeowners tons of tips for improving the beauty, health and utility of their gardens.

Please feel free to print out a copy of the flyer attached with this post or forward the link to this article to help promote this event. Let’s make this workshop a worthwhile step in getting the community’s individual homeowners mobilized in doing what it takes to address the problem of “too much food for blue green algae” in the water.

Impress Your Neighbors with a Spectacular Garden

By Wendy Thanisch
Wendy@atGeist.com

Want to know the secret of establishing an amazing flower garden and keeping it looking its best all season long? Even through drought and flood? Now, you can … and it won’t cost you a cent. In fact, it may save you money in the long run in terms of your water bill and what you spend on annual plants.

These secrets are being revealed at a free workshop presented on Wednesday evening, July 9th at the Geist Clubhouse from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. In just two short hours, you can learn a variety of simple techniques that will make your yard the envy of your whole neighborhood. An ecological expert from JFNew will be discussing how to design the landscape to maximize your yard’s features and water resources so that you can have a healthy, colorful garden during both the rainy and dry periods.

Also on hand will be Shaena Smith, our friendly urban conservationist from the Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), who will be showing us simple tools and tips for beautifying the landscape while preventing the runoff of harmful chemicals or sediment into the lake or storm sewer system. Perhaps best of all, she will also be teaching us how to keep those pesky Canada geese out of our yards.

Busy homeowners, do-it-yourselfers and gardening enthusiasts will be delighted by the short presentations and the opportunity to collect information about contractors, suppliers and resources available for residents who take pride in their property’s appearance.

Some of the topics being covered will include: rain gardens, fertilizers, rain barrels, and water edge enhancements. You can also learn what to plant in those difficult-to-grow-anything areas that might be affected by shade or standing water.

The folks most interested in attending this workshop will most certainly be the officers of homeowners associations who will be pleased to know they can get information about how their neighborhood can participate in a cost-share program that will not only enhance its scenic qualities, but also aid in reducing its contribution on the reservoir’s dangerously high nutrient levels. HOA representatives attending will want to make a special effort to connect with Shaena Smith in order to discuss how they can take advantage of this unique program – one which is not offered anywhere else in this state.

The Geist community is blessed to have such a workshop available free of charge. Residents elsewhere usually pay substantial sums of money to attend such events. However, because the reservoir is considered ‘at-risk’ due to last year’s toxic algae bloom, special favors are being given to the caretakers of the lake … i.e. - you and me. On behalf of the Geist Watershed Alliance, the Hamilton County SWCD has kindly organized this event in order to demonstrate that protecting the lake’s water quality doesn’t have to mean taking drastic measures or sacrificing a beautiful landscape.

Although the workshop is intended for Hamilton County residents, it’s unlikely that anyone from the Geist area (read Marion and Hancock Counties, McCordsville, Fortville, etc.) would be turned away. The Hamilton County SWCD understands that we all have an impact on Geist Reservoir.

You can get a printable flyer describing the workshop by visiting the atGeist Newsletter’s website where this article is posted. More information is also available at www.hamiltonswcd.org or when you register for the workshop at:
773-2181 ext. 101 (or)
tina.moon@in.nacdnet.net

Click the link for the Hamilton SWCD July 9th workshop Flyer

For folks who might not be able to attend the July 9th workshop, there will be another free workshop the following evening in Carmel. Click the link for a printable flyer which contains all the details about the Carmel workshop: SWCD Carmel Workshop Flyer

The latest issue of Indiana Living Green featured an article that seems to have been written with Geist in mind. The author, Lynn Jenkins, has kindly permitted us to post it on our website. For those not yet familiar with this magazine, you can check it out online when you click the link to finish the article.

For many folks, the term “organic” conjures up a picture of the 1960s’ homesteading hippie, bedecked in bib overalls. So, the word “natural” may be a better word to describe the best gardening and lawn practices. Plus, it gives a little leeway if there is the rare occasion when one must step off the organic path to handle something truly out-of control. Furthermore, since the U.S. Department of Agriculture has commandeered the word “organic” with its regulations, “natural” seems a more natural way to go. - Continue -

-Article appeared in the May/June 2008 Issue of Indiana Living Green, which can be picked up in Marsh Supermarkets near the atGeist Newsletter display.

Runoff Rangers Will Monitor Soil Erosion from Construction Sites

The Hoosier Chapter of the Sierra Club has started organizing workshops to train volunteers to monitor construction sites for required erosion control measures. The Hoosier Chapter’s liaison to the Geist Watershed Alliance, Bowden Quinn, has been working hard to give Geist residents this opportunity to learn how they can help protect the lake without investing a lot of time and energy. The following is his press release about the upcoming workshop.

Sediment is the largest surface water pollutant by volume in Indiana, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and much of this pollution comes from urban construction sites. New construction sites without erosion controls contribute more sedimentation per acre by volume than an agricultural field.

Soil particles can carry phosphorus into the water, promoting algae and weed growth. Sediment can also degrade fish habitat and decrease the recreational and aesthetic value of a water body. Furthermore, erosion can clog drains, ponds and storm sewers, leading to damage to streets and culverts. Cleaning sedimentation buildups costs taxpayers thousands of dollars a year. Sedimentation can contribute to flooding by decreasing storage capacity in lakes and rivers. Erosion can also remove fertile topsoil, making it harder to establish a lawn or garden on a site.

Simple conservation and site management practices can reduce or eliminate erosion. Builders can generally implement these practices at little or no extra cost. They make the contractor’s job easier and more profitable.

To raise awareness of erosion control practices and the problem of sedimentation, the chapter is organizing workshops to train volunteers to become Runoff Rangers who will monitor construction sites in their area. The first workshop will be in Marion County, in association with watershed alliance members from the Eagle Creek and Geist Reservoir areas. The City of Indianapolis, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Marion County Soil & Water Conservation District have agreed to attend to discuss the problem. The workshop will teach people what types of erosion controls are needed and how to look for sedimentation problems. The workshop will be Thursday, June 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the auditorium of the Holliday Park Nature Center, 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis. Anyone interested in attending the workshop should contact Bowden Quinn, the chapter’s conservation program coordinator, at 317-822-3750 or by email at bowden.quinn@sierraclub.org.

We want to organize squads of Runoff Rangers around the state to help educate builders on ways to prevent erosion and to urge local authorities to take enforcement action against contractors who willfully disregard erosion control requirements. People interested in organizing a workshop in their area can contact Bowden for assistance.

At the May 14th alliance meeting, Paul Whitmore of Veolia Water passed out copies of a proposed ordinance which will be introduced to the City-County Council on June 5th. This proposed ordinance outlines the future practices of the city-county’s water management during times of water shortages/drought.

As a result of last year’s severe drought, Veolia Water and the Indianapolis Department of Waterworks found it necessary to issue water restrictions; however, no formal procedure or enforcement structure was in place. Therefore, the need for an ordinance became apparent and the public is invited to review and comment on the resulting proposal.

In summary, the ordinance states that Indianapolis Water Company will issue a variety of notices when conditions warrant. Specifically, in order of severity, they may announce: Advisory, Warning or Emergency. With each type of notice, either recommendations or restrictions will apply. In the event of a warning or emergency, mandatory conservation practices will be outlined.

At present, the Department of Waterworks is investigating options for enforcement procedures and Veolia anticipates that there could be a finalized ordinance in place sometime this summer.

Again, the public is asked to review the proposed ordinance and submit feedback. To date, feedback from the City of Noblesville indicates that they are eying the progress of Indianapolis and expect to follow their lead, as the need for such an ordinance became quite evident during the summer of 2007.

The Water Conservation Ordinance is available for review at: http://www.indianapoliswater.com/Assets/PDF/DOW_Draft_Conservation_Ordianance.pdf

Feedback about the ordinance can be submitted to:

Paul Whitmore - paul.whitmore@veoliawaterna.com

Indianapolis Department of Waterworks - Jo Lynn Garing, Director of Communications, 317-263-6398, jgaring@indygov.org

Saturday, May 17th will be an early morning for many alliance members when they head out to the marina to man a water booth for Half-Marathon racers crossing the finish line. This will be an excellent opportunity to connect with Geist residents in order to get the word out about the dangers of phosphorus in lawn fertilizers.

It looks like we may have close to a dozen volunteers who will start arriving around 7:30 am. We plan to be staying until around noon. More volunteers would certainly be welcome to join us … just come find us at the finish line and you can help us in our mission to educate our fellow community members about how we can work towards preventing future problems with blue green algae and other invasive aquatic plants.

For those of you who have volunteered to man the GWA’s water booth, you can view a map of the race course and locate the areas where traffic will be restricted by clicking here. Parking is available at HSE High School and the church just west of Brooks School Road on Fall Creek Road. Shuttles will be running to and from HSE until 2 pm.

Rep. Brian Bosma and Senators Bev Gard and Jim Merritt will be hosting an informational meeting at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, April 29th at the Geist Yacht Club, 12900 Fall Creek Road.  All residents are welcome to come and hear what your legislators have to say about addressing the reservoir’s water quality issues.

This year, the Indiana General Assembly passed a law banning dishwasher detergent that contains phosphorus. This ban will go into effect in 2010 and intended to prevent phosphorus from harming the waterways where wastewater treatment plants discharge, as well as areas like Geist where homes on septic systems impact the lake. There are already a few phosphate-free detergents available, but we have not yet compiled a list of products we recommend.

Many thanks to Leslie Hiner sharing her experience in using phosphate-free dishwasher detergent - she’s the first resident to offer product information:

“I tried the phosphate-free dishwasher detergent at Trader Joe’s, and was not satisfied. It left a residue on dishes and silverware. I added Jet Dry and this helped, but it still was a problem. However, I tried the Seventh Generation dishwasher detergent purchased at Wild Oats and it is much better. I think it’s important that consumers have access to phosphate-free dishwasher detergent that is effective and a good cleanser. If the detergent leaves a residue, those who are not hard core believers like us may be tempted to give up and use the phosphates.”

Our products committee will be collecting the information and we look forward to any information that you can share to help us in this effort. If you have tried a phosphate-free detergent, or any other type of household or lawn care products, please feel free to post your comments on our website. You can also contact Wendy Thanisch on the products committee at wendy@outsourced-writing.com or 490-1541.