Great Notes for my successor! April 7, 2010 Talked to Professor Bein, who said that Chris Strickland likely led a group of students to clean Fall Creek last year and that he (Professor Bein) had no plans for a trash pickup along Fall Creek. If we send him a flyer - he'll be glad to help us out with some student recruitment. Monday, May 11, 2009 Tammy Stevens called and said our June 6 Clean-up is registered with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (with no dumpster). I can pick up the gloves and trash bags any Friday before June from 9am-5pm - at 1029 Fletcher Ave. in Fountain Square near Shelby right accross from the DQ. 264-7555 x116 Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Talked to Chris Strickland, who led a service learning project of IUPUI students who cleaned up Fall Creek from 465 down to just above the Keystone Dam on April 18th. They got really tired the closer they got to the dam. He said that Professor Bein, Geography, IUPUI would be taking over the project since Chris is finished, graduated, matriculated, and off to start the next thing. He said Ron Lauster from Marion County Water & Conservation District...would be a good speaker on Fall Creek water issues. Chris said that there is a report on the District's website. Registered cleanup with American Rivers in the hopes of getting 60 free trash bags. Must be ordered 4 weeks ahead of time - we should squeak by.... See if can get gloves from Keep Indpls Beautiful - faxed request - we'll see what happens. Tuesday, May 5, 2009 Called Tammy Stevens 264-7555 x116 from Keep Indianapolis Beautiful to ask about the garbage bags, gloves (since we don't need the dumpster). She didn't call back today. Can't really hit American Rivers for garbage bags until I have information on the clean-up - start time, end time, etc. Sunday, May 3, 2009 write letter for HCC - DO ASAP/you now owe two letters, camp belzer and cafos checklist for clean-up - DO ASAP, register cleanup for free bags May 1, 2009 Panic setting in - must write confirmation letter
to Kevin, and create clean-up to do list and email the group. I
emailed Chris Strickland - the IUPUI student that organized the April 18th clean-up of Fall creek
Kevin Hobbs Camp Belzer 6102 Boy Scout Road Indianapolis, IN 46226 317 546 6031 The guy who went to get the phone number today (just before Kevin showed up) is named Daniel Cunningham, he was a club member for one year, in 2003.
IUPUI Students Form Volunteer Group for Fall Creek Cleanup!
Over the past two years, The Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District has been working to help create more interest in improving water quality conditions with its Lower Fall Creek Watershed Planning project. This past Saturday, April 18th. A group of IUPUI students accepted the challenge, and launched their own Fall Creek watershed cleanup project. If you walk near Fall Creek now, you might notice that its shores and banks look a little more pristine and clean! A small group of students and volunteers were more than willing and enthusiastic to get dirty… to help cclean up the creek! The student community impact project was called “Canoe for a Cause†, and consisted of over 15 students and volunteers, who floated down the creek and worked to help clean up the stream. The project was headed by Chris Strickland, a senior Communication Studies major at IUPUI. They picked up trash and litter along Fall Creek’s banks, observed environmental risks to the creek, and took in the views. The Project’s goals were not only to beautify the banks of the creek, but to bring awareness to the creeks ecosystem and conservation of water resources. The project efforts also helped the students broaden awareness of the streams conditions to others just in time for Earth day being celebrated Wednesday, April 22nd this year. Chris Strickland, project leader for the volunteer effort, says, “It is vital and important to appreciate our urban watersheds and ecosystems as they are being constantly stressed by the number of people who put strain on our resources. This project will remind people that there is a beautiful part of the city that few citizens stop to appreciate. We need to strive to keep these precious sanctuaries in the condition they deserve†. The group managed to collect six large trash bags full of litter along with several other “big ticket items†. Chris continues, “We were looking for large items to collect that could pose a threat to wildlife and fellow enthusiast of the Creek.†Among their “big ticket†items, they dug out were a submerged motor scooter, two large truck tires and 2 large cast iron pipes. The group spent much of their time picking debris and trash out of the brush and trees branches along the stream bank. Chris says, “Everyone had a great time and the group wants to spread the word to the city that if we all do a little we can have a great impact as one†. Chris encourages anyone else with interest in helping their group with future cleanup efforts to contact him by email at chris.strickland1@gmail.com or phone at 317-354-5308. IUPUI is ranked as one of leading college campuses in the country that hosts community outreach and impact efforts, and the “Canoe for a Cause†project is a shining example of how college students are impacting their local community environment for the better. April 25, 2009 The stars aligned and Dan, Erin,
Adrienne and I floated down Fall Creek, starting from 79th street and
ending right above Emerson. We met at 10:30 and probably got on the
water around 11:30. We paddled until 3:30 (with a stop for lunch). We
noticed that there was not a lot of trash. Several strainers with the
potential for getting stuck - but only one portage. Dan talked to
Kevin Hobbs about using Camp Belzer as a staging area. I need to write
a confirmation letter and copy Dan. Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - Post Earth Day for HCC (never got around to doing this /-:) White River Article in Indy Star, Earth Day Festivities on Saturday, April 25th http://www.indystar.com/article/20090419/LOCAL18/904190394 http://www.earthdayindiana.org/ April 15, 2009 - E-mail Rae (HEC) emailed Rae from HEC, cc Dan Vallesky Newsletter submission Plans are underway for a HCC Fall Creek Clean Up for Saturday, June 6th, 2009. The HCC Conservation committee is busy planning this event. Committee members will scout the section that runs along the Fall Creek Trail, Indy Greenways from Skiles Test Park down to the take out above Keystone Avenue to determine the perfect clean-up site. Friends of the White River (FOWR) will also be participating in this event. Plan on spending the morning with us and we'll end the event by early afternoon. We plan on having a lot of fun while making Fall Creek and its banks a more pleasant place to paddle. If you are not familiar with Fall Creek as it runs from Pendleton above Geist Reservoir, and below the reservoir to the Indianapolis Keystone Avenue take out, some good websites are: http://www.fallcreekindiana.com and the Fall Creek Trail, Indy Greenways website at http://www.indygreenways.org/fallcreek/fallcreek.htm. There will be plenty of volunteer opportunities (besides the clean up part), such as paddling the lead boat, the sweep boat, first aid (just in case), organizing the shuttle, distributing supplies (trash bags, gloves, drinking water, etc), photographer, and festivity planning. Please let us know if you are interested in volunteering. Conservation committee, chair Kellie Kaneshiro, Dan Valleskey, Mary Keith, and Joel Delashmit April 10, 2009 Bboard post Conservation (4 items)
**** Invest in the banks of White River Short notice, just in case you're looking at the HCC BBoard on Friday evening and need something to do bright and early TOMORROW MORNING. Lend a hand for the 21st Annual White River Cleanup, scheduled for Saturday, April 11, 2009 from 8 a.m. to noon. Details are at: http://www.friendsofwhiteriver.org/ **** Electronic Waste Collection Day A free electronic waste recycling drive hosted by Indiana University Bloomington and IUPUI, will take place in both Bloomington and Indianapolis on April 30-May 2. Details at: http://homepages.indiana.edu/web/page/normal/10536.html **** Hoosier Canoe Club Fall Creek Clean-Up Hold the Date! Fall Creek Cleanup Saturday, June 6, 2009 The HCC Conservation Committee is planning the cleanup of Fall Creek, the location will be a stretch somewhere along the Fall Creek Greenway well ABOVE the dam by Keystone. Count on spending Saturday morning and a portion of the afternoon with us. The rest of the day will be all yours! **** The Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) is opposing House Bill 1191 which negatively affects Indiana’s rivers and waterways. House Bill 1191 deals with regulation of large livestock operations. This bill prohibits local government from enacting ordinances relating to manure handling, does not require that manure management plans be enforced and makes no mention of protecting water or air quality. For more information on this bill, HEC's website: http://www.hecweb.org/content.cfm?n=2009cafo. Note: This bill has been amended by the Senate and sent back to the House. I (Kellie) will contact Alexandra Eaks from the Hoosier Environmental Council to determine what actions might be taken at this point. If anyone else on the Bulletin Board is knowledgeable about this - please chime in. April 8, 2009 Talked to Tom White - recommended less than 5 miles and cautioned that
boat cleanup is tough, stay off private property; contact him if KIB
needs more than cross streets. 327-2250; twhite@indygov.org (Tom White) Both Karina and Lauren recommended that I talk to Tom White, Department of Waste Management who has been involved with clean-ups. He told me to make sure that we have plenty of water and that we have first-aid kits handy. He cautioned me about clean-up using boats, said it was tricky and he recommended keeping to the Greenway side for the clean-up and staying away from private property. I pulled the Keep Indianapolis Beautiful application for dumpsters, and they wanted exact addresses for dumpster location. Tom told me to give them cross streets. Tom said to quit well above the Keystone dam due to a combined sewer overflow location near that area. Note: we can also register with American Rivers they will want: name of clean-up, how many trash bags needed? date? start and end times, location-address, city, state, zip, additional information, public clean-up or private, contact information and how many volunteers expected. April 7, 2009 I talked to Lauren Hammond, Outreach and Education 327-8374;
lhammond@indygov.org . She's willing
to help us publicize this if we want it to be a big event. She said
that she has a mailing list of ~150 folks who might be interested.
Because
this is the Club's first clean-up in a while, I would like to keep it
on the smaller side - for my own sanity's sake. April 3, 2009 called Lauren Hammond, Clean Stream Team March 25, 2009 On March 25, I asked Karina Straub, Indy Greenway Parks manager 327-7432
for
permission/blessing to clean some part of the Fall Creek Greenway - and
she e-mailed for us to "clean away!" Also receive response from Clean
Stream Team that Lauren Hammond is the person I should contact.
Karina recommended that I get in touch with the "Clean Stream Team" Karina busy and I couldn't reach her for a couple of weeks. Talked to person in charge of IndyGreenways - referred to Karina Straub
Dear Kellie,
I am an outreach associate for Central Indiana with the Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC). I am writing today to let you know about some state level legislation that HEC is opposing. Part of my work is to inform Hoosiers about legislation that could impact them and let them know what action can be taken to support or oppose legislation. Because you are the conservation officer, I felt this probably fell into your realm of responsibility. Currently, there is a bill in the Senate Energy & Environmental Affairs Committee that could negatively affect Indiana’s rivers and waterways. House Bill 1191 deals with regulation of large livestock operations. This bill prohibits local government from enacting ordinances relating to manure handling, does not require that manure management plans be enforced and makes no mention of protecting water or air quality. For more information on this bill, see our website: http://www.hecweb.org/content.cfm?n=2009cafo.
The members of your club spend a lot of time enjoying Indiana’s rivers and streams. However, if this bill is enacted, the health of Indiana’s waterways will be at risk! Please take a moment to act in opposition to HB 1191. HB 1191 has been assigned to the Senate Energy & Environmental Affairs Committee, of which Senator Patricia Miller (R-Indy) is a member. Please call or email Senator Miller and urge her to oppose HB 1191 to maintain the integrity of Indiana’s rivers and streams. Senator Miller: s32@in.gov or 317-232-9489. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. Thank you for your time and help!
Best wishes, Alexandra Eaks Outreach Associate Southeast & Central Indiana Hoosier Environmental Council 317-685-8800 x105
It is not enough to understand the natural world. The point is to defend it and preserve it. --Edward Abbey March 11, 2009 Clarke-
We discussed this at the board meeting last night. It was agreed that the club is against such stream bank repairs, but we don't know the best way to go about making our voices heard on such matters. We decided that if you want to write a letter or two for us on these types of permit actions, that the club will send the letter. I guess the best way for us to do that would be for you to write the letter, send it along to me (email), I will do a cut and paste and send it along, signing as Skipper of the HCC, representing club views. Please include pertinent information when you send it on to me, I need to have at least a passing understanding of the issues to be able to agree with any particular stand. I will also need the correct address that the letter needs to be sent to. Hope this approach can prove to be a help. -Dan At 01:17 PM 3/5/2009, Clarke Kahlo wrote: Hello Teresa, Does anyone in the HCC besides me get these DNR Public Notices by email? The current edition (3-5-09)...March 10, 2009 (left message) I later spoke with Katie Hodgdon, DNR Hoosier Riverwatch
Volunteer Coordinator 541-0617 and she checked her database and didn't find
anyone who had adopted-a-river for the stretch of Fall Creek from 465
to the Keystone Dam. I wanted to make sure that another organization
hadn't formally adopted that section, and if they had, then we'd need
to work with them on the clean-up. March 8, 2009 Theresa drove me down along the stretch of Fall Creek from
79th to just above the Keystone dam. I saw Killer Falls for the first
time, located just below 465. Flycasters has adopted the portion of
Fall Creek that runs through Fort Benjamin Harrison. The Dirty Dozen
Hunting and Fishing Club has adopted Fall Creek south of the Keystone
dam (found this out April 8th when talking to Tom White).
February(?)
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