St. Joseph River Basin Commission
Basin Bites and
Technical Tidbits
First Quarter—March 2001
Quarterly Meeting Scheduled
Go To:
Welcome
Taming
the Tide; Stormwater Management Workshop Planned
Spring,
Golf and the Environment
Guides
for Golfers
Benefits of Buffers
Should More Trout and Salmon be
Stocked in Northern Indiana Rivers?
The St. Joseph River Basin Commission Meeting is scheduled for March 6, 2001 at the Elkhart County Public Services Building, 4230 Elkhart Road (U.S. 33), Goshen. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m.
The St. Joseph River Basin Commission welcomes a number of
new faces to the Commission. The enabling legislation identifies what entities
can be members of the Commission. In addition, it states that appointees may
have representatives identified to act in their absence at quarterly meetings.
New to the River Basin Commission for 2000/2001 are:
Mayor of
Angola --
Michael P.
Keleman, Representative
LaGrange County Commissioners
--
Jerry
Grogg, Representative
Kosciusko County Commissioners – Ronald Truex, Appointee
St. Joseph
County Health Officer – Dr. Janice Carson, M.D., Appointee
Tony Mancuso or Shannon Franklin,
Representative
Mayor of South Bend --
John J. Dillon or Ken Zmudzinski,
Representative
Steuben County
Health Officer --
Tom Friend, Representative
A complete listing of the St. Joseph River Basin Commission
Basin Commission members along with their designated representative can be found
on the Basin Commission website (www.sjrbc.com).
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Taming the Tide
Stormwater Management Workshop Planned
June 20 is the date set for a workshop in the St. Joseph River Basin, which will focus on stormwater management issues. Speakers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program, and others have been invited to address the many facets involved with stormwater management and the proposed Phase II Stormwater Management rules.
Workshop registration materials and a detailed agenda will be
mailed in mid-May. Contact us for more info.
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Spring, Golf and the Environment
The first sighting of green grass in area golf courses is temptation enough to get those golf clubs out of winter storage (if they were ever put away). However, a growing question asks "Is enough being done with golf courses to reduce any detrimental impact to the environment that surrounds or becomes part of the increasing number of courses?".The Golf and the Environment Initiative is trying to insure that the answer is "Yes". Endorsed by a number of golf-related organizations, including the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Club Managers Association of America, National Golf Course Owners Association, and a number of other industry and environmental groups, the Golf and the Environment partnership set out to develop a framework of environmental protection for new and existing golf courses.
The principles address not only the planning and siting of the course, but design, construction, maintenance, water usage, and waste management This voluntary program will include a self-assessment checklist to evaluate how well a course is meeting the principles.
The principles are expected to be complete by February 2001,
in time for the Golf Course Superintendents’ Association annual meeting.
For further information on these principles, go to:
http://www.usga.org/green/download/current_issues/environmental_principals.html
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Guides for Golfers
The Golf and the Environment partnership has also developed guidelines for golfers. Responsible golfers:
Recognize that golf courses are managed land areas that should complement the natural environment.
Respect designated environmentally sensitive areas within the course.
Accept the natural limitations and variations of turf grass plants growing under conditions that protect environmental resources (e.g., brown patches, thinning, loss of color).
Support golf course management decisions that protect or enhance the environment and encourage the development of environmental conservation plans.
Support maintenance practices that protect wildlife and natural habitats.
Encourage maintenance practices that promote the long-range health of the turf and support environmental objectives. Such practices include aerification, reduced fertilization, limited play on sensitive turf areas, reduced watering, etc.
Commit to long-range conservation efforts (e.g., efficient water use, Integrated Plant Management, etc.) on the golf course and at home.
Educate others about the benefits of environmentally responsible golf course management.
Support research and education programs that expand our understanding of the relationship between golf and the environment.
Take pride in our environmentally responsible courses.
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Benefits of Buffers
The use of buffer strips to improve water quality was the focus of one of the first articles that ever appeared in Basin Bites and Technical Tidbits. Two years later, the reasons are even stronger and the opportunities for financial assistance even greater. Protection of water resources and conservation of soil are the "big-picture" benefit of installing buffer strips. But a closer look proves just how well they work, and how beneficial they are.
Research has shown that buffers, installed as vegetated filter strips, windbreaks or grassed waterways, all improve water quality and manage water quantity by:
Removing up to 60 percent of the harmful bacteria carried in runoff;
Removing up to 50 percent of the pesticides and fertilizers carried in runoff;
Increasing the distance between waterways and chemical application areas;
Reducing flood damage to crops;
Stabilizing banks and reducing sediment transport in receiving waters;
Improving streams and rivers for fish and other aquatic animals, and adding habitat along the corridor for wildlife;
Providing easier access for ditch and tile maintenance;
Making the property look great!
Financial incentives listed below, also exist to further encourage establishments of buffers.
Cost-share programs to offset cost of establishing the buffers—purchasing and planting woody vegetation, seed stock, etc.
Incentives to makeup for land taken out of production—"Conservation Reserve Program";
Tax breaks under Indiana’s Filter Strip Assessment Law (IC 6-1.1 –6.7).
Riparian buffers are a good idea for urbanized streams as well as rural waterbodies. Experience has shown that properly protected and planted stream corridors in urban settings, are less likely to break down causing property loss. Tall vegetation along waterways also discourages Canada geese from roosting along banks.
The direct and indirect benefits of buffer strips has not declined over time, and property owners are encouraged to consider using this conservation tool whenever possible. Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts are not only able to provide technical assistance in designing a good system, but can also provide details on financial assistance programs.Return
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Should More Trout and Salmon be
Stocked in Northern Indiana Rivers?
That’s the question the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is asking. Comments regarding the change are being sought until April 1, 2001.
Fisheries biologists of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources are considering a change in the fish stocking plan for the St. Joseph River, as well as Trail Creek and the Little Calumet River. The proposed plan includes:
§ Increasing the number of stocked salmon in Trail Creek and the Little Calumet River;
§ Switching from Chinook salmon to winter-run Steelhead trout (Michigan strain) in the St. Joseph River.
If adopted, the new stocking program would begin in 2002. The change would represent a 60-percent increase in Coho stocking for a total of 240,000 fish released each year. Winter-run Steelhead in the St. Joseph River would further enhance fisheries from late October through April.
Comments regarding the proposed change in stocking these northern Indiana rivers should be sent in writing to:
Lake Michigan Investigations
100 West Water Street
Michigan City, IN 46360
Hatchery production capacity and Lake Michigan’s carrying capacity limit the number of fish that can annually be stocked. Coordination between the three Lake Michigan states insures that overstocking does not occur.