Hoosier Conservation: Summer 2011

PresidentSteve Cecil

First Vice-PresidentGlenn Lange

Second Vice-PresidentDoug Allman

SecretaryKay O’Callaghan

TreasurerAdam McLane

National Wildlife Federation Representative

Dr. Dave HoffmanImmediate Past President

Shaena ReinhartExecutive DirectorBarbara Simpson

EditorStephen Sellers

Graphic Design/LayoutJulie Kirkendoll

PrintingThe Papers, Incorporated

Milford, IndianaPlease address all advertising

and editorial inquires to: Editor

4715 W. 106th StreetZionsville, IN 46077

Phone: 317-875-9453Email: [email protected]

The Indiana Wildlife Federation is considered a non-profit organization by the

Internal Revenue Service

VOICE OF THE INDIANA WILDLIFE FEDERATIONHoosier Conservation (155N NO. 0199.6894) is published quarterly by Indiana Wildlife Federation, an independent statewide organization of affiliated conservation clubs and concerned citizens of Indiana. IWF is the Indiana affiliate of the National Wildlife Federations, and is incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana as a non-profit corporation. Hoosier Conservation is a membership periodical available only to the various classes of IWF members and is not sold by subscription.Periodical Office: The Papers, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542. Periodical postage paid at Milford, IN.Editorial Office: Manuscripts, news releases, and cor-respondence directed specifically to the Editor should be addressed to: H.C. Editor, 4715 W. 106th Street, Zionsville, IN. Manuscripts, photographs, or artwork should be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes with return postage. However, Hoosier Conservation assumes no liability for the return of unsolicited materials. Material appearing in Hoosier Conservation may be reproduced with the appropriate credit lines unless designated a ©.Membership and Business Office: Correspondence about membership, delivery of Hoosier Conservation, or general business should be addressed to 4715 W. 106th Street, Zionsville, IN 46077.Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to Hoosier Conservation, 4715 W. 106th Street, Zionsville, IN 46077.

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By BarBara SimpSon■■

The Simpson family reunion takes place every Memo-rial Day weekend. We gather at a state park and spend the weekend catching up and enjoying being together. Good food, good laughs, the typical reunion.

One of the traditions during the weekend is we take a hike. This idea started many years ago early in the morn-ing before breakfast. At some point we decided a hike after the big dinner on Saturday was the thing.

Somehow I was appointed leader, and for a few years other aunts and uncles would join me in shepherding the younger generation along the trail.

Well, over the years the hikers have changed. The little ones that were too young to go in the beginning are now the teenagers we have taking the lead.

It’s a treat for me to arrive at the dinner each year with the teenagers and younger kids all asking me if we are going to be going on the hike again this year. The answer is always “yes,” and we always have a great time.

This year the hike was a little different. It was the first year my two grandchildren have been on the hike. I have to admit I thought my son would need to carry my 3-year old granddaughter most of the way, but they did want to go, and who can say no to their grandchildren.

So, off we went, on the hike to Laurel Cove. The trail was a little rougher than usual due to recent storms that had trees blown down across the trail.

But everyone did fine, climbing over or ducking under the trees as needed to keep us moving. My grandchildren did just great, the 3-year-old walking most of the trail, and my 6 year old grandson keeping up with the teenagers.

I didn’t think the day could be more perfect. But as we came to the last downed tree near the end of the trail, someone said, “There’s a deer!”

It’s not unusual to spot a deer on a hike like this, but in this case, the deer was a newborn fawn, curled up and wide eyed, still as could be, at the base of the tree we were crossing, not two feet from where we were stepping.

The combination of family, tradition, and nature made this one of my favorite hikes. Can’t wait to see what happens next year.

A hike to remember

Cover photo courtesy DNR/Outdoor Indiana magazine

Hoosier Conservation | 3www.indianawildlife.org

We are proud to present our inaugural Summer Concert for Conservation titled Devotion to Wildlife with Jennie DeVoe, July 9, 7 p.m. at West Park in Carmel.

The evening will begin at 5:30 with a VIP pre-concert cocktail hour and silent auction. Chat with Jennie before the show, and get a first chance to bid on some great auction items from our fabulous donors.

Spread out your blanket or chair, and take in the soulful sounds that have made Jennie a Midwestern icon. She will take the stage at 7 p.m. and play until dark.

Jennie DeVoe has put out a handful of albums since the late 1990s. Based in In-dianapolis, she has taken her bluesy style across the country, opening for legends Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, Lucinda Wil-liams, and Ray Charles.

IWF is partnering with Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation to host the event. During the show, we will officially certify West Park as wildlife friendly.

West Park will become the second Car-mel Clay park to earn our certification. Central Park was recognized as Wildlife Friendly last summer. CCPR plans to certify all of its parks.

Tickets for the concert are on sale

now. You may stop by our office, or buy them through our website, www.indi-anawildlife.org. General admission tickets are $30, but IWF members can use our promotional code (BLUEHERON) for $10 off their tickets.

VIP tickets cost $75. VIP ticket holders will receive special parking and seating during the show and a cocktail

hour where you can meet Jennie before she plays. The Cocktail hour will include beer, wine, and light hors d’oeurves catered by Ritz Charles.

Tickets will be available at the door—cash only.

All proceeds from tickets and auction sales go directly to IWF. Good tunes for a great cause. We can’t wait to see you there.•

Good tunes for a great cause

Mention this ad when you join online and receive a free gift!Visit www.indianawildlife.org today.


By traviS StoeltinG■■

Every year, biologists, foresters and other land managers apply fire to thou-sands of acres in Indiana to achieve specif-ic goals in natural resources management.

Like many other habitat management activities, prescribed burning can appear somewhat harsh and destructive at first glance.

However, those who have had experi-ence with prescribed fires know how useful this practice can be. They have de-veloped the science of prescribed burning as one of the most effective and efficient habitat management tools available.

Fire in IndianaHistorically, fire occurred through-

out much of Indiana and played a very influential role in sustaining the plants and animals found in our state. By most accounts, numerous low-intensity fires oc-curred quite frequently, suppressed only by natural features of the land and weather.

Ignition was triggered by both natural

sources, such as lightning strikes, and by Native Americans for various purposes. Fire ran freely through thousands of acres of woodlands, grasslands, and various forms of important transitional habitats like savannas and barrens.

Since the years of European settlement to the present, the management of fire has varied considerably from the occur-rence of large, intense fires to their almost complete suppression.

Today, natural resource professionals are using prescribed fire on an increasing-ly regular basis, for a lot of good reasons.

Fire as a toolThe modern form of prescribed burn-

ing has been used in natural resources management since the 1940s. As a tool, fire can help us elicit certain responses in vegetation and wildlife, all of which vary according to several factors.

The three things you can count on for every fire are a reduction in fuel materials, rapid recycling of nutrients,

and a temporary reversal of natural plant succession.

In addition to these three most basic effects, natural resource managers have learned to anticipate several ecological responses to fire based on a host of factors including the fire’s intensity, what time of year it occurs, what species are present and numerous others.

For example, when burning in a grassland, not only do we know that we are reducing the build-up of dead plant material and slowing the growth of woody plants. Also, we know that we can encour-age growth of wildflowers by burning in the fall or, alternatively, promote grasses by burning in the spring.

Disturbance-dependent communities

We also can predict the long-term ef-fects of fire. The repetition of fire even-tually favors an increase in plants and animals that respond well to fire and a

Ring of FirePrescribed Burning and Its Important Role in Indiana

more ➲


By Brooke o’Brien, intern■■

April 22 marked the conclusion of the Indiana Wildlife Federation’s second annual “What’s in Your Wild Backyard?” kid’s contest, held in celebration of Indi-ana Wildlife Week.

The online contest asked first through fifth grade students to answer questions related to various aspects of Indiana’s wildlife.

Nine winners (listed below) were ran-domly chosen from all participants who completed the quiz. These lucky winners were recognized and awarded prizes at the White River State Park’s Earth Day Indiana Festival held on April 23.

This year’s contest was a tremendous success. More than 500 kids partici-pated, which was more than a 50 percent increase in comparison with last year. The students represented 34 schools and 26 cities throughout the state.

We expect the contest to keep grow-ing, and we look forward to refreshing the content for next year. Thanks again to the

Huff Animal Protection Trust for mak-ing this contest possible and to all of our participants for making it a success.

Congrats to this year’s winners:1st & 2nd gradeCierra Berry—Our Lady of Lourdes,

IndianapolisKayden Slone—Dayton Elementary,

LafayetteSkaidrite Martinex—Home-schooled,

Fortville3rd & 4th gradeMaleia Taylor—Oaklandon Elementary,

IndianapolisAndie Batchelor—Kingsbury Elementary,

HamletJamey Deckard—Lincoln Elementary,

Bedford5th gradeGuadalupe Medina—Brook Park

Elementary, IndianapolisKierra Dobbs—Paul I. Miller

Elementary, IndianapolisSam Hubert—Sunman Dearborn

Intermediate School, Lawrenceburg

Second annual IWF kid’s contest a success

decrease is likely in those that do not. Many native plants have specific

features that allow them to flourish in fire-adapted communities. Trees such as oaks and persimmons have thick bark to withstand flames. Shrubs, such as winged sumac and blackberries, vigorously sprout from rhizomes after a fire.

Many native grasses and wildflowers also have developed root systems that extend more than 10 feet into the ground, gathering water and nutrients and allow-ing the plants to rapidly generate impres-sive growth following a fire.

These types of plants often occur to-gether, creating unique areas of habitat for a variety of wildlife. Without fire, most of these areas would develop into different types of habitat. Therefore, they would not support the species of plants and ani-mals that previously occurred and depend on this type of disturbance.

In Indiana, these unique areas are prairies, oak savannas, barrens, and oak-

dominated forests. Some wildlife that especially depend on fire include north-ern bobwhites, Karner blue butterflies, Henselow’s sparrows, and countless spe-cies that rely on oaks and grassland plants.

Fire has quite a legacy in Indiana, as it does in many other states of the central hardwoods and other regions of North America. Fragmented landscapes and lim-ited management resources make the use of prescribed fire today just as important, if not more so, than the fires that oc-curred historically.

Thankfully, the practice of prescribed burning is rebounding. Over the past sev-eral years, we have seen prescribed burns used in our national forests, state forests, nature preserves, fish and wildlife areas, and even our state parks.

The return of fire to Indiana’s land-scape is a true success, and it undoubtedly will help maintain the ecological integrity of our state’s natural areas for many gen-erations to come.•

Conservation outreach in northwestern IN

IWF started working in April on an exciting new program to help improve en-vironmental quality and wildlife habitat at the watershed level in northwest Indiana.

Through a cooperative agreement with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, IWF formed the Conservation Outreach Program as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GRLI), a large-scale collaborative effort between U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and 15 other federal agencies to restore the Great Lakes.

GRLI’s action plan focuses on pollu-tion prevention and cleanup, combating invasive species, protecting near-shore health and preventing nonpoint source pollution, wildlife habitat protection and restoration, as well as education, com-munication, and partnerships.

Our Conservation Outreach Pro-gram will emphasize the importance of restoring wildlife habitat and the value of sound conservation practices, while in-creasing local knowledge of the technical and financial resources available to do so, in the Little Calumet-Galien watershed.

The program is IWF’s first opportu-nity to use such a targeted approach to outreach and conservation education.

We will conduct a series of workshops throughout Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties to raise awareness about land-owner assistance programs, invasive spe-cies of the region and technical resources available for land improvements.

Some of the events will include a field day portion where attendees can see conservation practices and programs on working farmland.

Over the next year and a half, the Conservation Outreach Program will deliver a lot of valuable information to residents of the Little Calumet-Galien watershed.

Watch for more details about loca-tions and dates for upcoming events as part of IWF’s Conservation Outreach Program. Events will be posted on our website (www.indianawildlife.org). We look forward to seeing you there.•

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The Ginn AwardLynn Burry

Legislative Conservationist of the YearRepresentative Dick Dodge Agriculture Conservationist of the Year Brian Salomon Soil & Water Conservationist of the YearJim Lake Conservation Communicator of the YearJulie Kandal Paul Bunner Conservationist of the YearJeanette Neagu

Conservation Organization of the YearLittle River Wetlands Project (read about this project on page 10) Wildlife Conservationist of the YearThom Maher Charles Holt Academic Scholarship recipientEmily Hunt, Purdue University

A current IWF intern and Zionsville native, Emily is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in wildlife. Her passion for wildlife has inspired her work with Zoo Club, Helping Paws, Wildlife Society, and the Purdue Equestrian team, in addition to her rigorous academic schedule.

The Indiana Wildlife Federation honored six individuals and one organization for their leader-ship in conservation. Presentations were made at the IWF banquet in June at Pokagon State Park. The annual event included an auction with a variety of excellent items. IWF thanks the award recipients, donors and participants for their continued support of common sense conservation.

Conservation Award Winners

Barry Ellis, Betsy Yankowiak and Thom Maher pose with their awards. Little River Wetlands Project was named Conservation Organization of the Year, and Thom was recognized as Wildlife Conservationist of the Year.

IWF honors conservation leaders


Auction DonorsLarry Andawan

Dale BackBluesprings Caverns

Bremen Conservation ClubCardno JFNew

Costco Dean Farr

Jim LotharyNational Wildlife Federation

Bruce NeckarNew Alsace Conservation Club

North Central IN Council of Conservation ClubsTom Roller

Becky Scheibelhut

Conservation Awards Sponsors

Central Indiana Trout UnlimitedIndiana Chapter of the Wildlife Society

New Alsace Conservation ClubNorth Dearborn Conservation Club

Steve Cecil, President

Glenn Lange, 1st Vice President

Doug Allman, 2nd Vice President

Shaena Reinhart*, Secretary

Adam McLane, Treasurer

Dr. David Hoffman, NWF Representative

John Bunner

Chuck Brinkman

Gene Hopkins

Ray McCormick

Kay O’Callaghan

Dan Smith

Steve Van Zant

*Newly elected board member

Board member Steve Van Zant summarizes the trends in IWF’s membership over the past few years. Ending his presentation with a rousing call to action, Van Zant challenged everyone to recruit new members and help grow the organization.

Banquet attendees start the evening with a nice meal from the Potawatomi Inn. We had a great turnout with members and guests from around the state.

Board of Directors


During this challenging and unique legislative session, conservation issues and funding often took a backseat to other budget items and more controversial political issues. Conservationists, however, did not walk away completely empty-handed.

First, an update on how the Indiana Conservation Alliance’s (INCA) priorities faired this year:

1) Funding for the Indiana Heritage Trust at $750,000/year in the bien-nial budget (HB 1001). Despite INCA’s advocates reducing their typical biennial request of $1 million by 25 percent, the budget bill originally had $0 for Indiana Heritage Trust. In the end, $100,000 was allocated for the biennial budget, a signifi-cant reduction in funding for this important land purchase fund

2) Reinstatement of the $500,000 cut in dedicated funding and a request for $500,000 in general fund ap-propriation for Clean Water Indiana. The final budget includes $500,000 in general fund appropriations and $3.6 million in dedicated funding for CWI.

3) Passage of legislation to create a sustainable natural resources task force (SB 375 and HB 1392). SB 375 passed. The task force will include legislators and

representatives from the Indiana Wildlife Federation and five other natural re-sources organizations. It will report on the health of Indiana’s natural resources and natural resources programs and funding as well as other states’ programs. The final report, due January 1, 2013, will make programmatic and funding recommenda-tions regarding the protection of Indiana’s natural resources.

4) Legislation to restrict the use of phosphorus in lawn fertilizers (HB 1425). P-Free legislation was not heard in committee and, therefore, did not pass. Despite the lack of legislative action, key industry leaders, such as Scotts Miracle-Gro, have begun to remove phosphorus from fertilizers intended for mature lawns.

IWF will continue to educate the public and encourage the use of phosphorus-free lawn fertilizers.

5) Legislation to authorize local govern-ments to issue PACE bonds (SB 260 and HB 1457). Neither bill passed.

Several important, IWF-supported bills did pass. A bill extending the expira-tion date of the lake management work group and a resolution establishing the constitutional right to hunt and fish in Indiana both passed. The resolution has

undergone extensive revisions since its inception, and we will carefully monitor future changes.

Two bills we opposed that did not pass included legislation proposing to use the Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) fund to remove logjams from streams, and a bill that would have eased restrictions on animal hunting facilities. Neither bill moved out of their respective committees.

Generating support for conservation programs and funding is a yearly struggle, and IWF remains a unique and persistent advocate. Legislators respect our common sense approach and know we represent a diverse constituency concerned about a variety of issues.

This year, we take solace in knowing Heritage Trust and Clean Water Indiana, two crucial conservation funding pro-grams, will remain in the budget. Find-ings from the new Sustainable Natural Resources Task Force should provide a very helpful assessment of, and inspire healthy improvements to, Indiana’s con-servation initiatives.

Check out our online Bill Watch (www.indianawildlife.org/billwatch.htm) for a comprehensive rundown of the bills we watched this year. If you did not receive frequent legislative updates, but you would like to, please email [email protected] to update your contact information.•

IWF and friends win some in tough legislative session

This year, we take solace in knowing Heritage Trust and Clean Water Indiana, two crucial conservation funding programs, will remain in the budget.


One hundred kids. One hundred birdfeeders. Lots of happy birds around central Indiana.

At this year’s Earth Day Indiana Festival in Indianapolis, IWF helped 100 young conservationists build simple birdfeeders while teaching them about wildlife.

The line formed quickly for this popular Earth Day Indiana tradition, but IWF’s volunteers and staff made everything run smoothly.

Thanks, especially, to the teachers from Cold Springs Environ-mental Magnet and Ross King for helping out during the festival. Our IU School of Public and Envi-ronmental Affairs intern, Mike Luke, also provided crucial support organiz-ing all of the materials for the day.

IWF’s station was one of over 140 environmental and conservation ex-hibits at the festival. The 2011 festival was the biggest yet, and IWF was thrilled for the opportunity to reach so many people in five quick hours.

If you missed your chance to volunteer or build a feeder with your child, visit us at DNR’s Hoosier Outdoor Experience.

Another great day for con-servation, the Hoosier Outdoor Experience is Indiana’s largest, hands-on outdoor recreation event. Featuring more than 50 activities and 120 grass-roots partners, this free weekend provides opportunities to learn about the great Indiana outdoors.

We will build feeders again at the Experience and we need volunteers. Please contact our office (317.875.9453 or [email protected]) if you would like to get involved. This year’s

Hoosier Outdoor Experience takes place on Sept. 17 and 18 at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.

We look forward to seeing everyone in September.•

Another successful Earth Day Indiana

Another great day for conservation,

the Hoosier Outdoor Experience is

Indiana’s largest, hands-on outdoor recreation event.

Mark your calendar for Sept. 17 and

18 at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis


By Judy nelSen, Secretary, ■■

little river WetlandS proJect

Little River Wetlands Project (LRWP) was founded in 1990 by a group of citizens concerned that 85 percent of Indiana’s wetlands have been destroyed.

Its mission is to restore and protect wetlands in the Little River watershed southwest of Fort Wayne and to provide educational opportunities that encourage people to be good stewards of wetlands and other natural ecosystems. The group focus-es on the 25,000-acre Little River Valley between Fort Wayne and Huntington.

LRWP acquired its first properties, near Aboite, Ind. in 2000 and 2001. Four years of hard work followed to restore 97-acre Arrowhead Marsh and 91-acre Arrowhead Prairie to wetland and prairie habitats.

The group reached a huge milestone in 2005 by purchasing 676 acres of wet farmland on the southwest border of Fort Wayne for restoration to wetland, work-ing with the federal Wetlands Reserve Program, which also participated on the Arrowhead properties.

The new preserve, named Eagle Marsh, is one of the largest wetland restorations ever done in Indiana.

LRWP completed its restoration of

Eagle Marsh’s variety of wetland habitats last year, and it continues its stewardship of the restored habitats.

Forty acres of mature forest acquired in the last five years have brought the preserve’s size to 716 acres. Adjacent Fox Island County Park and privately owned natural land combine to cre-ate nearly two square miles of wildlife habitat.

Almost 200 bird species, including 24 endangered or those of special concern, have been spotted. Two imperiled amphibians, the blue-spotted salamander and northern leopard frog, also reside at the preserve.

In a 2010 survey of birders, Northern Indiana Lakes magazine named Eagle Marsh (with Fox Island) one of the ten top birding areas in northern Indiana.

In the past five years, LRWP has continued its rapid growth. Besides the 40 acres added to Eagle Marsh, 67 acres have been added to Arrowhead Prairie, bring-ing the size of the two adjacent Arrowhead preserves to 255 acres.

LRWP holds a 140-acre conservation

easement on private land and purchased, with ACRES Land Trust, the 53-acre Little River Landing preserve near the confluence of the Little River and the Wabash River in Huntington.

LRWP protects 1,164 acres of restored and natural land, most of it wetlands.

LRWP’s free nature programs served more than 3,600 participants in 2010, and its preserves feature nearly 10 miles of trails. The staff also help local property owners find resources to protect and enhance habitats on their land.

One of LRWP’s proudest accomplishments is its work with The Na-ture Conservancy of Indiana and Loblolly Marsh in 2010 to win a Mississippi River Basin Initiative award that brought an ad-ditional $2.8 million for wetlands restora-tion to landowners in the upper Wabash watershed.

This award will help landowners enroll 700 more acres into the Wetlands Reserve Program.

For more information, please visit www.lrwp.org.•

Affiliate Corner

The Little River Wetlands Project is IWF’s Conservation Organization of the Year

This year, IWF recognized Little River

Wetlands Project as Conservation Organization of the Year at the

Conservation Awards Banquet. (See page 6)


By mariJa WatSon■■

Nearly 140 people attended Indiana Wildlife Federation Health of Indiana’s Water workshops held recently in Portage, Evansville, Terre Haute and Muncie.

Each workshop addressed how nutrient problems that threat-en fish and wildlife, the importance of sustainable land manage-ment and how clean water can be restored with changes in individual behavior.

Fertilizer use in urban areas contributes to nutrient overloading in lakes, ponds and reservoirs. Conservation practices implemented by private landowners can protect wildlife and its resources.

Participants said the workshops met or ex-ceeded their expectations and increased person-al knowledge of nutrient-related water quality issues in their watersheds. They also expressed willingness to discuss sustainable landscaping practices presented at these workshops with neighbors and in their communities.

The majority also said that they would use some of the best management practices mentioned on their property.

Thank you to all who attended a water workshop this past spring. Also, thank you to all the presenters and workshop venues.

Did you miss the workshops? Check out our resources online

for ways to spend less time mowing your lawn and more time enjoying wildlife in your backyard.

Our colorful, informational presentation is available online to explain why surplus phosphorus and nitrogen can be a problem. The fact sheet has helpful recommendations to become more sustainable when you care for your landscape.

Your lawn is part of a watershed and an area of land that drains to one location. During storm events, the rain will carry with it sedi-ment, nutrients, and chemicals, which can harm wildlife and its resources.

Do you know of a nearby pond filled with algae? If so, you have seen the effects of excess nutrients. Start a discussion with your neighbors about using phosphorus-free lawn fertilizer and in-stalling a buffer of native plants around your pond.

Established lawns usually do not need extra phosphorus. If you are uncertain, conduct a soil test to understand the nutrient needs of your

soil. Ask your neighbors to pledge today. We need your participation. Sign the pledge online to be phos-

phorus-free in your use of lawn fertilizer. It only takes two minutes. A strong, collaborative effort in every community is important.

Get more details at www.indianawildlife.org/ phosphorus.htm.•

Tree DedicationIWF leant its support to Girl Scout Troop 2632’s planting

of two shagbark hickories, which provide ideal bat habitat. The project was part of the Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department’s Tree Dedication Program.

How healthy is Indiana’s water?

Fertilizer use in urban areas contributes to nutrient overloading in lakes, ponds and reservoirs. Conservation practices implemented by private landowners can protect

wildlife and its resources.

4715 W. 106th StreetZionsville, IN 46077

Hoosier Conservation: Summer 2011

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