Photos from the 2010 Annual Conference in Merrillville

The Indiana Lakes Management Conference occurred on March 25-27, 2010 at Merrillville’s Radisson Star Plaza. More than 130 lake residents and enthusiasts joined the Indiana Lakes Management Society for the 22nd annual conference.  Many thanks to our sponsors including: the Aquatic Control, Aquatic Weed Control, Baetis, D2 Land &Water Incorporated, Christopher B. Burke Engineering Limited, Clarke Aquatic Services, Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, JFNew, Sepro, the U.S. Geological Survey, and UPI.

This year’s conference highlighted the differences between Indiana’s inland lakes and our Great Lake, Lake Michigan, with a theme of All Lakes Great and Small. Karen Rodriquez of the USEPA’s Great Lakes National Program Office served as the keynote speaker. Karen highlighted the vast size and diversity of the Great Lakes habitat and detailed methods by which the Great Lakes can be improved through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Action Plan. Conference registrants also attended sessions focused on building partnerships; water quality assessment and monitoring, watershed improvement opportunities, in-lake assessment and opportunities for near-shore and in-lake improvements, emerging issues in Indiana, and structural concerns relating to water control structure maintenance and water level concerns. Attendees highlighted a partnership presentation by three lake associations, Beaver Dam/Loon Lake Conservation Club, Diamond Lake Conservation Club, and Yellow Creek Lake Conservation Club, and Saturday’s Build Your Own Rain Barrel workshop as their favorite presentations. During the partnership presentation, the presenters detailed their growth as individual groups and how through their efforts together they’ve crafted a plan to improve water quality within all six lakes in their watershed. As part of the rain barrel workshop, Lake County Master Gardener’s instructed participants on the construction of their own rain barrels. Participants constructed rain barrels which they carried home from the conference.

As part of the conference, ILMS completed their annual meeting. As part of this effort, Indiana Lakes Management Society (ILMS) members elected new board members Nate Bosch of Kosciusko Lakes and Stream and Grace College and Matt Kerkhof of Hoosier Aquatic Management, Inc. Additionally, Laura Esman of Purdue University and Carrie Pintar of V3 Companies Limited were elected secretary and treasurer of the society, respectfully. ILMS would like to thank out-going board members Gary Doxtater of the Indiana Wildlife Federation and Eileen Boekestein of Kosciusko Lakes and Stream for all of the efforts during their time on the board. Additionally, ILMS members voted to sign on to Indiana Wildlife Federation’s Phosphorus Free Resolution. The resolution is the first step in IWF’s campaign to enact legislation banning the unnecessary use of phosphorus fertilizers statewide. IWF will be working with the Indiana Lakes Management Work Group, the Indiana Lakes Management Society, and groups throughout the state to enact a phosphorus fertilizer ban.

At our annual banquet, ILMS recognized the ILMS Student Scholarship recipients, Lake/Watershed Group of the Year, the Volunteer of the Year, and the Legislative Award winner. Scholarship recipients included Sarah Powers, Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Janelle Heller, Indiana University, and Caleb Rennaker, Purdue University. Students received a $500 scholarship and free conference attendance.

ILMS was pleased to recognize the Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation for their long-term efforts to improve water quality in Lake Tippecanoe and its 114 square mile watershed. TWF began work in their watershed in 1997. Since that time, they’ve implemented more than 50 projects totaling more than $2 million including streambank restoration, wetland restoration, sediment trap creation, filter strip installation, livestock restriction, storm drain improvement, shoreline restoration, and rain garden installation. More than 1000 watershed residents attended TWF education events over the last 13 years. And TWF is not stopping anytime soon as they have more than 100 projects on their to do list.

ILMS also recognized their own Bill Jones for his volunteer efforts and service to lakes throughout the state. Although Bill is the first to point out that he isn’t a volunteer, ILMS felt it was important to recognize all that Bill has done for ILMS since its inception in 1991 and all that he does for lake residents throughout the state. Bill has provided two 3-hour workshops on Limnology to ILMS conference attendees at the 2010 and the 2008 annual conferences. Bill offers sound, technical advice for individuals to manage their lakes during these workshops and via presentations made on a variety of topics at Indiana Lakes Management conferences over the past 24 years. Topics include shoreline protection, toxic algae, in-lake management at Lake Shakamak, and many more. He also provides a source of education for many of Indiana’s lake, watershed, and environmental professionals. His students at Indiana University lead efforts at IDEM, IDNR, and many other public and private entities throughout the state. Without Bill’s commitment to environmental education and solid lake science, his dedication to students past, present, and retired lake volunteers, management of Indiana’s lakes would not have reached the current level of quality.

ILMS also honored their first recipient of the Legislative Achievement Recognition Award, Senator Robert Meeks.  Senator Robert Meeks served as the state Senator from Indiana’s District 13 in northeast Indiana from 1988 through 2008. Throughout those 20 years, Senator Meeks authored, co-sponsored, and successfully steered a number of bills through the legislative process that have benefited Indiana lakes, lake residents, and lake users. His legislation, and the legislation he supported, will ensure for generations to come that our lakes will continue to provide a high-quality setting for natural resources management, outdoor recreation, and economic value.

Finally, as part of the conference, ILMS concluded our first annual photo contest and our third annual student poster contest. Photographs by George Hardie, Sara Peel, Toby Stone, Markie Edwards, and Carrie Sheets were the top vote getters. Have photos you’ve taken of your lake? Submit them to the annual photo contest – details will be announced soon.  Student poster contest winners include Kimmie Betustak, a sixth grader from Johnston Elementary School, Highland, IN and Zachary Barnett, an eighth grader from Belzer Middle School, Indianapolis, IN.

Please note that the 2011 annual conference will be held March 25-26, 2011 at Pokagon State Park.  Watch the website for details!