Soil Health Field Day May 14
How do cover crops and no-till planting help rebuild soil health? Join us at the Monroe County Airport to learn from local producer Bill Duckworth and see soil health demonstrations courtesy of Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District. Free coffee and donuts. Registration is required by May 3.
Nebo Ridge Hike May 23
Want to see part of the area included in proposed Senate Bill 2990 which would expand the Deam Wilderness and create a new National Recreation Area? Join the Friends of Lake Monroe and Sierra Club on May 23 to explore the southern portion of the Nebo Ridge trail. Meet at the southern trailhead at 10 AM and hike 4.2 miles in a beautiful hardwood forest. When we reach the Berry Ridge Parking lot, cars will be there for us to shuttle back down to the trailhead. Registration is required.
Shoreline Cleanup May 23
Please join us Thursday, May 23 at 6:00 pm at the Paynetown State Recreation Area on State Road 446 to help us collect trash. This is a great way to give back to the lake and to meet other Friends. Registration is required.
Successful Community Forum on Management of Hoosier National Forest
We were pleased to have over 80 community members join us on Monday April 22nd for a Community Forum on Management of Hoosier National Forest. This was a great opportunity to learn about proposed projects in the HNF and to ask questions. Many thanks to our speakers Michael Chaveas, Hoosier National Forest supervisor; Jeff Stant, Indiana Forest Alliance executive director; and Sherry Mitchell-Bruker, Friends of Lake Monroe president as well as moderator Lily Bonwich.
No PFAs In Bloomington Drinking Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just established drinking water standards for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, aka PFAS. They are also known as "forever chemicals."
PFAS are manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. Examples include non-stick cookware, stain resistant clothing, grease-resistant packaging, and firefighting foam for airports. Because they have been around for several decades and they take a very long time to break down, they are now found in water, soil, air, fish, and humans. Research indicates that exposure to some PFAs is linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals. One of the newly regulated chemical, PFOA, is a known carcinogen, while the others are suspected carcinogens.
City of Bloomington Utilities recently tested drinking water samples for 29 PFAS compounds as part of EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). Happily, none of the compounds were detected. However, establishing drinking water standards is an important step in protecting drinking water across the country and continuing to monitor the movement of PFAS throughout our environment.
Cost-Share Project Update
We just completed our third project through the Lake Monroe Watershed Conservation Cost-Share Program. This project was the creation of a gravel access road between a barn and a heavy use area pad (HUAP). It's a very simple practice but it is a great way to reduce soil erosion from machinery and livestock movement.
Spring is also the season for admiring cover crops. Watershed Coordinator Maggie Sullivan was able to join Allison Shoaf from the Natural Resource Conservation Service and Katie Starr from the Brown County Soil & Water Conservation District for Brown County's annual cover crop transect survey. It can be a challenge to get cover crops planted in the fall after the main crop is harvested but it is a great way to protect the soil from heavy rainfall events in winter and early spring.
While many fields were without cover crops, there were some great examples along our route. We will continue to work with local farmers to try and reduce the planting barriers and increase use of cover crops. Stay tuned for a potential field day this fall focused on aerial planting of cover crops using planes, helicopters, and drones.
We still have about $15,000 available in our cost-share program and encourage anyone interested in learning more to contact Maggie Sullivan at watershed@friendsoflakemonroe.org or 812-558-0217 to schedule a free consultation.
Free Soil Testing
Have a farm, garden, or lawn? A soil test helps you apply only the amount and type of fertilizer actually needed, saving you money and protecting our water from pollution! Residents of Brown, Monroe, and Jackson Counties are eligible for a FREE soil test through June. Hurry - a limited number are available!
Details at https://www.lakemonroewaterfund.org/lawns-gardens-farms/ Funding for this program is provided through a grant from the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County
Get Involved
Interested in volunteering but not sure how? Contact our volunteer coordinator, Keith Bobay, at volunteer@friendsoflakemonroe!
We are looking to fill two open positions on the Friends of Lake Monroe Board of Directors. The Board needs a variety of skills, particularly in the areas of development, fundraising, grant writing, and media expertise. We encourage anyone passionate about the lake to consider applying. Board members are expected to attend monthly board meetings (approximately 2 hours each) and serve as an officer or on a committee. Friends of Lake Monroe values diversity and equal opportunity and strives to reflect these values in our board and our actions. Learn more and apply today! We accept and review applications on a rolling basis.
Become a Member!
Friends of Lake Monroe depends on members like you to keep our organization strong. Join today to help us keep the lake drinkable, swimmable, and fishable. Individual membership is only $25 annually.
