September 2021 Newsletter

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In This Edition

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Let's Celebrate!

[/mk_fancy_title][/mk_custom_box][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1633815940168{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"]Woo-hoo, we’re 5 years old and it’s time to celebrate!Help us celebrate by renewing or joining our membership today.Click Here to Join Friends Of Lake MonroePrefer to send a check? That works too!  Please send your check to the Friends of Lake Monroe, PO Box 3145, Bloomington, IN 47402.  Sustaining memberships are $250, Supporting memberships are $100, Family memberships are $50, and Individual memberships are $25. Add-on donations are also very much appreciated!Continue the celebration by joining us for one (or all) of the following events:

AND FINALLY…If you’re a member of Bloomingfoods Co-op, please vote for Friends of Lake Monroe as a 2022 Positive Change recipient in the upcoming election![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row id="2"][vc_column][mk_custom_box corner_radius="5" padding_vertical="10" padding_horizental="10" min_height="20" bg_color="#ffffff" border_color_style="single_color" border_color="#1e73be"][mk_fancy_title tag_name="h3" font_family="none"]

Join Us for a Tour of the Lake Monroe Watershed —

Sunday, October 2nd, 9:10 am - 1:30 pm

[/mk_fancy_title][/mk_custom_box][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1633815993113{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"][/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1633816059384{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"]Are you ready to meet some fellow Lake Monroe enthusiasts and learn more about what we can do to protect our lake?  Join us for a tour of the Lake Monroe watershed.Our tour will focus on the Brown County portion of the watershed and stops will include Stillwater Marsh, Yellowwood Lake, Nashville, and Stone Head Nature Preserve.  One unusual stop will be the Nashville Wastewater Treatment Plant where we will learn about what happens with the stuff that gets flushed down the toilet or washed down the sink drain.Learn about the diversity of the Lake Monroe watershed which contains forests, wetlands, lakes, ponds, corn, soybeans, cows, horses, lawns, houses, towns, and over 1,250 miles of streams.To reduce the risk of coronavirus spread, COVID vaccination is required and masks are encouraged when physical distancing of six feet cannot be maintained.  The tour will travel on a school bus with staggered seating and open windows for ventilation.Attendees are asked to bring their own lunch and water.  Friends of Lake Monroe will provide desserts during a lunch break hosted by the Brown County Soil & Water Conservation District in an outdoor covered shelter in Nashville.The bus loads at Bloomingfoods East at 9:15 and returns at 1:30.Spots are limited so register today at https://friendsoflakemonroe.org/event/october-lake-monroe-watershed-tour/.Have questions?  Contact Maggie Sullivan at watershed@friendsoflakemonroe.org.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row id="3"][vc_column][mk_custom_box corner_radius="5" padding_vertical="10" padding_horizental="10" min_height="20" bg_color="#ffffff" border_color_style="single_color" border_color="#1e73be"][mk_fancy_title tag_name="h3" font_family="none"]

It’s FLM’s last Birding Paddle of the year!

[/mk_fancy_title][/mk_custom_box][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1633816132781{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1633816159433{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"]Join FLM and guide David Rupp of IndiGo Birding Nature Tours for a paddle into the North Fork Wildlife Resting Area on Lake Monroe.  Enjoy an evening paddle while looking for birds, beavers, and other wildlife on the move.The Pine Grove boat ramp can be accessed from SR 446 southeast of Bloomington. This FLM member event is FREE and includes the use of boats and personal floatation devices, but it's limited to 10 participants.Participants should wear proper paddling attire and bring their own snacks, hydration, and camera.  (Dry bags suggested for non-waterproof gear.)This FLM member event has limited capacity so RSVP early.  Not a member?  Join today!Email questions and RSVPs to membership@friendsoflakemonroe.org.Register to participate in the Birding Paddle here: https://friendsoflakemonroe.org/event/september-birding-paddle-at-pine-grove/.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row id="4"][vc_column][mk_custom_box corner_radius="5" padding_vertical="10" padding_horizental="10" min_height="20" bg_color="#ffffff" border_color_style="single_color" border_color="#1e73be"][mk_fancy_title tag_name="h3" font_family="none"]

Bloom Magazine Features Lake Monroe Management

[/mk_fancy_title][/mk_custom_box][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1633816246436{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"][/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1633816554136{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"]Bloom magazine's August/September 2021 issue features author Peter Dorfman's article, 'It Takes a Village' to Protect B-town's Only Water Source.The Science/Education article quotes FLM Board President Sherry Mitchell-Bruker on the need for scientific management of Lake Monroe through the watershed management plan that FLM is developing. It also provides FLM's website address and lets readers know about FLM's activities and volunteering opportunities.See an archived copy of the story here:https://friendsoflakemonroe.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/bloom_aug_2021_flm_small.pdf.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row id="5"][vc_column][mk_custom_box corner_radius="5" padding_vertical="10" padding_horizental="10" min_height="20" bg_color="#ffffff" border_color_style="single_color" border_color="#1e73be"][mk_fancy_title tag_name="h3" font_family="none"]

Lake Monroe Watershed Management Plan – Update

[/mk_fancy_title][/mk_custom_box][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1633816622814{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"][/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1633816664408{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"]On August 31st FLM applied for a second "Section 319" grant that, starting in fall 2022, would allow us to implement the Watershed Management Plan that we are currently preparing with support from our first Section 319 grant.When the Plan is complete in early 2022, we will publicize its proposed activities.For the second 319 grant, FLM requested $179,404 towards a total project cost of $299,200.  Funding for 319 grants comes from the U.S. EPA and is managed by Indiana DNR.The Monroe County Stormwater Board has pledged matching funds for FLM's project.  Many thanks to them and to the following organizations who pledged in-kind assistance.

  • Indiana Geological and Water Survey
  • Visit Bloomington
  • Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District
  • Brown County Soil & Water Conservation District
  • Jackson County Soil & Water Conservation District
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Indiana University Limnology Lab
  • Indiana Department of Natural Resources Parks Division
  • Indiana Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division
  • Monroe County Health Department
  • Brown County Health Department

We look forward to collaborating with all these organizations when we (hopefully) receive our grant funding next fall, 2022.FLM is also exploring possible funding opportunities from the State of Indiana, through DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife's LARE — Lake and River Enhancement — Program.  LARE's goal is to protect and enhance aquatic habitat for fish and wildlife.  Projects eligible for funding range from log jam removal to stream bank stabilization to wetland restoration.I hope to see you on the Lake Monroe Watershed Tour on October 2nd.From Maggie Sullivan, Watershed Coordinator [/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row id="6"][vc_column][mk_custom_box corner_radius="5" padding_vertical="10" padding_horizental="10" min_height="20" bg_color="#ffffff" border_color_style="single_color" border_color="#1e73be"][mk_fancy_title tag_name="h3" font_family="none"]

FLM Volunteers Pick Up Lake Monroe Shoreline

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Join us at an upcoming shoreline cleanup event!The monthly cleanups are conducted as part of the DNR’s Adopt-A-Shoreline program at Lake Monroe.  This is a great way to meet other members while supporting the lake we all love by cleaning up trash.Please register on our events page so that we can notify you of any changes in the event of inclement weather: https://friendsoflakemonroe.org/events/.Participants meet at the Recreation Area's campground store.  Be sure to tell the gate attendant that you are participating in the cleanup to get free admission to the property.Rugged shoes and gloves are recommended. Kids under 16 need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.Dates for coming shoreline cleanups:
  • Thursday September 16, 6 pm
  • Sunday October 17, 2 pm
  • Sunday November 14, 2 pm

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Ways To Get Involved With FLM

[/mk_fancy_title][/mk_custom_box][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1633817272380{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"]Become a Member!For those interested in financially supporting our work, memberships are available at the individual ($25), family ($45), supporting ($100), and sustaining ($250) levels.Donate!Donations can be made on our website at www.friendsoflakemonroe.org.Participate in the Monthly Meetings!Our public meetings have usually been held in Bloomington at the Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave.  We have suspended public meetings in the interests of social distancing, but once we are able to resume we will announce the meeting and hope to see you!Join One of FLM's Committees!We are looking for volunteers to serve on these committees.Development: (Co-chairs Mary Madore and Jim Krause) fundraising, membership, volunteer program, marketing, outreach, public relations, media, communications, events.Governance:  (Co-Chairs Carolyn Waldron and Joe Ryan) evaluation, monitoring executive director, succession planning, nominating committee, strategic plan, annual report, by-laws, some contracts.Finance: (Chair Richard Harris) tracking money spent, some contracts.Programs: (Chair Sherry Mitchell-Bruker) tracking legislation,  science and other programs.Clean the Lake!Get together with friends at the lakeshore for our monthly contribution to picking up harmful plastics and other debris.Share Your Enjoyment of the Lake!Got a friend or neighbor who should know about Friends of Lake Monroe?Share events, news and pictures of you and your buddies picking up trash on and around Lake Monroe to our Facebook page “Friends of Lake Monroe”:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1513886852253216.We have more than 1.2K followers! ![/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row id="8"][vc_column][mk_custom_box corner_radius="5" padding_vertical="10" padding_horizental="10" min_height="20" bg_color="#ffffff" border_color_style="single_color" border_color="#1e73be"][mk_fancy_title tag_name="h3" font_family="none"]

Upcoming Events

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Check FLM's website for future opportunities, including monthly shoreline cleanup get-togethers.

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October 2021 Newsletter
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