September News from Friends of Lake MonroeLake Monroe Day, Septic Summit 2,0, and more!
Lake Monroe Day Celebration
Only ten days left until our third annual Lake Monroe Day Celebration! Please join us for a fun night of music, food, and friends. Bring a friend and help us grow Friends of Lake Monroe! Get your ticket by visiting the Buskirk Chumley Theater Box Office in downtown Bloomington, by phone at 812-323-3020, ext 1, or online at
These events are part of the larger celebration of the lake's 60th anniversary that continues through October. We will host two more water treatment plant tours on Sunday October 6 at 12:00 and 2:00as well as a special cleanup (see below). For a detailed list of all the activities, please visit the DNR’sMonroe Lake 60th Anniversary webpageorfacebook.com/monroelake for updates.
Volunteers Needed for Special 60th Anniversary Shoreline Cleanup
In honor of Lake Monroe's 60th anniversary, we are hosting a special cleanup event on Sunday, October 13 from 2:00 to 4:30 at a new location off Friendship Road. We need 12-14 volunteers to clean up trash in the area where North Fork Salt Creek enters Lake Monroe.
Appropriate clothing for volunteers includes rugged shoes and gloves. The Friends of Lake Monroe will provide cleanup supplies. Kids under age 16 need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. Additional information about parking and carpooling will be sent closer to the event. In the event of inclement weather, an email will be sent to volunteers two hours before the scheduled time of the event, provided you have signed up through our webpage. Be sure to check your email before heading to the lake. Please register at https://www.friendsoflakemonroe.org/events-page/60th-anniversary-cleanup.
Meet Kelly Conaway, Board Member
and Membership Coordinator
Hello, my name is Kelly Conaway and I am the membership coordinator for Friends of Lake Monroe. I have become familiar with many of your names through spreadsheets and Google Drive but I'd love to meet each one of you at some point. Our members are the heartbeat of Friends of Lake Monroe. Your financial support, volunteer hours and advocacy help keep our lake swimmable, fishable and drinkable.
I have slowly but surely been sending out membership renewal mailers but I'd love to draw your attention to our new recurring membership option on the website. By choosing this option it's one less thing on your to-do list! It also helps us save paper, postage and time.
I will be signing up new members at our Lake Monroe Day Celebration on September 15th. Please feel free to introduce yourself as I'd love to put faces to names. Thank you again from the entire board for all current members. We are always looking to grow membership and protect Lake Monroe and its watershed. Enjoy this beautiful weather as the temperatures drop a little and the leaves begin to change. Take a minute to get down to the lake and appreciate the gorgeous natural scenery.
Seeking Salt Springs in the
Lake Monroe Watershed
Did you ever wonder where Salt Creek got its name? Salt seeps were once abundant in the Lake Monroe watershed with several historical salt works located along North Fork Salt Creek. The salt appears to be connected to the underlying bedrock, the Borden Formation. This sedimentary bedrock formation extends across a section of southern Indiana that includes French Lick and its famous mineral springs.
A team of scientists and interns from the Indiana Geological and Water Survey (IGWS) have been identifying and sampling salt seeps and mineral springs in Brown, Monroe, and Lawrence counties. Samples are analyzed for sodium, chloride, bromide, and lithium. Results can be compared to samples taken from French Lick to try and verify that they are all coming from the Borden Formation. Mapping the results also gives a better understanding of groundwater conditions and mineral distribution in the area.
Can you help? They are looking for information on potential springs, salt seeps, or salty wells in Brown County, eastern Monroe County, or eastern Lawrence County. If you have a spring or well on your property and would be willing to let IGWS collect a sample, please contact Tracy Branam at tbranam@iu.edu or 812-855-8390. You can also learn more about the project at https://legacy.igws.indiana.edu/springs.
Septic Summit 2.0
How much do you know about your septic system? Bring your curiosity and your questions to Septic Summit 2.0 on Saturday, September 14 at the Brown County Fairgrounds from 10:00 to 1:00. Friends of Lake Monroe is proud to be a co-sponsor of this educational event.
Doors open at 10:00 for an equipment show featuring septic tanks, pumps, pipes, and a "honeywagon" vacuum truck. Visit informational booths to learn about assistance programs, septic care products, and local efforts to protect our lakes and streams from pollution. Lunch will be available for purchase from Love Bugs 4-H Club. At 11:00, hear from a panel of professionals about the best way to keep your septic system in shape. Door prizes will be raffled off at 12:30, including vouchers for $200 septic system pumping. Full schedule and more details available at https://browncountyrsd.org. No registration required.
Another Successful Kayak Trip
One of these things is not like the others but they all belong at Lake Monroe and were spotted on our August kayak trip. Eight people new to paddling were able to enjoy a sunset tour with David Rupp of Indigo Birding Nature Tours thanks to a generous grant from Sassafras Audubon Society. Lake Monroe supports an incredible amount of wildlife in addition to being a great place to visit and our sole source of drinking water. We look forward to hosting more trips for new paddlers (including Big Brothers Big Sisters) next year.
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 starts at $25 annually.
