VVVol. 34, No. 2, Spring, 2013

SWCD Has New Options for Rain Barrel Sales

he last three summers we have rainwater into the barrel. The cost of this experienced extended periods of barrel is $60 including tax. Tdraughty weather. Be prepared this Proceeds from rain barrel sales are used year to conserve precious rainwater by to help promote environmental projects collecting it in rain barrels for your flowers through the SWCD. and shrubs. You will save money on your water bills and be helping the environment. To order, stop by or call the office at Rain barrels not only help conserve water 317-786-1776 or print out an order form they also help decrease flooding and from our website at http://marionswcd.org/ stormwater runoff. rain-barrels/ The Marion County SWCD sells rain barrels year round. We now have two styles for sale:

Our original rain barrel (right) has approximately a Notice: 50 gallon capacity, is SWCD a sealed system – no Spring Tree Sale Board of Supervisors worry about Brian Neilson, Chairman Cancelled J. Dennis Slaughter, breeding Vice Chair mosquitoes, it has Mark Kautz, Treasurer We are sorry, but due to Paula Baldwin brass hardware, and hail damage there were Marvin Brethauer, comes with a water not enough high quality saver overflow trees & shrubs available Associate Supervisors protection to divert overflow to your Rick Bein for our sale this spring. Heather Buck existing downspout. This barrel is $100 Bob Eddleman including sales tax. Check back with us - We Bob Kleinops Mark Mongin Our new economy model has plan to have a tree & shrub Henry Wallis approximately a 50 gallon capacity, it comes sale in the fall! Supervisor Emeritus with a screen top to keep out mosquitoes, Pete Baldwin has plastic spigot and overflow. You will use your own downspout elbow to direct Download New “Your Yard, Your Shrubs” Publication for Free!

f you have benefitted from the Hoosier This publication Heartland RC&D’s publication “Your will give you ideas on IYard, Your Trees” you will be excited to how to add these see their new publication “Your Yard, Your beneficial shrubs to Shrubs” booklet. your landscape. It is Native Shrubs play an important role in currently only our urban landscapes. Shrubs can provide available online. beauty and variety to our lawns. They can provide nutritious food and good habitat for Check it out at: birds and small mammals. Natives are well http://hhrcd.org/ adapted to our region, are favored sources YYYS%20FINAL.pdf for wildlife and are not invasive growers that will compete with other plants. Don’t Miss IUPUI’s Soils Class - Critical Information for all Land Users

he Soils Geography Course will be To view options and be admitted to the offered this coming fall semester. The register at IUPUI, contact the Admissions Tclasses will be held on Wednesdays Center at enroll.iupui.edu/admissions or from 4:00 – 6:40 p.m. in Cavanaugh Hall on phone (317) 274 4591. For walk-in the IUPUI campus starting August 21st. admissions information and assistance with Four field trips will be a part of the class to registration go to Admissions Center, 255 give you “hands-on” experience in the field. Campus Center, 420 University Blvd. This is a “for credit” class. This course is a MUST for anyone serious about making For further course information contact: land use decisions. We highly recommend Dr. Rick Bein - Phone: (317) 274-1100; it! Department of Geography (317) 274-8877; Fax: (317) 278-5220 [[email protected]] The Mission of Two classes are available – G404 offers 3 IUPUI, Cavanaugh Hall, Room 213D, 425 the Marion credit hours for undergraduates and G704 University Blvd, , In 46202. County SWCD is offers 3 graduate credits. to assist Marion County land users in conserving soil, water and related Conservation at the Crossroads is published quarterly to give information to natural landusers by the Marion County Soil & Water Conservation District, Discovery resources by Hall, 1202 E. 38th St, Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46205 providing Phone: 317-786-1776 FAX: 317-786-1757 website: marionswcd.org technical, The Marion County SWCD holds a regular monthly board meeting on the financial and fourth Tuesday of each month at 3:00 p.m. These meetings are open to the educational public & are held at the SWCD office at the address above. This board meets services. to administer the program of soil & water conservation in Marion County. The district prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

2 Upper Watershed Alliance Cost Share Program

arion County is fortunate to have a number of watershed groups Cost Share Funds Still Mworking in our county this year. Available for One of those groups is the Upper White Watershed Projects River Watershed Alliance (UWRWA), working in those areas of the northeast The Fall Creek Watershed Project portion of our county which drain into the is in full gear and many projects White River. This group is active in work have been approved to start this which will improve the water quality of spring. Be a part of the solution to these streams and the White River. improve water quality in your In order to help landowners better care watershed. for their watershed, a cost share program is underway which will help to offset the costs Several cost-share programs are of a variety of Best Management Practices available to offset the expense of (BMPs) that work to reduce nonpoint source urban practices. Practices are water pollutants. The funds are targeted to varied and could include rain priority areas of the watershed which can be gardens / bioswales, water edge viewed on their website at www.uwrwa.org enhancements, filter strips, Funding is available for both agricultural invasive plant removal, prairie and urban practices, with a focus on urban plantings, tree plantings, and projects. Projects may include practices such woodland and wildlife habitat. as rain gardens, green roofs, bioswales, For application deadlines and porous or permeable pavement, wetland details, contact the Leslie White, creation or restoration, filter strips, grassed Fall Creek Watershed Partnership waterways, and cover crops. Backyard Conservation Coordinator, at 317-773-2181 or For more information check out their email Leslie at website above or click the Water / [email protected] Watershed tabs on our website: www.marionswcd.org

hich Watershed do you live in? Where does your surface water go once it enters your ditch or storm drain? Are you in a critical area for a W watershed project? Check out this EPA website to give you an idea of where you are in your watershed: http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/index.cfm

Once you know which watershed you’re in, check out our website to see if there is a watershed program currently working in your area: http://marionswcd.org/water/water-sheds/

Get involved and make your neighborhood a healthier place to live!

3 SWCD & Fall Creek Watershed Partnership Recognize Exemplary Conservation Partners

arion County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board of Supervisors President Brian Neilson and Fall Creek Watershed Partnership’s Coordinator Leslie MWhite recognized community members at the Marion County SWCD’s 2013 Annual Meeting at the State Fairgrounds. Neilson and White presented the following individuals and organizations with certificates for their outstanding commitment to backyard and urban conservation practices that improve water quality, soil health and natural resources.

· Dean Farr, Pheasants Forever and Geist/Fall Creek Watershed Alliance: Clean Water Conservation Initiatives; Geist/Fall Creek Watershed Management Plan · Maggie Goeglein, Fall Creek Gardens Executive Director: Bioswale, native plantings and rain water catchment system · Noelle Malatestinic, City of Indianapolis Neighborhood Liaison for the Outer Northeast Region: Community Outreach to Encourage Urban Conservation Practices · Joyce Moore, Urban Patch Program Director and Fall Creek Gardens Board President: Bioswale, native plantings, rain water catchment system, and Historic Meridian Park residential rain gardens · Scott Rodgers, Geist Lake Coalition Board Member, Geist/Fall Creek Watershed Alliance and Upper White River Watershed Alliance Board Member: Clean Water Conservation Initiatives; Geist/Fall Creek Watershed Management Plan; two Lake and River Enhancement grant projects · Miriam Ross, Devonshire Neighborhood Resident; rain garden, native shrub and wildflower plantings, and wildlife habitat · Doug Beyers, Windridge Condominium Owners’ Association Property Manager: stormwater bioretention practices – rain gardens and bioswale system; streambank stabilization · Tom Ulsas, Windridge Condominium Owners’ Association Board Member: Support the stormwater bioretention practices – rain gardens and bioswale system; streambank Mission of the stabilization Marion County SWCD by · Doug Wickersham, Fort Harrison State Park Property Manager: rain garden and becoming an rain barrel demonstration site at the Park’s Visitor Center Affiliate Member! Check our · Jeff Cummings, Fort Harrison State Park Naturalist: rain garden and rain barrel website: demonstration site at the Park’s Visitor Center www.marionswcd.org or call the office for more information The Backyard Conservation Award honors those who actively promote and practice clean (317)786-1776 water and soil health conservation measures, bring nature to people, beautify communities, and encourage conservation partnerships across neighborhoods and the Fall Creek and Upper White River watershed region.

4 Kids Love to Learn All Summer

ake advantage of the dog days of an Invader website: http://www.iiseagrant.org/ Indiana summer this year and make nabinvader/ learning a fun and memorable T 7) Visit a Farmers Market – a listing of experience this summer. No need listening to “I’m Bored!” complaints! Here are just a those in the Indy area can be found at http:/ few ideas to keep kids (and adults) active, /visitindy.com/indianapolis-farmer-markets entertained and having fun learning: 8) Tour a dairy farm. Take a day trip to 1) Visit an Indiana State Park! Parks northern Indiana and visit Fair Oaks Farm. provide educational, fun activities Conveniently located right on I-65 near throughout the summer that will be Brookston is a large dairy open everyday for enjoyable for the whole family. Want to get tours. You can take a bus tour to visit the more involved? Join the “Friends Group” cows and watch them be milked, see how for Fort Harrison State Park or another cheese and ice cream are made and stick favorite. Friends help the park by around awhile so you can even see a calf volunteering for needed events or projects birth. Be sure to try their award winning or helping financially. Links to each state cheeses and yummy ice cream! park and reservoir Friends group are at 9) Sign your kids up for 4H! 4H is not www.StateParks.IN.gov/2442.htm just for country kids. They have great 2) Visit a or historic places. projects for kids with all kinds of interests. Indianapolis has many great for Their project books are great for making kids and adults to enjoy. Check them out at learning fun. Sign up now at http:// http://visitindy.com/indianapolis- www.four-h.purdue.edu/ , have fun working attractions-museums on projects then enjoy the county fair!!

3) Plant a garden! Kids benefit greatly 10) Rainy day? Check out all the fun and from time outside and getting their hands educational games at dirty gardening is so much fun they won’t www.myamericanfarm.org/games. This is a even realize their learning. Learn gardening really popular agricultural education gaming tips for our area from Marion County site sponsored by the American Farm Master Gardener Jo Ellen Myers Sharp at Bureau Foundation, DuPont and Pioneer www.hoosiergardener.com Seed. It also has educator resources and fun family activities. 4) Go canoeing or kayaking and learn about local watersheds 11) Lots of learning about forestry and natural resources can be found on Purdue’s 5) Check out Go FishIN in the City! With website. Check out their page for educators the help of local partners, the DNR will and students at https://ag.purdue.edu/fnr/ stock 5,000 catchable-size channel catfish Pages/extteacherres.aspx Then take a walk this spring and summer, spreading them at a local park with your “50 Trees of throughout small lakes in urban areas. Indiana” book and see how many trees you Selected lakes are located in city parks that can identify. are family friendly, well maintained, and have amenities. Among the chosen lakes is 12) Visit the Indiana State Fair August 2- Krannert Lake in Indianapolis! 18th. Be sure to go by the Pathway to Water Quality demonstration area – they are 6) Help kids learn about aquatic celebrating their 20th year at the state fair! troublemakers at the Nab the Aquatic 5 Invasive Plants Damage Ecosystems Workshops Planned to Help You

ant to learn more about invasive Please join us at one of these workshops plants and how they affect conveniently held at several Marion County Wsongbirds and natural systems? Library Branches: Then come to one of the workshops shown July 6 – Wayne Branch – 2 PM. below that are jointly sponsored by the Indianapolis- July 29 – Garfield Park Branch – 6 PM Marion County Public Library and August 3 - Eagle Branch – 1 PM the Marion County Soil and Water August 10 – Irvington Branch – 10:30 AM Conservation August 10 – Lawrence Branch – 1PM District. These one hour August 12 – Glendale Branch – 6 PM workshops will help you learn to August 26 – Franklin Road Branch – identify common 6:30 PM invasive plants, understand the damages they are causing in our county and how easy it is to control many of them.

Water, Water 2013 SWCD Affiliate Members Everywhere! Silver Member Marion County Farm Bureau

If you are experiencing drainage Nickel Members problems in Marion County you are not Professor Frederick Bein alone! The SWCD has developed fact George Haerle in honor of Eli Bloom sheets to help you solve surface and subsurface drainage problems around Copper Members your home. You can find them on our Bob Eddleman website under the Soil - Soil Types and Ruth & Paul Hayes in honor of Eli Drainage tab: Bloom http://marionswcd.org/soil/soil-types- and-drainage/ Thank you Affiliate Members for your If you need further assistance please support of conservation through the contact our office at 317-786-1776 Marion County Soil & Water Conservation District!

6 “Go Green” at our Website: www.marionswcd.org

ave you visited our newly updated draught, which we’ve seen so much of in website yet? Be sure to check out the last few years. Hthe “Go Green” tab at the top of Interested in wildlife? Look at our the homepage (www.marionswcd.org) where Wildlife page for information on creating you will find lots of ideas and new backyard wildlife habitat and finding helpful information on ways to create a healthy websites focusing on all types of wildlife home and neighborhood. issues. Also check our News page The first option under the “Go Green” periodically for articles on current wildlife tab is information on Plants. Here you will issues for our county. Currently we have an find information on native plants and trees article posted on how to manage nuisance and why are they are the best choice for your geese. yard and gardens. You will also see Our Lawn & Garden page is a great information on invasive species of plants place to visit. Here you will find timely, that are wreaking havoc in our community. seasonal tips on how to treat your lawn more See which plants are trouble makers and naturally. There is information on lawn care, what can be done to stop their spread. soil testing, composting and mulching. We’ve You can also download the new “Your also listed some great lawn and garden Yard, Your Shrubs” booklet from this page. websites. This page is a work in progress so Learn how shrubs can be a great addition to visit often for helpful garden tips your lawn. throughout the seasons. Next under the “Go Green” tab is Water Looking for even More? The last title Management. Here you will find under our “Go Green” tab is for everything information on rain barrels, rain gardens and else we think you will find helpful in creating bioswales. Each of these best management a Green lifestyle. Here you’ll find Contact Us practices for neighborhoods helps information such as Backyard Conservation, for more homeowners and the community deal with conservation planning, the Sustain Indy information on soil the weather extremes – both flooding and program, where to recycle in Indianapolis, & water related and helpful resources for environmental issues Farm Services Agency News education. Check here often for the latest Marion County Marion/Johnson Counties ideas on conservation and green living. SWCD 3059 N. Morton Discovery Hall, Franklin, IN 46131 Suite 200 317-736-6822 Congrraatulations Indy! 1202 East 38th St. Congrrraaatulations Indy! Indianapolis, IN 46205 The Arbor Day Foundation has awarded Indianapolis a Tree Phone: City USA Growth Award Winner! 317-786-1776 The Growth Award highlights innovative programs and FAX: projects, increased commit- 317-786-1757 ment resources for urban On the Web: July 15th - Deadline to report forestry, and provides an marionswcd.org corn & soybean acres opportunity to share new ideas and successes across the July 31st - Deadline to sign up for country. DCP Program 7 Marion County Soil & Water Conservation District NonProfit Org. Discovery Hall, Suite 200 U.S. Postage 1202 East 38th Street PAID Indianapolis, IN Indianapolis, IN 46205 Permit No. 8365 (317)786-1776 marionswcd.org Address Service Requested

Spring Into Natural Lawn Care

eeing the lawn green up in early spring prepare your lawn for compost topdressing reminds us to take another step while the temperatures are still cool. Stowards a healthier community by Compost will add much needed organic treating our lawns naturally. Here are some matter and some nutrients to your soil. ideas: Compost can also help speed up decomposition of thatch. Add a ¼” layer of Soil Testing – If you did not get your soil compost over the lawn and drag a mat or test done last fall, take samples and send otherwise work the compost into the holes them in this spring to help you adjust your created with core aeration. fertilization plan for this summer and fall - add only what your lawn really needs! See Corn Gluten and Herbicidal Soaps – our website under the Soil tab for a listing Corn Gluten has been shown to be an of soil testing labs and instructions for how effective natural herbicide, but it needs to to take your samples. (www.marionswcd.org) be put on in early spring before the weed seeds have sprouted. Corn Gluten SWCD Mowing – Bump your mower up a level. application can be a little tricky to time. Read Office Staff Keeping your lawn height higher will help to Marilyn Hughes, instructions carefully. You will need to treat Administrative Assistant shade out weeds, improve your grass root your lawn for 3 years in order to obtain 90% Glenn Lange, Resource structure, keep the soil cooler and reduce Conservationist weed control. Herbicidal soaps are also used Julie Haxton Farr, moisture loss. Keep your grass 2.5 – 4 inches with success on small annual and biennial Resource Conservationist tall (depending on type of grass) and only & Editor (PT) weeds. They will kill desirable plants as well mow 1/3 of the blades’ height at a time. as weeds so use them carefully. Clean Water Indiana Leslie White, Backyard Check our website under the “Go Green Conservation Coordinator Core Cultivation & Compost Topdressing – Core Cultivation or Aeration - Lawn & Garden” tab for more information NRCS Staff helps to decrease thatch, improves water and watch for updates over the next few Jerod Chew, District months on Natural Lawn Care ideas for each Conservationist percolation and air movement through the soil. Spring is a great time to aerate and season. 8