t fi SOUNDINGS Pro ‐ Steuben County Lakes Council, Inc. Angola, IN IN Angola, Non Permit No. 3 317 South Wayne Street, Suite 2A U.S. Postage Paid Paid U.S. Postage Angola, IN 46703 Phone (260) 665-1730 FOLLOW US ON ‘FACEBOOK’ E-mail ofϐ[email protected] www.lakescouncil.org Volume #47 Fall 2020 PRESIDENT’S LIVE BOX S C L C ● ● ● SubmiƩed by Cheryl Silverhart, SCLC President Navigang COVID‐19 demands ingenuity, compas‐ sion, and spirit. The Steuben County Lakes Council communi‐ ty exemplifies these traits. We strive to ensure connuity of water quality tesng by working with the community. We are constantly working to develop new soluons and find ways to help. The SCLC will always be champions for our water and together we will weather this storm. We strive to STEUBEN be champions for our lakes and rivers through designing COUNTY water quality objecves and water quality management processes. STEUBEN COUNTY LAKES COUNCIL LAKES Water quality objecves are designed for the sub‐ 317 South Wayne Street, Suite 2A Angola, In 46703 C COUNCIL ● stances or condions of concern in a watershed so that their L ● aainment will protect the designated uses. Based on the C preceding discussions, the water uses to be protected should ● include drinking water, irrigaon, primary‐contact recrea‐ S on, aquac life and wildlife. Water quality management includes the system‐ ADDRESS CHANGES ac collecon of physical, chemical and biological infor‐ We are diligently working on our database to make sure we have current lake ad‐ maon and the analysis, interpretaon and reporng of dresses and current mailing addresses of those who prefer receiving mail other those measurements according to a pre‐planned design and than at the lake. Please keep us informed of any changes that need to be made. If structure. you are a “Snow Bird” and have a different winter address, please advise us of this In these challenging mes, we turn to each other address and the mes this should be used. We want to be sure to reach you with for support, guidance and encouragement. The Steuben County Lakes Council looks forward to support from every‐ any mailings we may have. To make a change, please send a note in the mail, call one. the office (260) 665‐1730, or email the office at offi[email protected]. Thank you for your assistance. Soundings is a Fall publicaon of the Steuben County Lakes Council, Inc. 317 South Wayne Street, Suite 2A, Angola, IN 46703 Telephone (260) 665‐1730, Fax (260) 665‐8798 E‐mail: offi[email protected] Website: www.LakesCouncil.org 2020 SOUNDINGS Page 2 2020 SOUNDINGS Page 23 TABLE OF CONTENTS WEST OTTER LAKE SubmiƩed by John Williamson President’s Live Box Page 1 Here we are again‐‐‐just a couple weeks ll Autumn starts. I think that you will agree that the summers go by too fast. We hope that everyone had a good me on a lake this sum‐ Officers for 2020 Page 2 mer. Even though we had some extra hot days, swimming was great. Hearing kids swim is always a good me seeing and listening. This summer we had our [ Helen Miller] boat pa‐ Calendar for 2021 Page 3 rade. Going around the lake and waving back at the people on shore was fun and seeing Scholarship Memorials Page 4 the flags being waved back at us made for a good day. Even though Helen is no longer with us, her annual boat parade will go on. Living by the water is so rewarding but a lile extra Seling For Clean Lakes Page 5 & 6 work. You can hear the ducks quack and the great blue heron squawk when it goes into flight, then there are the geese. We hope that you will enjoy the rest of the good weather Dog Days of Summer Page 6 we sll have coming. Scholarship Update Page 7 Monitoring monarchs and More Page 8 Friends of Pokagon Page 9 Water Quality Report Page 10 101 Lakes Trust Page 11 Business/Professional Contributors Pages 12 & 13 MEMBERSHIP NOTES Submied by Cheri Carpenter, SCLC Office Manager Shorelines Page 14—23 Thank you to everyone who sent their membership contribuon in for Lakes Council Board Meengs & Membership Notes Page 23 2020. A special thanks also to all who contributed to our water quality project this year. With your help, we have been able to intervene when we find a problem area and also do water tesng in the watersheds of Steuben County to keep our waters safe. Membership leers for 2021 will be sent out in January 2021. SCLC OFFICERS 2020 President – Cheryl Silverhart STEUBEN COUNTY LAKES COUNCIL, INC. President Elect – Steve Schroeder Technical Vice President – Pete Hippensteel BOARD MEETINGS Government Vice President – Karen DeForest Learn more about your Steuben County Lakes Council by aending our Public Relaons Vice President – John Williamson Board meengs. They are held the first Saturday of each month (except Jan‐ Secretary – Cheri Carpenter Treasurer – Gary VandenElst uary) at the First Congregaonal United Church of Christ, 314 West Assistant Treasurer –Jim Simons Maumee, Angola, IN, at 8:30 A.M. Excepon: The August 7th meeng will be Member at Large – Bob Glick at the Lake James Chrisan Camp & Retreat Center. The meengs are open Member at Large – Don Reitz to the public. Come join the discussions and help us keep the lakes and Member at Large – Max Robison streams clean and beauful. Advisor – Bill Schmidt 2020 SOUNDINGS Page 22 2020 SOUNDINGS Page 3 LAKE OF THE WOODS/MCCLISH LAKE SubmiƩed by Steve McElhoe To say that 2020 has been a different and difficult year is truly an understatement. The covid 19 CALENDAR 2021 pandemic has virtually changed our way of life and how we conduct business. Steuben County Lakes Council Board Meengs As if the virus wasn't enough, on April 18th I received a call from a local farmer asking if I knew about the proposed rezoning of 109 acres to allow for a 10,000 breeding sow CAFO ? The site lies less than a mile from our lakes in Noble County and the Maumee Ditch which runs alongside February 6, First Congregaonal United Church of Christ the property empes directly into Lake of the Woods. March 6, First Congregaonal United Church of Christ The hearing to approve or deny the rezoning was scheduled for April 29th giving us only 11 days to mount the opposion. To make maers worse there was only going to be one Commissioner making the decision and the meeng was not open to the public because of Covid. April 3, First Congregaonal United Church of Christ I contacted our Associaon Board members, posted informaon on the Next door website and May 1, First Congregaonal United Church of Christ called the Associaon Presidents of Big Long, Prey and Big Turkey Lakes. We formed acon groups, contacted the Planning Commission via email, snail mail and phone. We hired an aor‐ ney and also had the help of 2 renowned CAFO fighters in Barbara Shay Cox and John Meister. June 5, First Congregaonal United Church of Christ State Senator Susan Glick was very helpful and kept me informed of any new developments. I can truly say that without their help our chances of stopping the CAFO would have been greatly July 3, First Congregaonal United Church of Christ diminished. Because of the efforts of everyone concerned and the collapse of the pork industry (perfect m‐ August 7, Lake James Chrisan Camp & Retreat Center ing) the rezoning meeng was cancelled and the peon for the CAFO was withdrawn. This is not to say that a new peon won't be filed in the future and we will remain diligent and ready September 4, First Congregaonal United Church of Christ to fight another bale. I truly saw the results that Lake Associaons and their members can have when faced with a October 2, First Congregaonal United Church of Christ situaon that would have long term effects on our water quality and our way of life. What comes to mind is hearing Bill Schmidt say, " No one sees the importance of a Lakes Council or an November 6, First Congregaonal United Church of Christ Associaon unl they want to build a CAFO by your lake." Words of wisdom Bill, thank you SILVER LAKE SubmiƩed by Greg Bright December 4, First Congregaonal United Church of Christ Silver Lake collected a water sample to see what kind of algae DNA was present. We found 13 different species. But the one that made up over half the sample was this blue green called Syn‐ All meengs are open to the public. echococcus. Blue green algae blooms are becoming increasingly frequent in our lakes. Meengs start at 8:30 A.M. “Protecng our lakes today, for tomorrow” 2020 SOUNDINGS Page 4 2020 SOUNDINGS Page 21 2020 SCHOLARSHIP CONTRIBUTORS LAKE PLEASANT SubmiƩed by Landon Brown, President Chris & Becky Abbey Shirley Hallman Tom & Kris Reincke Lake Pleasant Homeowners AssociaƟon Clayton & Janice Adams Karen Hamilton Steve & Karen Richards Don & Janet Ahlersmeyer Donna Hankins Max & Sandra Robison Gary Anderson Mel & Sandy Hathaway James & Bara Rousseau Life on the Lake Pleasant! Rob Armstrong Sarah Helbig Carolyn & Don Schenkel Aquac Enhancement Barbara Hendrick William & Lori Scherger As another summer winds down I think it is fair to say this one will be a memorable one for Susan Baer Katy Hoehn Dan & Rebecca Schmidt sure! Though the board of directors chose to cancel our annual meeng, the boat was sll in Larry & Nancy Bandelier Judy Hostetler William Schmidt moon. Numerous meengs took place to determine what the best steps would be to ensure Warren & Barbara Barnes Michael & Linda Iczkovitz Ken & Marta Schlemmer our lake water level and biological stability.