Finding a place to paddle a canoe is easy in Indiana, where opportunities abound on hundreds of lakes and miles of rivers and streams.

“While many Hoosiers may be aware of the great hiking and biking trail opportunities available to them in Indiana, it may come as some surprise to learn there are 1,600 miles of water trails ready and waiting for the launching of canoes,” said Steve Morris, director of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Outdoor Recreation. “Paddling Indiana’s streams and lakes is a great way to get back to nature and have some outdoor fun.”

What if you don’t know how to paddle a canoe but want to learn? The Hoosier Canoe Club will help make the connection at the Hoosier Outdoor Experience on Sept. 26-27 at Fort Harrison State Park.

“Our canoe club is excited for this opportunity to introduce our fellow Hoosiers to the joys of paddling in Indiana,” said Dan Valleskey, club member.

The Hoosier Outdoor Experience is a family-friendly event, and the first of its kind in Indiana. Unlike traditional trade shows, visitors will be able to enjoy hands-on experience in a wide range of outdoor activities, such as fly fishing, target shooting, archery, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, camping and much more.

The Hoosier Outdoor Experience is presented by the DNR and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation, with sponsorship support from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Ball Brothers Foundation, WXIN-Fox 59 Indianapolis and numerous other sponsors.

Parking, admission, activities, demonstrations and seminars are free to the public, but online registration is required. To register, go to www.in.gov/dnr/5009.htm and click on the yellow registration icon.

Event updates can be found at www.in.gov/dnr/5009.htm or on Facebook and Twitter.

White River fish kill

A fish kill in the White River near Rocky Ripple in Marion County, noticed by members of the public during the last week of July, appears to be the result of an excessive algae bloom.
Both DNR and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management dispatched investigators on July 24 after several reports from concerned citizens. Neither agency found evidence of a spill, but instead found brownish water and scummy algae on the water’s surface.

Lenore Tedesco, director of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis’ Center for Earth and Environmental Science, collected water samples in the area on July 24-27, and documented a diatom algae bloom. According to Tedesco, such algae blooms can cause fish kills.

“When the algae are in very high concentrations, like they are right now in the White River, they make oxygen during the day, but rob oxygen from the water at night,” she said. “Without enough oxygen, fish will basically suffocate.”

Tedesco said while algae are natural in streams and lakes, excessive growth in the situation is not natural.

“Right now we are seeing algal blooms in many of our (local) freshwater systems,” she said. “This is typical in middle to late summer and suggests excessive nutrients in the water.”

Get natural at the State Fair

Visitors to the Indiana State Fair Natural Resources Building and area can have fun viewing and learning about everything from snakes to fish to butterflies. All DNR activities at the fair are free, after paying gate admission.

An old DNR favorite, “Snakes Alive!,” returns. Interpretive naturalists from state properties all over Indiana will talk about snakes Hoosiers might find in their own backyards. The show takes place every day at 10 a.m. at the 150-seat DNR amphitheater, next to the Natural Resources Building.

The ever-popular 312,000-gallon Fishin’ Pond returns for a fourth year, packed with fish ready to be caught, then released. It’s open every day from 4-7 p.m., located next to the Natural Resources Building.

Youth fishing is also available 9 a.m.-noon every day except Aug. 17-21. Parents should register their children between the ages of 5-17 when they enter the fair, to reserve a time to fish later in the day.

Fairgoers can learn about every division of DNR inside the Natural Resources Building, where they can pick up free copies of the latest recreation, fishing or hunting guides and other DNR publications, subscribe to Outdoor Indiana magazine, ask questions of DNR experts or just take an air-conditioning break.

Artifact ‘road show’ at State Fair

Do you have an artifact you’re curious about? Then, bring your artifact (no fossils, please) to the archaeology Road Show on Aug. 16 from 1-3 p.m., and the DNR staff will help provide you with information on the item, its age and the like.

State Archaeologist Dr. Rick Jones and Amy Johnson, archaeology outreach coordinator, will be available in the amphitheater behind the DNR building to identify historic and prehistoric artifacts.
In addition, a variety of free archaeological handouts will be available for individuals who stop in. The event provides a preview of the types of activities that will be available around the state in September, which is Indiana Archaeology Month.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.