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Conservation Hall of Fame to induct first class in August

On July 8, the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation announced the creation of the Indiana Conservation Hall of Fame as a way to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to conserving natural, cultural and historic resources.

“The Foundation’s vision is to make Indiana a leader in conservation and outdoor recreation, so it’s fitting that we play a role in honoring those who have made an inspired difference in protecting our natural, cultural and historic resources,” Foundation Executive Director Bourke Patton said.

The Indiana Natural Resources Foundation is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote, support and sustain educational and scientific programs and policies of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“Over the years, people with Indiana ties have contributed a lot more to conservation than many folks realize,” DNR Director Robert E. Carter Jr. said. “The Hall of Fame will pay tribute to these talented and dedicated men and women, while educating present and future generations of this remarkable legacy in hopes of inspiring new conservation heroes.”

The Hall of Fame is a cooperative effort of the Foundation, the DNR, statewide conservation and recreation organizations and universities. The inaugural class of inductees will be announced in August and honored during a Sept. 25 banquet at The Garrison at Fort Harrison State Park.

The Indiana Wildlife Federation is co-host of the event. Ticket prices begin at $60. For more information visit www.IndianaNRF.org or contact Patton at 317-234-5447 or by e-mail at bpatton @dnr.IN.gov

The Hall of Fame banquet kicks off the Hoosier Outdoor Experience, a presentation of the DNR and Foundation, on Sept. 26–27 at Fort Harrison State Park. The free event is the state’s first-of-its-kind opportunity for aspiring outdoor enthusiasts to experience hands-on the full range of recreational opportunities available across Indiana.

Learn more about the Hoosier Outdoor Experience at www.in.gov/dnr/5009.htm

Upper Wabash outdoor cooking
No one is more popular in camp than the cook. Come out to the Upper Wabash Reservoir to learn more about outdoor cooking and to compete for culinary honors at an outdoor cooking event on Aug. 1 at Salamonie. The event is open to both campers and day visitors.

The day begins with an outdoor cooking class from 1-2 p.m. and the cooking competition follows from 2-5:30 p.m. There is a $10 entry fee per individual/team. Competition requires each entrant to cook one entrée and one dessert. There must be enough of each dish to allow eight judges to sample.

All cooking must be done in a Dutch oven. Entrants are responsible for supplying all food ingredients, cooking utensils, charcoal and starter. All foods must be prepared on-site.

Judging takes place at 6 p.m. and an awards ceremony follows. The first place team wins a new Dutch oven and qualifies to compete in the Oct. 24 championship cookoff at J. Edward Roush Lake. The championship winner will earn a tripod, lid lifter and other outdoor cooking accessories. The events are sponsored by Bozarth Country Store.

Park entrance fees of $5 per vehicle for Indiana residents and $7 for non-residents will apply.

Indiana CCC reunion
Veterans of the Indiana Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) should mark their calendars for Oct. 10, when Indiana’s statewide CCC reunion will be held at Camp Glenn in Fort Harrison State Park, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The public is welcome to join in the day’s events and meet our CCC veterans.

The CCC veterans and their families will be served a complimentary picnic lunch at noon, followed by the taking of a reunion photograph. To reserve your place at the picnic, contact Vicki Basman at 317-234-4926 or by e-mail at vbasman@dnr.IN.gov by Sept. 30.

An oral history booth also will be provided for veterans wishing to record their CCC memories. Everyone is invited to enroll in the CCC for the day and experience life at an interactive camp.

Interpretive naturalists will provide walking tours of historic Camp Glenn throughout the day. The afternoon will be filled with scheduled interpretive programs by guest speakers, including Fred Wooley, interpretive naturalist at Pokagon State Park. The schedule and times for interpretive programs will be announced at a later date.

The reunion is free, but the regular $5 per vehicle park entrance fee will be charged to in-state residents. The gate charge for out-of-state vehicles is $7. CCC veterans will receive free park admission.

Unwanted pike and bass found in northern lakes
Two species of fish, although popular among Hoosier anglers, are not what biologists wanted to find in three lakes north of Columbia City in Whitley County.

In mid-June, two northern pike were netted at Loon Lake and a white bass was captured in Big Lake during fish surveys conducted by the DNR. Last fall, two northern pike were also netted in Crooked Lake, though none were caught during a follow-up survey in June.
The northern pike found in both lakes were 24-26 inches long. The white bass in Big Lake was 14 inches long.

“Northern pike and white bass do not occur naturally in any of these lakes,” said Jed Pearson, DNR fisheries biologist. “They were apparently illegally stocked there by someone.”

According to Indiana law, anyone who stocks a fish in public waters under state control must first get a permit from the DNR. Catching fish in one lake and releasing them into another lake without an approved permit is a Class C misdemeanor. The cost of an approved stocking permit is $3.

Since northern pike and white bass are popular among anglers, some people may not realize such stocking is harmful. “Both species are predatory fish and can compete with other sport fish,” Pearson said.

“They both are capable of reproducing, so they could also increase and spread to other lakes in the area. But more importantly, they could harm ongoing fish management programs at each lake.”
Northern pike could compete with muskies stocked in Loon Lake, thereby reducing survival and growth of muskies. In Crooked Lake, pike could feed on ciscoes, a unique coldwater fish species found in only 13 Indiana lakes.

“Local residents and the DNR have done a lot to protect ciscoes in Crooked Lake. If pike numbers increase, they could decimate the population,” Pearson said.

White bass are predators usually feeding offshore on gizzard shad, a silver-colored forage fish. Shad are not present in Big Lake, however, so white bass there would likely be forced to eat bluegills, perch or other sport fish.

“Anglers who think that it is okay to take fish from one lake to stock in another lake run the risk of hurting fishing for everyone else,” said Pearson.

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.

7/22/2009