With the recent rainfall and anticipation of more to come, Indiana Conservation Officers are reminding the public of the dangers of flood water and to avoid driving through flooded roads. Officers recently responded to more than 40 water-related calls for service, many of them involving motorists who attempted to drive through flood waters.

Conservation Officers, like all authorities, emphasize it is never safe to drive into floodwaters and the following safety precautions should be followed:

*Do not drive around barricades at water crossings.

*Do not cross or enter flowing water.

*Driving through standing water may affect your brakes. Test your brakes at low speeds as soon as you exit the water.

*If you choose to abandon your vehicle, respect the force of the water flow; you may be swept off your feet. After you exit the vehicle, seek higher ground.

*Be aware road erosion may occur where there is running or standing water.

*Remember six inches of water will reach the bottom of most car doors. One foot of water will float many vehicles, and two feet of moving water can carry away most vehicles.

*If you find yourself stranded in floodwaters, remain calm and call 911. If you can do so safely, move to higher ground.

Body of Mooresville man recovered

Indiana Conservation Officers recovered the body of a missing Mooresville man after he was sucked into a culvert April 5 while attempting to clear debris from a pond.

Around 8:30 a.m., emergency personnel were dispatched to the area near the 12000 block of Lambert Court in Mooresville for a water rescue.

Once on the scene, it was determined Bradley Justus, 59, was attempting to clear debris near a culvert from a neighborhood pond overflow when he was sucked into the culvert by the force of the flood waters. Rescue efforts were hindered by the hazardous water levels.

On the next day around noon, rescue personnel recovered the body of Justus by accessing the culvert pipe from above. The incident is still under investigation.

Boating restricted on West Lakes Chain, Indian Lakes Chain and Sylvan Lake 

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has placed boating restrictions on watercraft on the West Lakes Chain, the Indian Lakes Chain and on Sylvan Lake.

The emergency order restricts the operation of motorized watercraft on the Indian Lakes Chain in LaGrange County, which consists of Dallas, Witmer, Hackenberg, Westler and Messick lakes, as well as on the West Lakes Chain, which consists of Waldron, Steinbarger, Tamarack, and Jones lakes in Noble County. The restrictions are due to concern regarding high-water levels.

The DNR also placed an idle speed restriction on motorized watercraft on Sylvan Lake.

A boating restriction is put into effect when surface water conditions are likely to enter dwelling structures as a result of a wake from a motorized boat.

Indiana State Parks hiring lifeguards 

Indiana State Parks public pools will be opening Memorial Day weekend, as will the beach at Indiana Dunes State Park. Recruitment is now underway to hire and certify lifeguards to support a safe environment at state-operated locations for swimmers this summer.

“Lifeguarding is a great way to spend a summer and find out what working at an Indiana State Park is like,” said Brandt Baughman, deputy director for operations for the division, who began his DNR career as a lifeguard at Spring Mill State Park.

Lifeguards are being recruited for the beach at Indiana Dunes State Park and for pools at: Brown County State Park, Cagles Mill Lake (Lieber State Recreation Area), Clifty Falls State Park, McCormick’s Creek State Park, O’Bannon Woods State Park (aquatic center), Prophetstown State Park (aquatic center), Shakamak State Park, Spring Mill State Park, Turkey Run State Park and Versailles State Park.

All pools listed will be open on Saturday through Monday, May 24-26; Saturday and Sunday, May 31-June 1; and then will be open daily June 7 through Aug. 1. The beach at Indiana Dunes State Park will be open for swimming with lifeguards following the same schedule.

Lifeguard positions are open to applicants 15 and older. If you are interested in becoming a lifeguard, contact the closest property to you as listed above to see if a certification course is available. Property phone numbers are listed at on.IN.gov/stateparks under “Find a park.” More information is at on.IN.gov/dnr-lifeguard.

All other beaches will also open for swimming on Memorial Day weekend and remain open for swimming through Labor Day weekend. This will include Brookville Lake/Whitewater Memorial State Park, Cagles Mill Lake (Lieber SRA), Cecil M. Harden (Raccoon SRA), Chain O’Lakes State Park, Deam Lake SRA, Ferdinand State Forest, Hardy Lake, Mississinewa Lake, Monroe Lake, Ouabache State Park, Patoka Lake, Pokagon State Park, Potato Creek State Park, Salamonie Lake, Starve Hollow SRA and Summit Lake State Park.

The beach at Lincoln State Park will close after the July 4 weekend as the lake level will be dropped for scheduled maintenance on the dam.

The aquatic center at Abe Martin Lodge at Brown County State Park and the pools at Clifty Inn (Clifty Falls State Park), Potawatomi Inn (Pokagon State Park), and Turkey Run Inn (Turkey Run State Park) will continue to welcome inn guests.

Beginning Aug. 1, the pools and the beach at Indiana Dunes State Park will likely return to operating on weekends only, as lifeguards return to school.

‘till next time,  

Jack

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication or e-mail Jack at jackspaulding1971@outlook.com 

Spaulding’s books, “The Best Of Spaulding Outdoors” and “The Coon Hunter And The Kid,” are available from Amazon.com as a paperback or Kindle download.