Blog

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Need Your Help For Clean Water Indiana!

Please see the recent press release below from the Indiana Wildlife Federation! We need YOUR help!

Conservation Funding Needs Your Support!

Two essential conservation funding programs, the Indiana Heritage Trust and Clean Water Indiana, are in trouble. Neither programs were included in Gov. Daniels's proposed budget or the budget bill (HB 1001) moving through the House of Representatives.

CALL OR WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TODAY and tell them Indiana's natural resources rely on these programs.

We need funding for the Indiana Heritage Trust at $750,000/year in the biennial budget. The Indiana Heritage Trust is the state’s only dedicated land acquisition program for conservation.  This is a visionary program, setting aside important lands for state and local parks, Fish and Wildlife Areas, Nature Preserves, State Recreation Areas and Historic Sites.

We also need the State Assembly to reinstate the $500,000 cut in dedicated funding for Clean Water Indiana. The program was created to protect and enhance the water quality of Indiana’s lakes, rivers and streams, by reducing the amount of polluted storm water runoff from urban and rural areas entering surface and ground water.  The program assists Indiana farmers and other property owners with technical expertise to complete projects to conserve soil and water.

In addition to contacting your Representative concerning IHT and CWI funding, please contact the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to ask for their support to reinstate the $500,000 in dedicated funding to the Clean Water Indiana Fund.

Please ask these Senators to speak with Senator Kenley, the chairman of the appropriations committee: Charbonneau, Broden, Boots, Hershman, Hume, C. Lawson, Miller, Mishler, Rogers, Tallian, Waltz, and Wyss.

Click here to find your legislator's contact information.

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Meet MWA President & Founding Member, Jim Schneider

After moving to Morse 10 years ago, I discovered quickly that I knew nothing about the reservoir concerning the rules and regulations for boating, docks, lake ownership, regulatory and controlling agencies. It was very confusing trying to locate the correct agency to address issues about floating trees, Ecoli, algae, no wake zones, buoys, speed limits, etc. I had some knowledge of boating having spent a few vacations camping on Lake Cumberland with my wife and 2 boys. My father-in-law’s 14 ft. runabout provided my kids the opportunity to learn to ski, tube and fish.

In May 2005, a small group of 8-10 people formed Morse Waterways Association. We envisioned ourselves as home owners association for the lake. We met weekly to create a mission statement, setup a web site, open a bank account for donations and organize a public meeting. Our goal was to educate ourselves and to become a resource for people living on the lake. As a key member of this organization, I have had the opportunity to meet hundreds of people living on the lake and have become good friends with many.

I spend most of my lake activities driving the boat for skiers and tubers, cruising the lake on my Seadoo, occasionally kayaking, and fishing in the evenings from my dock watching the sunset. Most of all, we enjoy entertaining our friends on our deck with some adult beverages and watching all the lake activity.

I am a partner in Salt-Free Water Systems which provides residential, commercial and industrial properties with environmentally friendly water conditioner systems. These systems are an alternative to traditional water softeners using no salt or chemicals. I serve the community through volunteer work Habitat for Humanity, Morse Waterways Association and the Upper White River Watershed Alliance.

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Attention Dog Owners! Pet Waste and Phosphorus

Recent info from the Indiana Department of Wildlife on how pet owners can help contribute to water quality here on Morse Reservoir.

Excess nutrients also lead to water problems. Pick up pet waste because it contains a high concentration of nutrients that can be a negative contributor to algal blooms in lakes and ponds. Make sure to dispose of waste properly.

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Fight the Ice, Keep Water Clean

Before long, seasons will change once again. What you put on any surface near your home, from your driveway to your yard, affects the water quality of Morse Reservoir.

Use de-icing materials cautiously during the remaining weeks of winter. The active chemicals found in these products can be harmful to turf grass, and salt can contaminate water sources by dissolving into soil and reaching aquifers.

Sand and cat litter are good alternatives to salt. If possible avoid large piles of snow, as this will hinder the growth of turf grass.

For more details from Purdue Extension, check out “Salt Damage in Landscape Plants” (pdf). The Purdue University specialists explain how salt can be dangerous to plants and suggest alternative de-icing products.

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Welcome to the MWA website!

Hi Lake Friends,

I'm the new PR person for the MWA & am very excited to help grow the MWA and spread the word of this much needed organization.

Although my husband, Andy, and I have lived on Morse Lake for almost 4 years now - it wasn't until this summer that I realized the importance of supporting the MWA. Andy and I traveled to Ohio to purchase a pontoon boat on Grand Lake St. Mary's this past June....and eye opening experience! To our surprise and shock, Grand Lake St. Mary's had such terrible toxic algae problems it was completely closed. CLOSED. No boats, no swimming, no restaurants...... it was a very sad and eye opening sight.

The entire trip home we asked ourselves - What would life be like if Morse were ever closed due to toxic algae? What if we couldn't boat? Swim? Fish? What would happen to the restaurants? Surrounding businesses? Local economy? The value of our home?

If you have not read about Grand Lake St. Marys - do so now... after you read, please help spread the word of the Morse Waterways Association! Keep our lake safe, clean & a place we can all love and enjoy!

Click here to read about Grand Lake St. Marys!
Thanks Friends!
Amanda Sheets
amanda@soldbysheets.com