Surveys to evaluate Fort Wayne fishing

The DNR and Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department are launching a city-wide survey of public fishing areas as part of a new program to increase fishing participation within the city's park system.

Termed "Fishin' in the Fort," the survey program will assess local fishing opportunities, determine where the best fishing exists within the city, and increase city residents' awareness of these sites.

"People think you have to travel out of the county to find good fishing," said DNR fisheries biologist Nate Thomas. "With gas prices increasing, it's important for people in Fort Wayne to know that fishing opportunities may literally be within walking distance from home."

The first phase of the program includes a summer-long survey of current fishing activity and fish catches at 12 pond and river sites. Sites extend from Salomon Farm Park on the city's north side to Foster Park on the south side. Beginning in mid-April, the survey will run through October and provide estimates of angler use, as well as numbers and sizes of fish caught.

The second phase, scheduled for early July, will include biological surveys of fish populations in five park ponds. These will provide biologists with information on fish species present in each body of water.
 
The final stage of the program will begin in summer 2009 when biological surveys will be conducted along the city's three rivers.

Once surveys are completed, officials will know where good fishing exists and which areas need improvement. Examples of improvements include enhancing water quality and fish habitat, as well as the initiating DNR-funded stocking programs.

Biological surveys are scheduled to take place this summer, July 7 to 11, at the Salomon Farm Pond, Shoaff Pond, Shoaff Lake in Franke Park, Reservoir Park, and Lakeside Park.

For more information, contact Thomas, (260) 244-6805.

Registration open, volunteers sought

Pokagon State Park will host the 2nd Annual Pathways Pokagon State Park Triathlon/Duathlon, May 17, at 9 a.m.

This Olympic-distance event will be staged at the park's CCC Shelter.  The triathlon consists of a 1.5-kilometer swim from the Pokagon main beach along the popular Lake James slalom ski course. Athletes will transition to a 40-kilometer bike ride on roads over the rolling terrain of rural Steuben County. The final leg is a 10-kilometer run on the rolling and wooded trails of Pokagon State Park. 

For those who choose not to swim, or if race organizers determine that the water temperature is too cold for swimmer safety on race day, there will be a duathlon. This event features the 10-k run and 40-k bike ride, followed by another 5-k run back on park trails.

Advanced individual race fee is $60 for USA Triathlon members, $70 for non-members. Team race fee is $120 for USAT members, $130 for non-USAT members. Day-of-race fees will have $25 added to each category.

The event is organized and conducted by TriFort Triathletes.  Fort Wayne Orthopedics, recognizing Pathways, Inc., a crisis shelter for youth of Allen County and northeast Indiana, is a major sponsor.

Co-sponsors are 80/20 Incorporated, Hupe Insurance, Strebig Construction, Upstream WM, Summit City Fitness, Summit City Bike, Tower Bank, TLA Signs, Lake James Cottage Owners Association, Carpet Craftsman, PHP, PC Help, Professional Credit Union, Mad Anthony's Brewing Company, Hammer Nutrition, Moe's Southwest Grill, Brookside Sports, Three Rivers Running Company, Summit Mortgage, and Martin, Goldstein, Knapke Real Estate. 

For more information, to register online, to volunteer to help or to seek sponsorship information, visit http://www.teamtrifort.com/. Registration packet pick-up and registration is May 16, 3 to 8 p.m. at the Park's Potawatomi Inn. Race-day registration is at the CCC Shelter from 7 to 8 a.m.  For overnight lodging at the Potawatomi Inn, contact http://www.indianainns.com/, or call (260) 833-2012 or 1-877-768-2928.  For information on camping at Pokagon, contact http://www.camp.in.gov/, or call 1-866-6campIN.

On race day Saturday, there is the normal park entrance fee of $5 for in-state vehicles or $7 for out-of-state vehicles, or you can use your annual entrance pass. Both are available at the park front gate.

Celebrate our beautiful planet and discover fun ways to help take care of it Saturday, April 19, at the Turkey Run nature center. Help feed the center's birds and squirrels using recycled containers at 9:30 a.m.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., shoot water bottle rockets 30 feet into the air, get inside giant bubbles, and learn how to start a fire using the sun. Make several earth-friendly crafts to keep. Discover how to Leave No Trace whether backpacking or playing in the backyard. Feel a live native snake and learn how snakes help the earth. Discover composting using worms and much more!

From 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., hike Turkey Run's rugged trails and win cool prizes during the no-impact scavenger hunt and litter pick-up.

This event is perfect for scouts, school clubs and the general public. There is no charge for the activities and crafts. Standard park entrance fees will be charged at the gate: $5 for Indiana cars and $7 for non-resident cars.

A unique opportunity to learn about Native Americans who once lived in the Shakamak State Park area will be presented at the park, April 26-27.

The event, "School of the Native, Journey through Time" offers attendees the chance to immerse themselves in real Native Woodland culture from the past by participating in and watching various activities.

Some of the subjects include dancing and drum, flute, storytelling (Saturday only for general public, Friday for youth groups), birch bark canoes, prehistoric people of Indiana, flint knapping, pottery, and other archaic arts using wood, bone, and stone.

Other activities include finger weaving, basic basketry, cordage, fire making,
tanning of hides, how to do archaeology, hickory nut processing and open fire cooking.

Visitors also will be able to try their hand at throwing a spear using an atlatl and go inside a real Native Woodland Encampment. Vendors will sell various items related to the 18th century, as well as books about that period.

Visitors should note that the event involves some walking.

School groups planning to attend the Youth Group Day on April 25 must sign up by April 15, at jdiemer@indiana.edu or by calling (812) 388-6996 or (812) 825-1234.

The state park is in Jasonville, 20 miles southeast of Terre Haute, 85 miles southwest of Indianapolis and 50 miles west of Bloomington.

Sponsors include Walmart South, Terre Haute; Walmart, Sullivan; Peabody Coal, Evansville; Duke Energy; and Sullivan County Hospital.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry (DoF), has recognized 61 Hoosier cities and towns as Tree Cities USA for outstanding management of their urban forests. 

Of those recognized, 14 also have received the Growth Award, which exemplifies a higher standard of excellence for urban forestry management activities. 
 
"In 2007, Indiana's 61 Tree Cities planted over 10,938 trees, removed 6,269, and pruned 19,296," said John Seifert, state forester. "These municipalities are to be commended for utilizing the urban forest as a tool to enhance economic development, environmental health, and quality of life in their community."

The Tree City USA program has been in existence in Indiana since 1984, when Bloomington met the criteria and became the first Tree City in Indiana.  In 2007, six new cities earned recognition for the first time: Avon, Dyer, Geneva, Russiaville, Westfield and Vincennes.  

To achieve Tree City USA status, communities must draft and pass a public tree-care ordinance, designate a municipal department and tree advisory committee, spend at least $2 per capita on their tree-care program, and have an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. 

"Becoming and remaining a Tree City is not an easy task," said Pam Louks, state community and urban forestry coordinator (CUF).  "Since 2004, we have lost two Tree Cities each year. Out of the 568 cities and towns in the state, these 61 are truly unique in that they are making a concentrated effort to care for their urban forest, which cleans the air we breathe and the water we drink."

Tree Cities for 2007, with an asterisk denoting a Growth Award: Anderson, Angola, Auburn, Avon, Beech Grove, Bedford, Berne, Bloomington*, Carmel*, Chesterton, Columbia City, Crown Point, Culver*, Decatur, Delphi*, Dyer, East Chicago, Edgewood, Elkhart, Evansville*, Fort Wayne*, Fortville, Fremont,  Geneva, Goshen, Greencastle, Greendale, Greenfield, Grissom Air Reserve Base,  Huntington*, Indianapolis*, LaPorte, Lafayette, Madison*, Michigan City*, Middlebury*, Mishawaka, Montpelier, Mount Ayr, Muncie, Munster, Nappanee, Nashville, New Harmony, Noblesville*, North Manchester, Richmond, Rochester, Russiaville, Salem, South Bend, Syracuse*, Terre Haute*, Tipton, Valparaiso, Vincennes, West Lafayette, Westfield, Whiting, Winamac and Zionsville.

These communities will be formally recognized by DoF staff during this month and next at Arbor Day ceremonies throughout the state.  The National Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters sponsor the program, which now includes 3,216 Tree Cities nationally with 503 receiving the Growth Award.

For more information on urban forestry and how to become a Tree City USA, contact the CUF office, (317) 915-9390, urbanforestry@dnr.IN.gov.

(Morgan-Monroe State Forest)-Indiana Conservation Officers will be wrapping up the training of eight new K-9 Officers at Morgan-Monroe State Forest near Martinsville Indiana. The dogs and their handlers are trained in man-tracking, evidence recovery, searches and fish and wildlife detection.

Training with Indiana Officers are two Maryland Fish and Wildlife Officers and an officer from the state Kansas.

The K-9 Officers have proven to be a great asset to Conservation Officers with their lifesaving ability to locate people who have become lost in the outdoors.

Locally, Monroe County assigned Conservation Officer Jon Fennig and K-9 Officer Abby, a Chocolate Labrador Retriever, will be added to the duty roster.