Now that the Geist Watershed Alliance (GWA) has received its grant of $54,000 from the Lake and River Enhancements (LARE) section of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), it is positioned to make a major impact on the future health of Geist Reservoir, as well as the other waters in this regional basin.
Important decisions are slated to be made during the course of the next few months, and the GWA needs input and direction from the area’s citizens. The steering committee is still being formed, and presently only consists of about 8 active members – just one of which is an actual resident of the immediate Geist Reservoir area.
By the time this issue of the atGeist Newsletter is printed, the steering committee will have drafted and submitted a Request for Proposals (RFP) to prospective watershed management co-ordinators, and we will be seeking input from informed residents concerning the final choice of specialists who will be devising the path to restoring the reservoir’s health. As recommended by LARE, we will be also soliciting advice and recruiting steering committee members from outlying connected watersheds; therefore, we are concerned that the focus on the immediate Geist area could be under-represented if more participation from local citizens is not generated.
We are thankful this year that weather conditions have not been conducive to explosive toxic algal growth. But we must maintain our awareness that the risk is always present for this to occur in summers to come unless we work now towards a solution to understanding and preventing the conditions that allowed the algae to plague Geist Reservoir in the Summer of 2007.
Come help your community and the GWA as it works to address the water quality issues affecting the lake. You will not be required to devote a great deal of time, but you can become educated and help to educate others while helping the GWA to make informed decisions about how to protect Geist Reservoir and your own property’s value.
More information about meetings and issues can be found at the GWA’s website: www.GeistWatershed.com. During the August steering committee meeting, a new schedule for monthly meetings will have been determined and posted on the website. It only takes a minute to make the cyber-visit and learn when the next meeting will take place. Please check us out!
There are many things growing in the water. I noticed last year a new brown grass growing quickly, it can be seen floating near the top. As a very small patch beginning last year, has spread from one side of the canal inlet between our neighbor and us – what is it? It isn’t the normal ‘green’ weed that’s been growing for years. This is very invasive