Organizations in 12 Indiana counties will receive $1,194,000 in grants to fund 18 lake, river, and watershed land treatment projects through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) program.

The grants are funded through the LARE fee paid annually by boat owners when registering their crafts with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The user-funded program benefits boaters all over the state. The grants allow for the completion of projects difficult for local organizations to fund on their own. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis, and local sponsors share at least 20 percent of the cost of the project.

“By getting out on the water, Hoosier boaters are making a positive impact on lake, river and stream habitats across Indiana,” said Amanda Wuestefeld, director of DNR Fish & Wildlife, the division under which LARE is administered. “Through these LARE grants, we’re able to work directly with local communities to improve habitat for fish and wildlife populations, creating a better experience for all.”

The grant-funded projects will benefit four lakes and nine rivers and streams. In addition, five land-based projects associated with watershed land treatment practices have been funded in coordination with local soil and water conservation districts.

Many of the projects aim to improve water quality by reducing sediment and nutrient inputs. Improved water quality helps fish and wildlife populations and improves recreational opportunities.

The projects, listed by body of water, county, project type, and grant award are at lare.dnr.IN.gov

Community reforestation grants

According to the National Weather Service, Indiana averages 22 tornadoes per year. With future extreme weather events, our urban tree canopy will likely continue to be negatively affected.

To help communities recover some of their tree canopy from past extreme weather events and plan for future events, the DNR CUF program has developed a grant program specifically for these efforts. Communities with their tree canopy impacted by natural disasters and would like to plant trees in the affected area and get help planning for future events may now apply for funding through our Natural Disaster Recovery (NDR) Grant.

More information can be found here: https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/programs/community-and-urban-forestry/grants/#Natural_Disaster_Recovery__NDR__Grant.

Monroe Lake Flora Field Days

Want to work on your flora identification skills? Practice with a naturalist! Field day emphasis is on the proper use and application of an ID key, which opens the door to identifying thousands of species. The naturalist will work with each attendee based on their prior experience. If you’ve never worked with flower ID before, it is a great way to learn. If you have prior experience, here is a fun way to practice your skills (and maybe add some new blooms to your life list).

Sept. 3 at 9:30 a.m. (Cutright SRA): Sign up by Sept. 1 at: tinyurl.com/florafield-sep2024

Oct. 1 at 9:30 a.m. (Fairfax SRA): Sign up by Sept. 29 at: tinyurl.com/florafield-oct2024.

Public Archaeology Day, Sept. 17, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Fairfax SRA)

Before Monroe Lake was built, the Salt Creek Valley was home to numerous small family farms, some dating back to the 1820s. While most homesteads have been reclaimed by time and nature, remnants remain in the form of scattered foundation stones, piles of rock and brick from collapsed chimneys, wells and cisterns, and fragments of metal and pottery. Archaeologists from the DNR Division of Historic Preservation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District are partnering with the Division of State Parks to document and map some of the historic sites and share their history with visitors. Join us for the public archaeology day, part of Indiana Archaeology Month (on.IN.gov/archaeologymonth) and Salt Creek Valley History Week (tinyurl.com/scvhistory2024).

Open Viewing from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Drop by anytime during the 3-hour period to observe archaeological site mapping in action, learn about the land ownership history, and ask questions. After you pass through the entrance gatehouse, park in the small gravel lot on the right side of the road. Follow the red arrow signs back to the project location, about a ¾ mile hike (if you have mobility concerns, call the phone number posted on the first arrow sign and we’ll give you a lift to and from). NO REGISTRATION NEEDED.

Archaeology Volunteer Shift: Site Mapping at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Assist archaeologists with site mapping: taking measurements, digging shovel probes, and screening sediment. Each shift is 1.5 hours in length. Limited to four people per shift, must be at least 10 years old. Volunteers must be able to navigate uneven ground, read a measuring tape, and be okay with getting a little dirty. Advance signup is required by noon on Sept. 15 at tinyurl.com/archday2024. *7 spots open.

Archaeology Volunteer Shift: Site Preparation at 1 p.m. Assist archaeologists with prepping a second site for future mapping: removing brush and small trees, conducting a visual search, and recording GPS locations. Shift is two hours in length. Limited to six people, must be at least 14 years old. Volunteers must be able to navigate uneven ground and be comfortable working with hand tools (loppers). Advance signup is required by noon on Sept. 15 at tinyurl.com/archday2024. *6 spots open.

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.