Indiana offers a wide variety of recreational water for boaters and out-of-state visitors flocking to take advantage of the many flood control reservoirs and natural lakes our state has to offer.

Many nonresidents rent or lease dock space for their boats to keep them water-ready. After a one-year grace period, Indiana conservation officers will begin enforcing Indiana’s excise-tax law concerning boats; more especially, nonresident-owned watercraft.

The new tax law states any nonresident boat owner who has a valid out-of-state registration and whose craft has been in Indiana for 22 or more consecutive days must pay Indiana excise tax.

Out-of-state boat owners complying with the new law are exempt from the Indiana registration and titling requirement once the boat excise tax has been paid. The excise tax decals must be affixed to both sides of the bow of the boat, to the right of the registration number.

Prior to passage of the legislation, out-of-state owners boating in Indiana waters for more than 60 consecutive days had to register and title their boats with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

Many nonresidents were hesitant to comply with the law. Changing to an Indiana registration and title forced boaters to physically change the numbers displayed on their boats. Frequently, the numbers are painted on, and removal would have caused cosmetic damage.

The tax law as it now stands will create a convenience for nonresidents. Boaters who own waterfront property or rent a seasonal mooring will no longer have to register and title their boats with the Indiana BMV. By paying excise tax, nonresident boaters satisfy their legal requirements.

Riverwatch to present stream monitoring workshop

Hoosier Riverwatch, a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) education program, will host a series of workshops around the state to train people to monitor local streams and rivers.

The next volunteer stream monitoring workshop is at Camp Cullom, near Frankfort, on June 21. The training is free, but class size is limited. A reservation is required to attend.

“By learning the basics of stream monitoring, participants can launch a lifelong passion that not only benefits the environment, but also can be personally fulfilling,” said Rob Carter, DNR director.
“If we’re to protect this crucial natural resource into the future, we need to foster an understanding and appreciation for conservation that will sustain us for generations to come.”

The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT. It will provide general education in water quality issues and hands-on training in monitoring the health of rivers and streams through physical, chemical and biological testing.

After training, volunteers can perform stream testing for a wide variety of possible pollutants. They then submit their data to a statewide volunteer monitoring database making the information available to anyone.

“The training is for anyone interested in learning about water quality and gaining hands-on experience in monitoring rivers and streams,” said Lyn Crighton, Hoosier Riverwatch coordinator. “People interested in the environment, especially educators, are invited to attend.”

Hoosier Riverwatch, sponsored by DNR through its Division of Fish and Wildlife, is a statewide education program focusing on local river and stream stewardship. To date, nearly 5,000 people have participated. Check out www.HoosierRiverwatch.com to find water-quality data collected by program graduates and where monitoring has taken place.

Hundreds of youth and adult organizations, including watershed and river protection groups, churches, 4-H, Boy and Girl Scouts, municipalities and schools, monitor their local water quality each year.

“The Riverwatch monitoring program fits easily into elementary, middle and high school classes, including biology, chemistry, math, language arts and social studies,” Crighton said.

The program has been correlated to Indiana state standards for science at both the middle and high school levels. Teachers can obtain three Certification Renewal Units for attendance.

For reservations and directions, contact Leah Harden with Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District by e-mail at leah.harden@in.nacdnet.net or call 765-659-1223, ext. 3.

To learn more about the Riverwatch program and find a listing of other workshops, visit www.riverwatch.in.gov

PETA proposes tax on meat

Are you a meat and potatoes kind of guy? If you like a good burger and fries, or fried chicken and biscuits, animal activists think you ought to pay more for your meal.

Well, it seems the nation’s number-one anti-hunting group is up to its old legislative shenanigans again. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has kicked off a new “Tax Meat” campaign, proposing a 10-cent per pound excise tax to be paid on meat, the same way gasoline, tobacco and alcohol taxes are paid so the tax is calculated into the retail price.

PETA suggests the money raised by its “Tax Meat” scheme could be “put into health education and preventative medicine.” Translation – the money could be used to advocate vegetarian and vegan diets and promote the animal rights movement.

Animal activists have also asked federal lawmakers to give tax breaks to those who have sworn off the consumption of animals.
This spring, PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk sent letters to Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nanci Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, urging them to extend vegetarians the tax breaks that hybrid car owners receive for purchasing vehicles with low carbon emissions. She claims vegetarians are responsible for fewer greenhouse-gas emissions and environmental degradations than those who are meat-eaters.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments can contact Jack Spaulding by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.