In a move to provide easier access to Indiana recreational information, the Department of Natural Resources has issued its first combined recreation guide and fishing guide.

The 70-page publication “provides everything you need to enjoy the Hoosier outdoors,” said DNR Director Kyle Hupfer, “Included are fishing fees and size/bag limits; state park facility information and phone numbers; where to camp and where to fish. We even have a list of DNR law enforcement offices.”

The new publication combines two long-time annual publications, the annual fishing and recreation guides into one full color, glossy, high-end publication. The previous guides were black and white and printed on low quality paper. The sale of advertising space has reduced the production cost of the new guide. Additional savings will be realized each year through the lower costs in shipping one publication rather than two.

Copies of the new guide are available at all DNR properties, business locations selling fishing licenses and at the DNR customer service center in the Government Center-South or by calling 317-232-4200.

Report available on DNR website
The DNR has also made its 2005 Annual Report available online at www.in.gov/dnr/2005_DNR_ANNUAL_REPORT-hi-res-tagged.pdf

The full-color report gives Hoosiers an in-depth view of the activities and projects ongoing at the DNR. Persons who log on to the report will have information about:

•a grant to provide urban families equipment and mentors to expand their outdoor activities;
•the new state-of-the-art shooting range at Roush Lake in Huntington Co.;
•the DNR foresters and law enforcement officers who volunteered to assist in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina;
•the 2,773 volunteers who provided 39,448 hours of help at our state parks and the state’s first mountain biking trail in Brown County State Park; and
•the creation of the new point-of-sale system for hunting and fishing licenses and the use of a Hoosier company to manage it saving the state $1.6 million; the 95 new acres of wetlands and 46 reclamation sites created through the Abandoned Mine Land Program.

EAB in Hamilton County
The emerald ash borer, an exotic species of beetle that destroys ash trees, has now been confirmed in Hamilton County. This latest site marking the spread of the beetle is within a hundred yards of the Marion County line, and the ash trees have been infested for seven years.

Following this latest evidence of the spreading infestation, the DNR has issued an emergency order officially restricting the movement of ash products in Hamilton and Marion Counties.

DNR Director Kyle Hupfer said the state’s legal restrictions “prohibit transportation of ash trees and most ash tree products out of the infected counties. This includes nursery stock, logs or untreated lumber with the bark attached, any type of firewood except for pine, and any composted or uncomposted ash chips or bark chips that are one inch or larger.”

Hupfer said these measures are designed to slow the spread of the infestation while federal and university scientists look for ways to permanently eradicate the pest from the U.S.

The emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation is along the side of Hazel Dell Parkway between 96th St. and 106th St. Carmel’s Urban Forest Specialist found the infestation while trimming the ash trees.

Samples of the insect were sent to an expert at the USDA who has since confirmed the specimens were emerald ash borer.

Carmel City Forester Scott Brewer recently expressed the city’s concerns.

“The city views our woodlands and street trees as valuable assets,” he said. “We will certainly do what we can to identify the scope of this pest and work to limit its spread.”

Brewer also announced the city would hold a public meeting, in conjunction with the DNR, about the EAB infestation as soon as more is known.

The infestation is within a few dozen yards of the Marion Co. line and, so is presumed to have traveled into Marion County as well. Therefore, the official restrictions have also been placed on Marion Co. The City of Indianapolis has indicated its willingness to cooperate with state and private developers to continue working to slow the spread of the EAB.

“We realize it may only be a matter of time until a confirmed site is found in Marion County,” said Indy Parks administrator Jason Kissel. “We will continue to work with public and private local property owners on plans to plant a diversity of trees and slow the spread of this infestation.”

Earlier infestations in Indiana have been found in LaGrange, Steuben, Randolph and Adams counties. Large infestations are also present in Michigan, Ohio and Canada.

DNR personnel and others will begin surveying the area around the new find at the end of the month. Residents of the area should be able to easily identify the workers who will be wearing distinctive clothing. The survey will determine the number of ash trees in the immediate vicinity, and the extent of the infestation.

Jodie Ellis, the exotic insects education coordinator at Purdue University said the infestation is about seven years old.

“This find is not evidence that emerald ash borer is spreading throughout Indiana,” she said. “What it means is that this particular pocket of infestation has been here for a while and is just now old enough to be detected. This infestation occurred before EAB was first found in Detroit and is the result of the unintentional movement of EAB-infested nursery stock.”

Ellis said it’s hard to pinpoint where exactly EAB is in the state because it often takes two to three years for ash trees to show symptoms of EAB infestations.

State Entomologist Dr. Robert Waltz said homeowners can play a part in slowing the spread of the EAB.

“We rely on local residents, foresters, loggers, tree removal or trimming crews and others to report possibly infected sites,” Waltz said. “The public also can help us slow the spread of this insect by not moving firewood and by burning all campfire wood when they are visiting campgrounds.”

DNR Director Hupfer also warned people in the restricted areas about possible scam artists.

“Unfortunately, certain individuals see the emerald ash borer problem as an opportunity to make some fast cash,” he said. “If someone comes to your home claiming to be able to ‘cure’ your ash trees of EAB, be suspicious. If someone tells you that your ash trees are infested and that he or she will cut them down for a price, take their name and number and report them to the DNR.”

Residents who see evidence of the EAB should contact Ellis at 888-EXT-INFO or the Indiana DNR Invasive Species Hotline at 866-NO-EXOTIC.

This farm news was published in the March 8, 2006 issue of Farm World.