Category: Newsroom

Statement: National Wildlife Federation Supports Updated Plan to Stop Asian Carp

(November 21, 2018 – Ann Arbor, MI) — Yesterday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its final draft plan to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. The draft chief’s report of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam includes both structural and nonstructural measures including an engineered lock fitted with an electric barrier, a bubble barrier, an acoustic barrier, and a flushing lock to stop aquatic invasive species like Asian carp, while maintaining navigation for shipping. The Brandon Road Lock and Dam is located just south of Chicago and is a critical chokepoint to help stop Asian carp from continuing to swim closer to Lake Michigan.  The estimated cost of the project is $777.8 million, up from an earlier estimate of $275 million. A previous draft of the plan included water jets in place of the bubble barrier.

A summary of the final plan is available here: https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental-Protection-and-Restoration/GLMRIS-BrandonRoad/.

Federal Register notice:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/11/26/2018-25647/notice-of-availability-of-the-great-lakes-and-mississippi-river-interbasin-study-brandon-road

Asian carp include species of bighead, silver, black, and grass carp. After escaping from southern United States aquaculture facilities, they have spread rapidly and have reduced native fish populations in waters connected to the Mississippi River watershed, which connects to the Great Lakes watershed through the Chicago Area Waterway System. Asian carp pose a significant threat to our economy, outdoor heritage, and way of life.  In addition, the invasive species is a clear and present danger to the Great Lakes sport-fishery, which is estimated to generate at least $7 billion each year in economic activity.

Marc Smith, director of conservation partnerships for the National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Regional Center, issued the following statement in response to the release of the updated plan:

“Across the country, Asian carp are undermining our nation’s fisheries and threaten the Great Lakes $7 billion annual sport-fishery. The Army Corps of Engineers plan to rebuild the Brandon Road Lock and Dam south of Chicago is our opportunity to put stronger measures in place to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. The plan includes a gauntlet of technologies to prevent Asian carp from moving past the lock, while maintaining navigation for shipping. The investment in this project pales in comparison to the economic risk if Asian carp invade the Great Lakes. We intend to review the updates to the plan in detail and offer official public comment later, but at first glance this looks like the plan we need to protect our waters, our fisheries, our sport-fishing economy and our way of life.”

Contact: Drew YoungeDyke, National Wildlife Federation, Senior Communications Coordinator, youngedyked@nwf.org, 734-887-7119

Forestry division hosting open houses

Division of Forestry
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
402 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2748

For immediate release: Nov. 20, 2018

Forestry division hosting open houses

The DNR Division of Forestry will host open houses at many of its locations, Dec. 11-13, to share how the division works to protect forests.

 

At each event, division staff will provide information about recreational activities, major projects, forest resource management, and State Forest planning. Attendees will also be able to speak directly with DNR personnel or submit written comments. Some of the open houses will include a tour of facilities, guided hikes, and interpretive programs. See below for a listing of the open houses and events planned at each property.

“These open houses provide Hoosiers with a chance to receive first-hand information about how the State Forests are working to provide diverse wildlife habitat, forest products and recreational opportunities,” State Forester John Seifert said. “They also allow us to receive valuable feedback from our neighbors and users about State Forest management. I encourage everyone who has an interest to participate.”

Events and open houses include:

Owen-Putnam State Forest: Dec. 11, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the property office, which is five miles west of Spencer and less than one mile north of S.R. 46. There will be a forester-led, short winter hike at 4 p.m. Call 812-829-2462 for more information.

Clark State Forest/Deam Lake SRA: Dec.11, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Clark State Forest office, which is one mile north of Henryville on U.S. 31. Topics that will be highlighted include campground and gun range improvements. There will be a one-mile, forester-led winter walk at 4 p.m. Call 812-294-4306 for more information.

Harrison-Crawford State Forest: Dec. 11, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the recently renovated property office. The office is located off S.R. 462, just past the gatehouse for O’Bannon Woods State Park. Call 812-738-7694 for more information.

Ferdinand/Pike State Forest: Dec. 12, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Ferdinand office which is off S.R. 264, approximately four miles northeast of Ferdinand. There will be a 4 p.m. walking tour of the forest’s lakeside recreational sites. Call 812-367-1524 for more information.

Martin State Forest: Dec. 12, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Martin State Forest main office off U.S. 50, approximately four miles northeast of Shoals. Visitors can view the newly renovated Martin Lake shelter house or join the forester at 4 p.m. for a short winter hike. Call 812-247-3491 for more information.

Morgan-Monroe/Yellowwood State Forest: Dec. 12, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Training Center at Morgan-Monroe State Forest off S.R. 37, approximately six miles south of Martinsville. There will be a tour of the renovated visitor center at 4 p.m. Call 765-342-4026 for more information.

Jackson-Washington State Forest/Starve Hollow SRA: Dec. 13, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Starve Hollow Forest Education Center off S.R. 135, approximately two miles southeast of Vallonia. There will be a tour of the Starve Hollow lake restoration project at 4 p.m. Call 812-358-3464 for more information.

Salamonie River/Frances Slocum State Forest: Dec. 13, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the property’s main office located on S.R. 524, approximately six miles east of Wabash. Call 260-782-0430 for more information.

Green-Sullivan State Forest: Dec. 13, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the property office on S.R. 159, approximately 1.5 miles south of Dugger. There will be a 4 p.m. tour of the campground and lake restoration project. Call 812-648-2810 for more information.

Property staff is also available during normal business hours. Go to the Division of Forestry’s webpage (dnr.IN.gov/forestry/3631.htm) for contact information.

The Division of Forestry promotes and practices good stewardship of natural, recreational and cultural resources on Indiana’s public and private forest lands. This stewardship produces continuing benefits, both tangible and intangible, for present and future generations.

To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.
Media contact: Marty Benson, DNR Communications, 317-233-3853, mbenson@dnr.IN.gov.

Creating a Welcome Environment for Hard Working Bees

While clearing invasive plants at a Nature Preserve in Avon, a species of bee never seen in Indiana before has been detected. The discovery of the bee is particularly exciting as, over the past decade, there has been a fall in bee numbers across the country. Loss of natural habitats and the use of pesticides have contributed to this decline. As bees play a key role in our ecosystem and crop development, improving local environments and encouraging them to visit plants in fields and gardens is vital.

Paying Attention to Pollinators

There are over 200 native bee populations in Indiana, some of which, no doubt, will have been spotted over the summer in Indianapolis during the third annual Pollinator Count. Projects like this help to raise awareness of pollinators and how important they are to local ecosystems and the food that we eat. By making a few simple changes in the garden, such as planting native flowers, reducing the use of pesticides, and providing shelter in a small pile of untreated wood, hard-working, native bees are encouraged to keep visiting.

Pollinating Indiana’s Crops

Although Indiana’s most valuable farm produce, corn and soybeans, are wind or self-pollinating, other important crops like tomatoes rely on wild bees for pollination. Indeed, tomato farmers whose plants receive regular visits from bumble bees may have 50% of tomatoes grow twice as large as normal. Unlike honey bees, the wild bees are able to access the pollen hidden in anthers in their flowers.They use a method called sonicating which involves biting the anthers and then buzzing against them until they release their pollen. Up until recently it was believed that this was a learned behavior but a recent study shows that it is in fact an instinctive ritual. Apart from tomatoes, the most commonly grown fruit in Indiana is the apple. As an important source of food for bees, trees are often overlooked, however they provide thousands of attractive, pollen-filled flowers, and rely on birds and insects for cross pollination.

Though the nation’s bee population has been in decline, discovering a native bee new to Indiana, and raising awareness of the importance of wild bees, offers hope for sustaining numbers and the quality of the crops that they pollinate. By keeping a check on pollinators and removing threats from outdoor spaces, Indiana offers a welcoming environment in which bees can thrive.

Post contributed by Lucy Wyndham

 

Photo Credit: Aaron Weed

Scientist: PFAS has been contaminating Michigan population for years

Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press Published 12:28 p.m. ET Nov. 13, 2018 | Updated 5:41 p.m. ET Nov. 13, 2018

GRAND RAPIDS – Angry and frightened.

Those are not words one often hears from a state government scientist.

But that’s how a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality official said he felt after realizing — eight years ago — the scope and strength of the state’s problems with PFAS chemicals, which have contaminated water supplies and endangered the health of residents at sites around the state.

“In 2010, I began to feel that I was at the edge of the abyss looking into hell with the weight of the world on my shoulders,” Robert Delaney testified Tuesday at a PFAS meeting in Grand Rapids organized by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich..

However, “my fear and anger turned to conviction and determination,” Delaney said at Grand Valley State University.

Robert Delaney (Photo: Paul Egan/Detroit Free Press)

Delaney, a geologist and veteran DEQ specialist, began raising concerns about the threat of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in 2010. In 2012, he said, he sent former department director Dan Wyant a 93-page report that detailed the threat to Michigan’s drinking water and residents. That report was largely ignored and not made public until 2017.

Delaney testified  he made recommendations in the report about how to limit public exposure to PFAS chemicals, but “I didn’t get any feedback until this year on it.” He said he was “just trying to get somebody to listen,” but Wyant — who resigned in 2016 in the wake of the Flint lead-in-drinking-water crisis — “really didn’t understand environmental science or issues.”

Wyant did not respond to an email and a phone message left at his Cassopolis office.

Despite the inaction on Delaney’s report, Michigan is now seen as a leader in confronting what is a nationwide problem after Gov Rick Snyder issued a November 2017 executive order to create a PFAS action response team.

The PFAS family includes thousands of chemicals that are widely used in products such as firefighting foam, waterproofing, nonstick pans and anti-stain coatings on upholstery. These chemicals don’t break down in the environment and have been linked to cancers, reproductive problems and other health issues.

State officials have warned people not to eat both fish and deer from around the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda Township in northern Michigan after PFAS was found in high levels in a white foam increasingly coating the surface and shores of waters surrounding the base. PFAS drinking water contamination is also a huge issue around Rockford in western Michigan, near a former Wolverine World Wide shoe manufacturing site. High levels also were found this year in drinking water near a paper mill in Parchment, in the Kalamazoo area.

On Tuesday, Delaney stressed he was not speaking for the state or the DEQ, but “as Bob Delaney, state employee, scientist, father and citizen.”

“The current crisis we are facing … has troubled me for years,” Delaney testified. “I believe that we are currently suffering as a people because of a lack of protection of our population, especially the fetus, from dangerous chemicals.”

More:Labs will test Michigan deer for PFAS at hunter’s expense 

More: AG’s Office accused of foot-dragging on PFAS pollution crisis

More: DNR: Do not eat deer taken near contaminated former Wurtsmith base

Delaney said that “until 2010, I was under the false impression that when it came to chemical contamination of the environment that at least America had things under control.”

Delaney began testing drinking water wells at Wurtsmith in 2010. After readings showed extremely high levels of PFAS, he began researching the health risks associated with the chemicals.

“The deeper I got into these issues, the more frightened and angrier I became,” Delaney said in written testimony. “I realized that I had been duped into thinking that we were being protected by our laws. We have been contaminating our population for years.”

On the state’s response to PFAS, Delaney said “nothing is perfect,” but Michigan is one of a few states now “shining a light” on the problem.

Delaney said far more information is needed on the health impact that PFAS and other chemicals are having. He said “understanding how we could get ourselves into such a mess is important,” but more important than pointing fingers is working together, including with business and industry, to find solutions.

“I don’t know how much it will cost to address just the PFAS crisis and whether we can afford it, but I do know that no nation can afford to poison its children.”

Delaney testified that a DEQ work group was formed late in 2010 or early 2011 and it produced a “white paper” — prior to his 2012 report — with recommendations on how to deal with the PFAS problem, but not much happened with those recommendations.

Asked after the meeting why the department didn’t act on those recommendations, Delaney said he can only speculate, but he believes it’s because the Michigan economy was still in the doldrums in 2010 and the state was concerned that businesses were leaving Michigan because of overregulation.

“It wasn’t like the director was some bad person who wanted to poison (people),” Delaney said. “They’re responding to public will.”

Asked whether the DEQ director shouldn’t either understand environmental issues or rely on someone who did understand them. Delaney said: “That’s what you would expect.”

Peters called the meeting to help inform the federal government on how to address the PFAS crisis. The meeting included testimony from state, local and national health and environmental officials, as well as Belmont resident Sandy Wynn-Stelt, who has elevated levels of PFAS in her blood after drinking the water for years near Rockford.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declined to participate in the meeting, though the agency sent a letter, Peters told reporters.

Peters said after the meeting the PFAS issue is urgent and one of the first things that needs to happen is the establishment of nationwide federal standards.

“People can’t wait,” Peters said. “This is not something that we can sit around and wait five years for a standard to be created.”

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4.

Indiana DNR Grassland Habitat Workshop

FREE ADMISSION AND TOUR: 2 dates/locations to choose from!

DATE: Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018
TIME 2–5 p.m. CT
LOCATION: 9522 N State Road 245 Lamar, IN 47550  (Spencer County)

DATE: Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018
TIME: 3–6 p.m. ET
LOCATION: 2750 S Pleasant Grove, Lyons, IN 46443

RESERVATIONS: Register by calling Emily Jacob, DNR, at 812-699-0264 or by contacting your local SWCD office.

LEARN HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR PROPERTY FOR GRASSLAND WILDLIFE.
• Receive information about technical and financial assistance available to landowners for creating grassland habitat.
• Learn about the Grasslands for Gamebirds and Songbirds RCPP.
• Attend a grassland habitat tour led by a DNR biologist

VIEW | PRINT | SHARE the Flyers!

The Earth’s Climate is Changing

Written by IWF Board Member – Coralie Palmer

The Earth’s climate is changing. Global land and ocean temperatures have increased, the
cryosphere has diminished, sea levels have risen and the oceans have become more acidic.
Recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest in history and the evidence that recent climate change has been driven primarily by human actions is overwhelmingly strong and widely accepted by the scientific community [1, 2, 3, 4]. Impacts of climate change on food security, health, biodiversity, ecosystem services, infrastructure and economic development are already being felt; as rates and magnitudes of warming, sea level rise and ocean acidification increase, ecosystems and human populations will face increased and unprecedented risks [1, 5, 6]

The Earth’s Atmosphere and Oceans are Warming. 
Since 1901, almost the entire world has experienced surface warming [1]. From 1900 to 1980 a
new temperature record was set on average every 13.5 years; since 1981 it has increased to every 3 years [7]. 2017 was the 41st consecutive year with global land and ocean temperatures above the 20th century average, with the six warmest years on record occurring since 2010 [7]. The 2017 average global temperature across land and ocean surface areas was 1.51°F above the 20th century average; for March 2017 it was 1.9°F above average – marking the first time the monthly temperature departure from average surpassed 1.8°F in the absence of an El Niño episode [7]. For the third consecutive year every state across the contiguous U.S. and Alaska had an aboveaverage annual temperature in 2017; five states – Arizona, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina and South Carolina – had their warmest year on record [8]. For November 2017, Barrow, AK had a temperature departure of 16.4°F above average [7]. The average global temperature for January–July 2018 was the fourth highest on record, and 2018 is gearing up to end up among the top five warmest years [9].

One of the primary impacts of these increases has been to alter the global water cycle. The ocean plays a vital role in climate moderation; ocean warming dominates the increase in energy in the climate system, accounting for more than 90% of the energy accumulated between 1970 and 2010 [1, 10]. Increased water vapor in the atmosphere is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG); warmer air can hold more water vapor, creating an amplifying feedback loop [11]. Warming has led to glaciers and sea and freshwater ice melting at an accelerated pace, exposing dark ocean waters which absorb more sunlight, triggering another feedback loop [12].

Arctic sea ice extent has decreased in every season and every successive decade since 1979 by 3.5-4.1% per decade; on March 7th, 2017, the Arctic sea ice extent reached its yearly maximum extent at 5.57 million square miles, the smallest annual maximum extent on record, 471,000 square miles below average [1, 13]. The Antarctic sea ice reached its smallest minimum extent on record on March 3rd, 2017 at 815,000 square miles [13]. Permafrost has reduced in most northern hemisphere regions since the 1980s [1].

Ocean thermal expansion, melting of glaciers and the ice sheets and changes in land water
storage have contributed to a rise in sea level [11,12]. Global mean sea level has risen by about
0.16–0.21m since 1900, with a rate since the mid 19th century greater than during the previous
2000 years and an approximate rise of 0.07m occurring since 1993 [1, 11, 14]. In 2018, high tide
flood frequencies are predicted to be 60% higher across U.S. coastlines as compared to
frequencies typical in 2000, due primarily to local sea level rise [15]. The ocean has absorbed
about 30% of emitted anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) resulting in ocean acidification, with
a 26% increase in acidity since the beginning of the industrial era [1]. Both coastal and oceanic
oxygen concentrations have decreased, while regional changes in salinity provide evidence of
changes in evaporation and precipitation [1, 10] .

Anthropogenic Drivers of Climate Change – Increased CO2 and Greenhouse Gases.
Processes and substances that alter the Earth’s energy budget are driving climate change [1].
There is overwhelming scientific agreement that recent global warming is primarily due to
human activities – there is 97% consensus in published climate research and the National
Academies of Science from 80 countries have issued statements endorsing the consensus
position [2, 3, 4, 5, 11].

Detailed analyses have shown that warming over the past four decades is mainly a result of the
increased concentration of CO2 and other GHGs, which absorb infrared radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface [11]. Emissions have driven atmospheric concentrations of CO2, methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) to levels unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years, leading to an uptake of energy by the climate system [1]. CO2 is the major anthropogenic GHG [1]. Atmospheric CO2 levels have varied from 180-300 ppm; in 2013, CO2 levels surpassed 400 ppm for the first time in recorded history, 40% more than the highest natural levels over the past 800,000 years; in July 2018, the level was measured at 408 ppm [11, 12, 16]. Approximately half of the cumulative anthropogenic CO2 emissions between 1750 and 2011 have occurred in the last 40 years [1].

CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes have been the greatest
contributor to GHG emissions, accounting for about 78% of the 1970-2010 increase, driven
primarily by economic and population growth [1]. Deforestation and other land use changes have
also released carbon from the biosphere [11]. Since 1970, cumulative CO2 emissions from fossil
fuel combustion, cement production and flaring have tripled; cumulative CO2 emissions from
forestry and other land use have increased by about 40% [1].

Evidence that recent climate change is caused largely by anthropogenic factors comes from
climate simulation models, fingerprinting patterns of climate change and an understanding of
physics [11]. Measuring the isotopic fingerprint of atmospheric CO2 reveals that recent increases
are due largely to human actions, primarily fossil fuel combustion – carbon from fossil fuels has
no 14C and is depleted in 13C compared to living systems [11, 12]. Climate model predictions of
surface warming, atmospheric temperature and moisture, ocean heat content, sea level rise and
loss of land and sea ice are consistent with observed changes only when the models include
anthropogenic influences [11]. The troposphere has warmed and the lower stratosphere cooled
since the mid-20th century [1]. This pattern is consistent with predictions from models indicating
that anthropogenic increases in CO2 would lead to tropospheric warming and stratospheric
cooling, while increases in the Sun’s output would warm the troposphere and full vertical extent
of the stratosphere [11]. Direct satellite measurements since the late 1970s show no net increase
in the Sun’s output, while global surface temperatures have increased [11].

The Impacts of Inaction
Impacts of climate change on food security, health, biodiversity, ecosystem services,
infrastructure and economic development are already being felt, particularly in developing
countries [5, 6]. Terrestrial, freshwater and marine species have displayed altered ranges,
migration patterns, abundances and trophic interactions [1, 11]. Surface temperatures are projected to rise over the 21st century; it is predicted that heat waves will be more frequent; extreme precipitation events, storms and flooding will become more intense and frequent; freshwater supplies will change and wildfires and droughts intensify [1, 4, 11, 12]. Ocean acidification, warming and deoxygenation present multiple stressors for marine ecosystems, affecting biodiversity and fisheries and influencing storm systems and climatic feedback loops [10]. Acidification has been shown to impact corals and and other marine organisms, threatening their ability to form skeletal structures [17]. Additionally, acidification alters nutrient cycling, affecting ecosystem dynamics [11]. Climate change impacts are projected to slow economic growth, disproportionately affecting the most disadvantaged and representing a threat to equitable and sustainable development [1]. Many of the socio-economic impacts will be borne by developing nations, and many of the world’s most vulnerable people may be displaced [1].

If emissions continue on their present trajectory, warming of 4.7 to 8.6 °F is expected by the end
of the 21st century [5, 11]. Calculations are complicated by feedback chains, with models
indicating they will amplify warming by a factor of 1.5-4.5 [11]. As the magnitude of warming
increases, so does the likelihood of increasingly severe impacts. Without additional mitigation,
warming by the end of the 21st century will lead to very high risks of widespread and
irreversible impacts; delaying mitigation measures will increase the costs and challenges of
limiting warming and raises the risks [1, 5].

Stemming the Increase in Global CO2
Reducing CO2 emissions will reduce climate risks and contribute to equitable and sustainable
development. Increased use of renewable energy; increased energy efficiency; improvements in
the urban environment and transport; increased carbon capture, use and storage and
improvements in land use are all key to stemming the increase in CO2 emissions [5].

Transitioning to a lower-carbon economy will require significant investment, requiring international and national public finance and private sector involvement; the economic benefits of such investment will be substantial [6]. Finance to support low-carbon investment is growing; climate change considerations are increasingly being integrated into business strategies while the social and economic costs of a fossil-fuel based economy are becoming clearer [6]. Technological innovation, economic trends and global political commitment are building momentum for change; there are multiple benefits associated with climate action and clear links to economic growth and sustainable development [5, 6]. However, action is not at the scale or speed needed [6].

Barriers include lack of legal and regulatory frameworks, existence of inefficient subsidies, lack
of carbon pricing and inadequate finance for new technologies, infrastructure and innovation [5].
Overcoming these barriers to CO2 emission reduction will require an integrated suite of policies,
regulations, investment shifts and innovations and a high level of cooperation at international,
regional and national levels [1, 5]. Cooperation between national governments, the private sector, civil society and multilateral organizations will be critical; technology transfer and financial and capacity building support for developing countries will be key [5, 6].

The Paris Climate Conference (COP21) in December 2015, provided a vital foundation
for building a lower-carbon global economy [6]. To date, 195 Parties have signed and 180 Parties
ratified the first universal, legally binding global climate deal which it is hoped will act as a
bridge between today’s policies and climate-neutrality by the end of the century [18, 19]. On
August 4th, 2017, the United States officially notified the United Nations that it intends to
withdraw from the agreement [20].

Climate Change in Indiana
According to a recent report published by Purdue University, Indiana has warmed by 1.2°F since
1895; temperatures are projected to rise approximately 5°F to 6°F by mid-century and
significantly more by the end of the century [21]. These changes are predicted to increase the
chance of extreme heat and reduce the chance of extreme cold, and to alter the timing and length
of the frost-free growing season. Associated impacts on air quality and health – including
impacts linked to allergies, extreme heat and changes in disease-carrying insect populations – and implications for crops and invasive species are key concerns [21, 22]. The annual number of deaths related to temperature and worsening air quality in Indiana is expected to increase [22]. Average annual precipitation in Indiana has increased by 5.6 inches since 1895, and more rain is falling as heavy downpours; predicted increased precipitation for spring and winter raises concerns around increased flood risks, including water pollution from overflowing sewer systems and fertilizer run off, and health impacts associated with increased exposure to waterborne disease, harmful algal blooms and mold [21, 22]. Predicted changes for summer and fall precipitation are less certain, however warmer summers with the same or reduced rainfall may increase stress on drinking water supplies and crops [21].

Rising temperatures and altered precipitation across the Midwest will likely have widespread
consequences for Indiana’s forests, including shifts in the distributions and abundances
of trees and understory plants, and is expected to increase the risk of damage to urban forests,
prairies, farms and other green spaces [23, 24]. Changes in forest composition have the potential to decrease forest productivity and carbon uptake, while predicted changes in precipitation may promote pathogen related diseases and damage seedlings at sensitive periods of growth [23]. Warmer temperatures may increase the number of invasive plant species in Indiana, with plants such as kudzu and Chinese privet predicted to expand their ranges northward [23]. These changes have worrying implications for many of Indiana’s fragile native plant populations and the wildlife that depends on them. Shifts in forest and understory plant composition will strongly
influence Indiana’s wildlife populations, while phenological shifts associated with climate change are predicted to affect migratory wildlife.

Recent studies highlight that proactive efforts to restore areas with climate-adapted species may
ensure the greatest long-term benefits for Indiana’s wildlife, while the importance of maintaining
urban green infrastructure to support economic, environmental and health benefits to cities in
Indiana will likely increase in our changing climate [23, 24].

We are excited to welcome members of the Purdue Climate Change Research Center for their
presentation at our offices on August 30th, 2018. If you might be interested to find out more
about the latest on Indiana-specific climate impacts, please join us …………

References
1. IPCC. (2014). Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 151
pp. https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/AR5_SYR_FINAL_All_Topics.pdf
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Feely, P. Hennon, V. Kharin, T. Knutson, F. Landerer, T. Lenton, J. Kennedy, and R. Somerville. (2014). Ch. 2: Our Changing Climate.
Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment, J. M. Melillo, Terese (T.C.) Richmond, and G. W.
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DC, USA, 669 pp.
5. UNFCCC. (2015). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Climate Action Now: Summary for Policymakers, 2015.
United Nations Climate Change Secretariat. 72pp. http://climateaction2020.unfccc.int/media/1173/21789-spm-unfccc-lowres.pdf
6. NCE. (2015). New Climate Economy. Seizing the Global Opportunity: Partnerships for Better Growth and a Better Climate. The 2015 New
Climate Economy Report. The New Climate Economy: The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate. 76pp. http://
2015.newclimateeconomy.report/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/NCE-2015_Seizing-the-Global-Opportunity_web.pdf
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online January 2018, retrieved on August 27, 2018 from https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201713.
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online January 2018, retrieved on August 27, 2018 from https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/201713.
9. NOAA. (2018c). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. National Centers for Environmental Information. Global Climate Report
– July 2018. Accessed August 27th, 2018. https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201807
10. OCP. (2015). Ocean and Climate, 2015 – Scientific Notes. The Ocean and Climate Platform. www.ocean-climate.org, 116 pp. http://
www.ocean-climate.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/151022_ScientificNotes_07.pdf
11. Wolff, E., Fung, I., Hoskins, B., Mitchell, J., Palmer, T., Santer, B., Shepherd, J., Shine, K., Solomon, S., Trenberth, K., Walsh, J. &
Wuebbles, D. (2014). Climate Change Evidence & Causes: An overview from the Royal Society and the US National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Sciences & The Royal Society. 36pp. http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/exec-office-other/climate-changefull.
pdf
12. EDF. (2016). Environmental Defense Fund website.https://www.edf.org
13. NOAA. (2018d). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, State of the Climate: Global Snow and Ice for Annual 2017,
published online January 2018, retrieved on August 27, 2018 from https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global-snow/201713
14. Sweet, W.V., R. Horton, R.E. Kopp, A.N. LeGrande, and A. Romanou. (2017). Sea level rise. In: Climate Science Special Report: Fourth
National Climate Assessment, Volume I [Wuebbles, D.J., D.W. Fahey, K.A. Hibbard, D.J. Dokken, B.C. Stewart, and T.K. Maycock (eds.)].
U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 333-363, doi: 10.7930/J0VM49F2
15. NOAA. (2018e). NOAA Tides and Currents. The State of High Tide Flooding and Annual Outlook. Accessed 27th August 2018. https://
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/HighTideFlooding_AnnualOutlook.html
16. NASA. (2018). Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. NASA website, accessed 27th August 2018. https://climate.nasa.gov/vitalsigns/
carbon-dioxide/
17. Kleypas, J.A., Feely, R.A., Fabry, V.J., Langdon, C., Sabine, C.L. & Robbins, L.L. (2006). Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reefs and
Other Marine Calcifiers: A Guide for Future Research. Report of a workshop held 18-20 April, 2005, St Petersburg, FL, sponsored by NSF,
NOAA and the U.S. Geological Survey, 88pp.
18. E.C. (2016). European Commission website. Climate Action. http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/negotiations/paris/index_en.htm
19. UNFCCC. (2018). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change website. Accessed 28th August, 2018. https://unfccc.int/
process/the-paris-agreement/status-of-ratification
20. UN. (2017). United Nations. Reference: C.N.464.2017.TREATIES-XXVII.7.d (Depositary Notification). https://treaties.un.org/doc/
Publication/CN/2017/CN.464.2017-Eng.pdf
21. Widhalm, M., Hamlet, A. Byun, K., Robeson, S., Baldwin, M., Staten, P., Chiu, C., Coleman, J., Hall, E., Hoogewind, K., Huber, M., Kieu,
C., Yoo, J., Dukes, J.S. (2018). Indiana’s Past & Future Climate: A Report from the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment. Purdue
Climate Change Research Center, Purdue University. West Lafayette, Indiana. DOI:10.5703/1288284316634. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/
viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=climatetr
22. Filippelli, G.M., Widhalm, M., Filley, R., Comer, K., Ejeta, G., Field, W., Freeman, J., Gibson, J., Jay, S., Johnson, D., Mattes, R., Moreno-
Madriñán, M.J., Ogashawara, I., Prather, J., Rosenthal, F., Smirat, J., Wang, Y., Wells, E., and J.S. Dukes. (2018). Hoosiers’ Health in a
Changing Climate: A Report from the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment. Purdue Climate Change Research Center, Purdue
University. West Lafayette, Indiana. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=healthtr
23. Phillips, R.P., Fei, S., Brandt, L., Polly, D., Zollner, P., Saunders, M.R., Clay, K., Iverson, L., Widhalm, M., and J.S. Dukes. (2018). Indiana’s
Future Forests: A Report from the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment. Purdue Climate Change Research Center. West Lafayette,
Indiana. DOI:0.5703/1288284316652. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=foresttr
24. Reynolds, H., Brandt, L., Widhalm, M., Fei, S., Fischer, B., Hardiman, B., Moxley, D., Sandweiss, D., Speer, J., and J.S. Dukes. (2018).
Maintaining Indiana’s Urban Green Spaces: A Report from the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment. Purdue Climate Change
Research Center, Purdue University. West Lafayette, Indiana. DOI:0.5703/1288284316653. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1000&context=urbantr

ORSANCO Pollution Control Standards Information

National Wildlife Federation & Affiliates Indiana Wildlife Federation, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Prairie Rivers Network, Ohio Conservation Federation, Virginia Conservation Network, Environmental Advocates of New York

ORSANCO Pollution Control Standards Information

The Ohio River is an important resource as a working river for cargo transport, a source of drinking water for five million people, a place for recreation along its 981 mile length and a home for diverse habitat for wildlife and fish. The Ohio River Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) is a regional body with the mandate to manage the Ohio River as a basin system, a unique role that was forward thinking in 1948 and just as necessary today.

ORSANCO provides valuable assistance to member states in stream assessment, monitoring and spill response, and administration of the Pollution Control Standards (PCS). ORSANCO commissioners are now recommending the retraction of crucial PCS, which we see as an abdication of their responsibilities for managing the Ohio River as a basin system rather than
individual stream segments. We believe that the PCS and the role of ORSANCO must remain to ensure that safeguards are in place to protect downstream uses from upstream impacts.

–A majority of commissioners believe that there is redundancy between the states’ water quality standards. However, both the states and ORSANCO have congruent functions in the development and review of water quality standards, but that does not mean there is a duplication of effort. The focus of ORSANCO on the mainstem of the Ohio River allows states to
utilize their resources on the other water bodies within their state jurisdictions. The 981 mile length of the Ohio River requires specialized expertise for the development of standards that do not impact not only waters within a given segment of the river, but also does not jeopardize downstream water resource integrity.

–ORSANCO released comparison tables in February depicting a wide variability in the number and stringency of standards by the states. The variability among the states’ adoption and implementation of the PCS should be a call to action for greater collaboration. The issue that needs to be solved is not the role of ORSANCO, but rather the lack of adoption/implementation by the states of the PCS into state standards.

— We acknowledge that states face challenges in the development, promulgation and implementation of ORSANCO’s PCS. This is a missed opportunity for ORSANCO and states to use collective leverage towards getting the PCS adopted among the states so that the Ohio River is managed as one river basin, not individual stream segments within state boundaries.

— Elimination of the ORSANCO PCS means significant investments will need to be made by the states for the technical development of standards, the procedures for adoption, implementation of those standards and future triennial reviews as required by the Clean Water Act. While some states can adopt the PCS by reference in their state procedures, others cannot. In turn there would be six public agencies conducting the work currently done by one entity.

— Moreover, no comparative analysis has been undertaken to identify any permit limits whereby the state standard was more stringent than the ORSANCO PCS. This is precisely the analysis that ORSANCO should have undertaken to fully realize the potential consequences and impacts that could result should this proposal go forward. The ramifications of the elimination of the PCS need to be fully understood for Commission members to make an informed decision. Otherwise,
they are faced with a decision that lacks a full accounting of the impact to the Ohio River.

— The proposed alternatives for managing the Ohio River Basin create a framework for inconsistent standards for the same water body. This could lead to confusion and economic harm for the regulated community as they seek to comply with different standards. Additionally, such a framework would also establish a lack of equity among the states in its attempts to regulate discharges to the river as economic development efforts will be compromised if differing standards are in place for different states.

Forty six years of water program administration under the Clean Water Act has taught us that we need to manage our water bodies as connected systems within drainage boundaries, not disjointed administration by separate jurisdictional boundaries. Any proposal to resort to pollution control oversight within state borders is a step backward. The Compact compels the member
states to act on behalf of a water body beyond its jurisdictional waters, a unique role that demands action beyond parochial interests.

Photo Credit: USFWS

Draft plan to conserve rare butterflies in Indiana and Michigan available for public review

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
NEWS RELEASE
Midwest Region
5600 American Boulevard West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437
612-713-5360

September 6, 2018

Contact: Georgia Parham 812-334-4261 x 203, Georgia_Parham@fws.gov
Carrie Tansy 517-351-8375, Carrie_Tansy@fws.gov

Draft plan to conserve rare butterflies in Indiana and Michigan available for public review

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public input on a draft habitat conservation plan
outlining conservation measures for the Poweshiek skipperling and Mitchell’s satyr, two
federally endangered butterflies found in southern lower Michigan and northern Indiana.
The draft plan is part of a process by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and
the Indiana DNR to obtain an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act that
would allow the agencies to conduct long-term conservation activities to benefit the species even
if some actions resulted in harm to butterflies.

The plan covers specific actions on non-Federal lands in Berrien, Branch, Cass, Jackson, Van
Buren and Washtenaw counties in Michigan and LaGrange County, Indiana, in the range of the
Mitchell’s satyr, and Oakland County Michigan, where the majority of remaining Poweshiek
skipperling populations still exist.

The types of activities covered in the habitat conservation plan include burning, mowing,
vegetation removal, control of non-native species, grazing, seeding, planting and survey work.
Because these activities, while benefiting the two butterflies, may result in harm to a small
number of individuals, the agencies have developed the conservation plan and have applied for
an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act.

The Endangered Species Act provides for incidental take permits for otherwise legal activities
that may result in take (harming, killing or harassing) of federally endangered or threatened
animals. To obtain an incidental take permit, applicants must develop a habitat conservation
plan that provides for long-term conservation of the species. Habitat conservation plans spell out
measures to minimize take of covered species, and steps to mitigate for the loss of any individual animals.

Only activities intended to manage habitat for the benefit of Mitchell’s satyr and Poweshiek
skipperling while minimizing incidental take are included in this draft plan. Additional
mitigation measures will not be required.

The areas covered by the draft habitat conservation plan include about 192 acres of Mitchell’s
satyr habitat in Michigan and Indiana, along with about 50 acres of habitat in Michigan for the
Poweshiek skipperling. The states’ natural resources departments will administer the plan;
private landowners interested in conserving habitat for the butterflies may also participate.
To view the draft habitat conservation plan and application for incidental take permit, go to
https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/permits/hcp/r3hcps.html
Send written comments via U.S. mail to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of
Ecological Services, 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437–1458; by
facsimile to 612–713–5292; or by electronic mail to permitsr3es@fws.gov. Deadline for
comments is October 5, 2018.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws/gov.

Connect with our Facebook page at facebook.com/usfwsmidwest, follow our tweets at twitter.com/usfwsmidwest, watch our YouTube Channel at youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at flickr.com/photos/usfwsmidwest.
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Parks Maintenance, LWCF, and Recovering America’s Wildlife Act

Contact: Naomi Edelson | 202-797-6889 | edelsonn@nwf.org

Dedicated Wildlife Funding Must be Included

  • America’s wildlife is in crisis — with more than one-third of all species imperiled. This monumental problem demands an equally big solution.
  • The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is a fiscally responsible, national strategy to hasten the recovery of more than 12,000 potentially at-risk species through the United States.
  • The bill would invest $1.3 billion of existing funding — collected from energy and mineral fees on federal lands and waters — into state-based solutions by supporting the State Wildlife Action Plans mandated by Congress.

 

Recovering Wildlife, Parks Maintenance, and LWCF:

  • All of the parks maintenance bills and one of the LWCF bills call for dedicated funding.
  • Three pillars of conservation funding are needed- 1 for wildlife, 1 for parks, 1 for LWCF
  • Dedicated Wildlife funding has broad bipartisan support with more than 70 cosponsors in the House
  • Dedicated Wildlife funding has widespread support of more than 1000 diverse businesses and groups
  • Saying we can only address the national parks backlog or conserve wildlife is a false choice. We can do both and should refuse to play these connected priorities off each other.
  • After all, one of the main reasons people visit our national parks and other public lands is to see wildlife.

Current Parks Maintenance Legislation

After years of congressional underfunding, the National Parks Service is facing a backlog of more than $11 billion in deferred maintenance repairs. National Park facilities are reaching the end of their lifecycles, and the NPS is struggling to maintain the parks system’s enormous infrastructure, all at a time our parks are experiencing record visitation. Congress is now seeking more funding to address the backlog.

 

Senate:

  •  2509– National Parks Restoration Act, Sponsor: Sen Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
    • Establishes a dedicated park maintenance fund. Funding is provided through 50% of all unallocated money received from onshore and offshore energy development or renewable energy development. LWCF, Reclamation, and other programs funded through energy development will be funded first. This bill prohibits land acquisition.
    • 8 Cosponsors: Sen. Capito (R-WV), Sen. Daines (R-MT), Sen. Gardner (R-CO), Sen. Tillis (R-NC), Sen. Blunt (R-MO), Sen. Heinrich (D-NM), Sen. Manchin (D-WV), Sen. King (I-ME) Full list of cosponsors linked here

 

  • 3172– Restore Our Parks Act, Sponsor: Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH)  (Hearing on July 11th at 3pm- Senate ENR Nat’l Parks Subcommittee)
    • Establishes a dedicated park maintenance fund that provides 50% of the unallocated money of the money from onshore and offshore energy development or renewable energy development up to $1.3 billion per year over five years for a potential total of $6.5 billion. 65% of the funds are to be spent on non-transportation projects and 35% on transportation projects.
    • 3 Cosponsors: Sen. Warner (D-VA), Sen. Alexander (R-TN), Sen. King (I-ME)

Full list of cosponsors linked here

 

  • 751– National Park Service Legacy Act of 2017, Sponsor: Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)
    • Establishes a dedicated park maintenance fund that slowly escalates over 30 years to provide a total of $11.6 billion in funding. 20% of the funds will be allocated to roads and transportation. 80% of the funds will be spent on non-transportation projects. Funding will come from unallocated money from onshore and offshore energy development and renewable energy development. This bill prohibits land acquisition and this funding is not allowed to replace existing discretionary funding.
    • 21 Cosponsors: 21 (16 D’s, 4 R’s, 1 I)

Full list of cosponsors linked here

 

House:

  • 5210– National Park Restoration Act, Sponsor: Mike Simpson (R-ID)
    • Companion bill to S. 2509
    • 11 Cosponsors: Rep. Schrader (D-OR), Rep. Hanabusa (D-HI), Rep. Garamendi (D-CA), Rep. Hurd (R-TX), Rep. Bishop (R-UT), Rep. Torres (D-CA), Rep. LaMalfa (R-CA), Rep. Cramer (R-ND), Rep. Ross (R-FL), Rep. Cook (R-CA), Rep. Walorski (R-IN)

Full list of cosponsors linked here

 

  • 2584– National Park Restoration Act, Sponsor: Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX)
    • Companion bill to S. 751
    • 80 Cosponsors (40 D’s and 39 R’s)

Full list of cosponsors linked here

 

Current LWCF Legislation

Issue Overview:

The Land and Water Conservation uses revenue from offshore oil and gas drilling to support the conservation of national parks, areas around rivers and lakes, national forests, national forests, and national wildlife refuges. There is a substantial backlog of federal conservation needs are currently estimated at more than $30 billion.

 

Senate:

  • 896– A bill to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Sponsor: Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC)
    • Permanently reauthorizes the Land Water and Conservation Fund, and directs a portion of LWCF funding (1.5% or $10 million annually) to opening up additional access to public lands for hunting, fishing, and other recreation
    • 12 Cosponsors: Sen. Bennet (D-CO), Sen. Collins (R-ME), Sen. Gardner (R-CO), Sen. Daines (R-MT), Sen. Shaheen (D-NH), Sen. Heinrich (D-NM), Sen. Graham (R-SC), Sen. King (I-ME), Sen. Donnelly (D-IN), Sen. Isakson (R-GA), Sen. Ernst (R-IA), Sen. Capito (R-WV)

Full list of cosponsors linked here

 

  • 569– Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act, Sponsor: Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) with Sen. Burr as cosponsor
    • This bill permanently reauthorizes LWCF and provides for full, dedicated and permanent funding.
    • 43 Cosponsors: (38 D’s, 3 R’s, 2 I’s)

Full list of cosponsors linked here

 

House:

  • 502– To permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Sponsor: Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
    • Companion bill to S. 896
    • 229 Cosponsors: (193 D’s and 36 R’s)

Full list of cosponsors linked here

Remember to Register your Off-Road Vehicle with the BMV

Hoosiers who own off-road vehicles (ORVs) purchased after Dec. 31, 2009 must register those ORVs through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

The registration law applies regardless of whether the ORV is driven on public or private land, although there are a few exceptions. More information about ORV registration requirements is at bmv.IN.gov/2468.htm. 

ORVs include dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility task vehicles (UTVs), and side-by-sides.

A three-year ORV registration costs $30.

Registration is required for all ORVs to enter Interlake and Redbird state recreation areas (SRAs), according to DNR’s Carman Jackson, who manages both properties. Interlake and Redbird are former coal surface mines owned and managed by the DNR Division of Outdoor Recreation to provide public-land riding opportunities for ORV users.

For out-of-state visitors, the state also recognizes out-of-state ORV registrations.

Out-of-state residents with unregistered ORVs can purchase an annual trail-use permit that will allow use at Redbird and Interlake SRAs only. These permits are available at the property gatehouses.

“We are seeing an increasing number of non-registered ORVs arriving at Interlake and Redbird,” Jackson said. “Many Hoosiers  are not aware of the registration requirement. Unfortunately, we have to deny them entrance to the property.”

Registration allows police officers to track stolen ORVs and ORVs that have been used improperly. Furthermore, fees from ORV registration pay for increased off-roading opportunities, amenities and services.

Interlake and Redbird have added more trail miles for all vehicle types and rider skill levels. Recent improvements include shelters, picnic areas and observation decks that provide great views and family experiences.

“These funds are essential for property improvements,” Jackson said.

More information on off-roading in Indiana, including laws, safety and places to ride is at dnr.IN.gov/outdoor/4229.htm.

To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.

Invasive Plant Trading in Indiana

The Natural Resources Commission granted preliminary adoption to a new rule designed to remove 44 invasive plants from trade inside Indiana. The decision only starts the deliberative rules process. It does not put a new rule into effect.

Invasive species in Indiana regularly move into the forest and restrict the ability of trees to regenerate because the invasive use essential nutrients and block sunlight from native species that regenerate more slowly.

Indiana land managers (private and public) currently spend an estimated $8.6 million managing invasive plants every year. The goal of removing these invasive species from trade is to reduce the number such plants escaping into the wilderness, thereby reducing the amount of state and federal funding required to control them.

The DNR has determined that 22 of the 44 plants identified can be found in trade in Indiana now, but only four are sold with any regularity. To decrease potential fiscal impact of the rule on small businesses, the DNR would make allowance for an additional year from the effective date of the rule to sell affected stock before issuing penalties. The proposal would also allow members of the public to report evidence of terrestrial invasive species to the DNR.

Lynn Burry, Indiana Wildlife Federation Policy Committee Chairperson stated, “this is a great step. When finally adopted it will go a long way to returning Indiana to its natural beauty and wonder. It must now move through the rule making process that includes public hearings. I am sure there will be amendments to add addition plants to the list. Well done NRC.”

The Indiana DNR News Release can found at this link.

Photo Credit: Emily Wood

National Wildlife Federation Urges Lawmakers to Fund Collaborative Conservation to Address America’s Wildlife Crisis

‘The greatest barrier to wildlife conservation in our nation is the chronic underinvestment in proactive, on-the-ground collaborative conservation’

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 17, 2018) —The National Wildlife Federation urged lawmakers to take a comprehensive approach to addressing America’s wildlife crisis as the U.S. Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee hosts a hearing on the Endangered Species Act. Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, urged lawmakers to expand their conversation to include proactive investments in wildlife conservation through the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.

“America’s wildlife are in crisis — with more than one-third of all species at-risk or vulnerable to potential extinction in the decades ahead. We cannot regulate or deregulate our way out of this monumental problem,” O’Mara said. “The greatest barrier to wildlife conservation in our nation is the chronic underinvestment in proactive, on-the-ground collaborative conservation efforts for species of greatest conservation need, before these species require emergency room measures under the Endangered Species Act. We thank Senator Barrasso for seeking broad input on the best way to recover wildlife species and we urge the Committee to prioritize reaching bipartisan agreement on providing significant dedicated funding for collaborative wildlife conservation, through the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act or a similar piece of legislation.

“Congress has shown — through the recent Farm Bill and the wildlife fix we championed — that it can pass significant conservation legislation. We encourage the Committee to seize the opportunity for landmark progress addressing America’s wildlife crisis.”

The National Wildlife Federation is working at the forefront of U.S. wildlife policy, and prioritizing efforts to restore wildlife populations across the United States. The Federation worked with U.S. Representatives Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., and Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., to introduce the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this session of Congress.

National Wildlife Federation: Pruitt Resignation Offers Opportunity for Reset at EPA

WASHINGTON (July 5, 2018) – The National Wildlife Federation welcomed the news today that Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt prudently chose to step down from his position and allow the White House and U.S. Senate to find new leadership for this critical agency.

“Scott Pruitt made the right decision today,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency has a sacred responsibility to protect the health of all Americans. Fulfilling this solemn duty demands leadership that upholds our nation’s bedrock environmental laws, makes decisions based upon sound science, and respects the Agency’s 14,000 hardworking public servants. We look forward to working collaboratively with Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler to address the challenges facing our communities’ public health, natural resources, and wildlife.”

The National Wildlife Federation called on Pruitt to resign in April — only the third time in the organization’s 82-year history it had called on a Cabinet-level official to step down.

Visit the National Wildlife Federation Media Center at NWF.org/News.

Tips for Fusing Responsible Dog Ownership and the Preservation of Wildlife 

There are more than 89 million dogs living in US households, and a dog is an excellent companion for adults and kids alike. It’s great to take your dog for a walk in the wild, where he can experience the wonders of nature. However, problems can ensue when dog ownership is coupled with absolute freedom.

Our much-loved pets can become a severe threat to wildlife due to their inherently predatory nature. When your domestic dogs competes for food in the wild, he will potentially upset the ecological balance. Aside from its deadly impact, leaving pet dogs on their own in a natural habitat can have non lethal impacts as well such as disturbance of other animals, hybridization, and transmission of disease. Here, we offer some tips on how you can help conserve wildlife through responsible ownership:

Spare The Leash, Spoil The Dog

Just like you, your dog needs exercise, but that doesn’t mean a free-for-all. It’s your responsibility to keep your dog under control, for his own safety as much as that of the local wildlife. For example, leaving your dog prancing in the wild can easily lead to contact with a diseased rodent.  The onus is on you to check what your dog does around him.  The foolproof solution is to keep your dog on a leash. Ensure the collar is not too tight around his neck – you should be able to slide two fingers comfortably under it – and consider a retractable or extended leash to allow your dog to roam comfortably when it is safe to do so.

Make Sure Your Dog is Well Trained

Even if you keep the dog on a leash, accidents happen and he might get loose. Under such circumstances, your dog should be responsive to auditory cues, either if you call or whistle, so that you can get your dog back under control safely and without incident. Some breeds of dog are easier to train than others – for example, Labradors are generally eager to please, while Huskies are famously strong willed and  while they understand the command, they tend to decide for themselves whether to obey. But any and every dog can be trained. If you have real difficulties making progress, seek help from a professional dog trainer.

Look For Alternatives

Even if your dog is not actively making a nuisance of itself and upsetting or chasing wildlife, its very presence or any excessive barking can disturb and scare other creatures. Ultimately, it makes sense whenever possible to look for alternative places where you can spend time together with your beloved pet, such as a public playing field or at the beach, where you will not be causing a disturbance to the wildlife.

A dog is a man’s best friend, and man should be nature’s steward. As soon as you step into a wildlife habitat, remember you’re stepping into their territory, not the other way around. You can still have fun with your beloved dog while respecting the ecological balance. Responsible dog ownership means taking into consideration how your beloved pet affects others.

Post contributed by Lucy Wyndham

Photo Credit: Maria Overlay

The Endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebee

Opening

Years ago, buzzing through Indiana ecosystems, the rusty patched bumblebee was once widespread. It pollinated flowers and occupied habitats across the Hoosier state and filled an essential biological niche. But, within the last twenty years, rusty patched bumblebee populations have declined 87%, reaching the point that the IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, has listed the species as critically endangered on their list of threatened species. This threatened bee species is essential to pollinator-plant ecosystems across Indiana’s grasslands and needs human intervention if its population is to rebound.

Threats via Habitat

With its natural range in the North East and Upper Midwest United States, the rusty patched bumble occupies grasslands and tail grass. But, due to habitat loss, most of these habitats have vanished in its natural range. This habitat loss contributes to the species decline, along with intensive farming, disease, pesticide use, and climate change. Prairies and grasslands have been converted to farms or developed areas such as cities, which shrinks the bee’s viable range and pushes the species towards extinction. In addition to habitat loss, pathogen spill-over from commercial bees and the use of pesticides threaten the species. The rusty patched bumblebee can absorb pesticide toxins in their habitats directly through their exoskeleton. The bee’s habitats are being made unlivable not only due to these toxins, but also due to climate change.

Threats via Climate Change

Climate change related factors such as extreme temperature increases, droughts, and late frost events drastically alter ecosystems, leading to more susceptibility to disease, fewer flowering plants, and asynchronicity between when plants flower and when the bees emergence. The major threats to the success and recovery of the species are numerous. Declining and isolated subpopulations of the bee that stem from factors like habitat loss and climate change lead to reduced genetic diversity. Agriculture encroaches onto the bee’s natural habitat and the Nosema bombi (https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/346838) parasite potentially has caused a sudden decrease in the bee’s population. While the rusty patched bumblebee plays a fundamental role in a healthy ecosystem, it also is vital as a pollinator for commercial products.

Bumblebees as Pollinators

Bumblebees are incredibly important pollinators of agricultural products. This includes crops such as blueberries, cranberries, and clove. And, bumblebees are almost the only insect pollinators of tomatoes. Economically, it has been estimated that native insect pollinators, mostly bees, account for 3 billion dollars of value annually in the United States. Vital to the environment and to important crops, two questions prevail.

Questions

What is being done to help the rusty patched bumblebee?

The rusty patched bumblebee is the first bumblebee species to be listed as endangered in the United States. According to Rebecca Riley, an attorney with the DNR, Department of Natural Resources, council, “Federal protections may be the only thing standing between the bumblebee and extinction.” Although, in addition to these protections that are unequivocally helping the species, there are several service programs aiming to assess, protect, and restore pollinators such as bumblebees.

What can you do to help the rusty patched bumblebee?

Above all, the most beneficial action for the rusty patched bumblebee that you can take is to grow native pollinator plants, such as milkweed, in your garden. National Geographic recommends bordering your fruits and vegetables with native flowers. In addition to this, avoid pesticides or other potentially harmful chemicals.

Wrap Up

Climate change and habitat loss challenge the rusty patched bumblebee’s population and recovery. The bee acts as an important pollinator for both commercial crops and wild, naturally occurring plants. Much can be done to counteract the bee’s decline, so join together and support this declining species. Grow native plants, avoid chemicals and support local conservation efforts—consider joining IWF today to support our ongoing pollinator conservation efforts. (https://www.indianawildlife.org/join/)

Snowy Owls

Indianapolis, IN. — Keep an eye to the sky this holiday season and you’ll likely see more than just snowflakes. Packs of rare snowy owls are expected to flock throughout the Midwest.

The snowy owls (bubo scandiacus) will be far from their Arctic home, according to wildlife officials. The famous snowy raptors are native to colder parts of North America and Eurasia, but migrate south from northern Canada every couple of years during a process called irruption.

Owls cycle through irruption – dramatic, irregular migration of large numbers of birds to areas they aren’t typically found – every four to five years. The last time it happened was in the winter of 2013-2014, when thousands of owls wandered down and settled throughout the U.S. East Coast and Great Lakes.

This is far from the first time snowy owls caught national attention. The birds caused quite a hoot when Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone first hit theaters back in 2001. As the franchise grew, so too did public interest in these fantastic beasts.

The birds will face some challenges. Developed landscapes and telephone wires pose particular hazards, as do airport runways. Despite their magnificent look, scientists and researchers advise keeping a minimum of 100 yards away from the owls for their own safety.

-Madison Stacey

New plan aims to reverse monarch butterfly decline

May 11, 2018. For immediate release.

The Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) welcomes public comments through May 31 on a draft conservation plan that provides a blueprint for reversing the decline of the eastern monarch butterfly population.

The draft plan, called the Mid-America Monarch Conservation Strategy, builds on existing efforts of state, federal, and local agencies and private organizations and individuals. It covers a 16-state region stretching from Texas to the Upper Midwest that encompasses the primary production and migratory habitat areas for eastern monarchs (see map). Other eastern monarch states are also collaborating with the plan.

The draft plan identifies conservation goals and strategies for improving habitats in various sectors or categories of land use such as natural areas, agricultural lands, urban lands, and rights of way. State wildlife agencies and partners will be working to add milkweed plants where lacking and to ensure diverse, nectar-plant-rich landscapes with blooming species during seasons when monarchs are present.

“In addition to their beauty, pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and other species provide important pollination services critical to our food supplies and economies,” said Terry Steinwand, MAFWA President. “This is the first phase of a long-term strategy that will require increased commitment of people and resources to support enhanced monarch and pollinator conservation and monitoring efforts by many partners over the next 20 years.”

Eastern monarchs, those found east of the Rocky Mountains, have declined by more than 80 percent over the past 20 years primarily due to habitat loss, including reduced milkweed required for reproduction and fewer nectar plants. In 2014 the monarch was petitioned for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act, and a decision on whether listing is warranted is expected in 2019.

Monarchs produce multiple generations each year and undertake a lengthy fall migration from the U.S. and southern Canada to the forested mountains of central Mexico where they overwinter. The goal of the strategy is to coordinate state and partner efforts to restore and enhance habitat to support an average overwintering population in Mexico occupying about 15 acres (6 hectares), consistent with international goals.

The plan primarily focuses on voluntary and incentive-based habitat restoration and enhancement efforts, but also includes priority education and outreach, research, and monitoring needs related to monarch conservation.

For more information, a copy of the draft strategy, and how to submit comments, please visit the MAFWA website at Mid-America Monarch Conservation Strategy.

Wildlife Tips and Facts for the 2017 Wildlife Week

Improve Wildlife Habitat

Plant native plants in your backyard. Native plants provide crucial food sources and habitat for everything from pollinators to mammals. Being native, these plants are adapted to our specific climate, competition, and herbivores, benefitting our environment.  You can purchase native plants through our Native Plant Sale or at a local supplier:

IWF Native Plant Sale: http://www.indianawildlife.org/wildlife/native-plants/native-plant-sale/

Local Suppliers: http://www.indianawildlife.org/wildlife/sources-indiana-native-plants

Remove invasive species from your yard and local natural areas. Invasive species are exotic species that spread quickly and overcome native plants. Being from another ecosystem, these plants have few, if any, natural predators. They are able to grow rapidly, forming dense colonies that are detrimental to the environment. Even if they just start in your yard, they can spread everywhere! Find a list of invasive species here.

Build feeders or homes for wildlife that you want to attract. There are many types of different feeders, catering to pollinators, different bird species, and mammals. In addition, you can build bird houses for your yard that can house anything from owls to cardinals. There are even bug houses, bat boxes, and toad abodes you can build if you want to attract these species. We have plenty of ideas for these activities on our Pinterest page!

Certify your yard, trail, or campus as wildlife habitat or a sustainable space. Through our Habitat Workshops, Sustainable Trails Initiative, and Landscaping the Sustainable Campus program, you can learn about the best ways to create a sustainable space for humans and wildlife. We offer certification programs so you can know the best steps to take in your process and show off your success when finished.

Volunteer through local conservation organizations or through citizen science efforts. Local conservation groups like IWF can always use volunteer help,. Want to help the conservation cause by participating in a fun citizen science project? Join our group on YardMap where you can plot your yard and everything in it, share advice with others, and see what kind of positive impact you’re having on wildlife!

Experience Wildlife

Visit state parks and other natural areas throughout the state. Indiana has a plethora of state parks and state forests that offer a variety of recreation opportunities. There are trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Indiana also has great fishing and hunting opportunities, so don’t forget to purchase your license. Check out other areas in Indiana like the Hoosier National Forest and local land trusts that offer recreation opportunities too!

Connect kids to wildlife through the IWF Kids’ Contest, Indiana Children and Nature Network’s Nature Play Days (keep an eye out for IWF’s event!), and these activities provided by National Wildlife Federation. These fun educational games are a great way to draw kids’ attention to wildlife that surrounds them.

Enroll in a Master Naturalist Course to take your identification skills to the next level. These courses offer certification level training so that you can become a pro outdoors, identifying all types of species. These courses also offer a great networking opportunity where you can meet some of the most experienced naturalists in the state.

http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/6321.htm

Indiana’s Notable Wildlife

Monarch Butterfly – The Monarch butterfly is known for its iconic orange colors and its incredible migration journey from Mexico to Canada and back again. Protecting Monarch habitat in this range will benefit all pollinators, benefitting our food system and natural beauty as a whole. The Monarch is reliant on different types of milkweed for food and reproduction, as they only lay their eggs on milkweed and only feed on milkweed leaves during their larval stages. This makes milkweed hugely important to the continued survival of these beautiful creatures. Want to help the monarch butterfly? Contact your mayor and ask them to sign on to the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge! IWF helped 12 cities and municipalities sign on already, and together we can get more! You can also plant milkweed in your yard or purchase a butterfly kit from our native plant sale to help monarchs in your yard. You can find out more about U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s efforts and how you can help here.

Cardinal – The state bird is a frequent flier throughout the state. These birds spend most of their lives in their mating pairs, through both summer and winter. The iconic bright red bird is the male, whereas the female has much more subdued plumage. Cardinals are often seen along hedgerows and wood margins, and nest among shrubs and saplings. This beautiful bird has a lovely singing voice that can brighten the mood of any day. These qualities have earned the bird the right to be the Indiana state bird, and are even protected nationally.

Curious about other Indiana state symbols? Click here to learn more.

Sandhill Crane – Sandhill Cranes are another migrating species that pass through Indiana biannually, with some residing for longer. In late fall and early spring, these cranes can be seen in massive quantities in areas like Jasper-Pulaski FWA, in numbers exceeding 10,000. These birds travel a huge distance, from Mexico to the northern reaches of Canada. Some of these birds even cross the Bering Strait into Siberia for breeding purposes. Other birds are solitary, residing in Cuba or Florida without migrating. Every year Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Greene County hosts Marsh Madness. This annual event celebrates the sandhill crane migration through Indiana with an assortment of events and viewing opportunities. Find out more here. View the video below for more information regarding the migration through Jasper-Pulaski FWA.

Hellbender Salamander – The Hellbender Salamander earned its name for its uniquely ugly appearance. With a broad head, baggy skin, large tail, and a color to match the murky river beds where it resides, this salamander is not a pretty sight at first glance. However, these one of a kind salamanders are actually the largest in North America, reaching up to 30 inches in length and 5 pounds in weight! These salamanders trudge through the muddy and rocky bottoms of rivers and creeks, eating crayfish and mollusks while living under rocks. Hellbenders used to be much more widespread, inhabiting different waterways in Indiana and throughout Appalachia into New York. Today, due to widespread pollution and habitat degradation, their range is decreasing, and can only be found in the Blue River of Indiana. Hellbenders, and other amphibians, are considered indicator species that show the health and water quality of an ecosystem. You can learn about Purdue Extension’s efforts to protect and save the Hellbender through this video. More information is available on their website.

You can view a video about Hellbender protection efforts in Appalachia here: https://vimeo.com/108512185

Indiana Bat – The Indiana Bat is a state and federally endangered species due in large part to white-nose bat syndrome, a fungus that wakes bats prematurely from hibernation. These bats, as well as other species, are crucial to ecosystems worldwide. Bats serve as pollinators and insect control, benefitting ecosystems, crops, and mosquito hating citizens. Bats are incredible nocturnal creatures that fly and locate prey using echolocation. They emit high pitched frequencies that bounce off objects back to the bat, telling them the location of the object or location. During the day, bats roost in caves, under bark of trees, and in bat boxes. Indiana bats only produce one offspring per year in the spring, and then spend much of the year feeding and preparing for winter hibernation.

Learn more about Indiana Bats and conservation efforts to protect them here: http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3371.htm

Black Bear – Indiana has recently experienced its first black bear sightings in many years. These black bears are not residents yet, but visitors from Kentucky and Michigan. However, with improved conservation efforts, Indiana may have its own residential black bears permanently. This would create many ecosystem shifts and much public education on coexisting with these creatures. You can learn more about Indiana’s most recent black bear in our article here.

River Otter – River otters, along with beavers, once provided a profitable market in the fur trade. Whereas this market was beneficial for the economy, it resulted in the local extinction of the animal. However, since that time, river otters have been successfully reintroduced to Indiana.

The conservation success story even surpassed the states goals, and today the river otter has been removed from the state endangered species list. River otter can be found in 80 counties across the state in riparian zones. These fun loving creatures are mostly solitary, but can be seen playing in rivers and streams during mating season as a ritual, as well as sliding down banks into the water.

Learn more about river otters and their reintroduction here.

Indiana’s Black Bear

The American Black Bear once had a wide ranging territory that stretched across most of the nation. However, after years of hunting and habitat loss, the black bear was extirpated from many areas, including Indiana. Over the years, the Black Bear has maintained healthy populations in the Western United States, as well as the North Woods, Appalachian Mountains, and other areas. Populations have continued to rebound in recent years, returning black bears to more areas as well. In Indiana, a black bear had not been seen since 1871, until a bear crossed into Indiana from Michigan in 2015. Last year, another bear crossed the southern border of Indiana into Harrison, Washington and Clark counties.(1) Currently, it is thought to be hibernating on Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge north of Madison. You can find a video of the bear here.

Black bears are beautiful animals that range in size and color. Female black bears range from about 100 pounds to 250 pounds, while males can weigh between 150 and 400 pounds. Most black bears in the Eastern United States have a black coat and tan snout, but in the west they can be a cinnamon or brown color as well. When standing, black bears can reach a height of up to seven feet. Black bears have short claws that are excellent for climbing trees. While black bears do eat meat, they are omnivorous, and much of their diet consists of berries, nuts, and insects. With growing human populations, they are frequently scavengers, eating food that is unhealthy and unnatural for them, while habituating them toward humans.(2) To find their food, they use a superb sense of smell and hearing to locate potential food sources from a great distance away. Black bears can be found awake during any part of the day or night, but they are most active during dawn and dusk, similar to deer and elk, making them crepuscular, rather than diurnal or nocturnal.(1) Whereas many black bears hibernate during the winter, some wake up to forage for food, while many do not hibernate at all. This depends on the food sources available to them and the climate of their habitat.(2)

Generally, black bears are shy, timid, and solitary by nature. Unless a mother is with her cubs, these bears are normally seen alone rather than in groups. Most black bears flee at loud noises or upon seeing humans, unless they have been habituated towards them. Therefore, black bear attacks are rare. Most often, a black bear is aggressive toward humans when they associate them with food.(1) As people have fed and consistently approached bears, some lost their fear of humans and would approach them expecting food, not unlike a dog that has been trained in your household or a raccoon approaching your campsite. According to the DNR, if you come into contact with a bear, it is important to remember to:

  • Enjoy it from a distance.
  • Do not climb a tree.
  • Advertise your presence by shouting and waving your arms and backing slowly away.
  • Never attempt to feed or attract bears.
  • Report bear sightings to the Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife at (812) 334-1137, through email at dfw@dnr.IN.gov, or online.(1)

Failure to follow these guidelines may be dangerous for yourself and the bear. If a bear becomes too accustomed to humans, beginning to approach them or their homes, they are likely to relocated or euthanized for the sake of public safety. Let’s protect these beautiful creatures by maintaining a safe distance and enjoying them from afar.

For more information about black bears in Indiana, visit the DNR’s website, listed below.

1. http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/8500.htm

2. http://www.defenders.org/black-bear/basic-facts

Ever wondered how the Teddy Bear got its name from Theodore Roosevelt? The story can be found here.

Wild About Water

For most people in the U.S., water is something we have traditionally taken for granted.  Unless you live somewhere very rural, chances are you expect water to come out of the tap when you turn it on. The average American uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water per day, and that amount only includes personal consumption rather than the indirect consumption from farming, ranching, industrial, and energy uses. (1) 

Just like us, wildlife and plants depend on water, and its availability and quality can mean the difference between life and death. Water is a resource that we share with native wildlife, not to mention domestic animals and livestock. Our water usage impacts them and vice versa. As Water Quality Month, August is a great time to reflect on the role water plays in our lives and the lives of our wildlife neighbors.

Here are just a few of the ways water helps us and/or native wildlife:

  • Breathing. It may seem counterintuitive for us, as humans, but certain animals like fish and amphibians actually use water to breathe. Fish, for instance, exchange dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from water via their gills. Amphibians do the same thing in their larval stage, and even as adults, they “breathe” through their thin skin.
  • Drinking. Although it varies based on activity level, climate, health, and other factors, the average adult should drink between 2-3 litres (9-13 cups) of fluid daily. (2) There is too much variation between individual animals to estimate average fluid intake for each species but just imagine the type of range you might see between a thirsty adult mouse and a thirsty adult moose!
  • Eating. Not everyone likes seafood or aquatic plants for dinner, but plenty of animals find those items delicious.  In fact, in some cases, food that grows in the water is their only form of nutrition!
  • Bathing/swimming. We bathe and swim to cool off, clean ourselves, and because it’s fun (well, at least the swimming part). Other animals use water for the same reasons which is why it’s so important to provide water sources in your backyard habitat.

VIDEO: Earlier this year, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources shared a video of a bear bathing in one of the agency’s installed water guzzlers back in 2011. Cool bear, happy bear.

  • Raising young. Many animals, including fish, amphibians, crustaceans, mollusks, and others, spawn (release eggs and sperm) directly into water. For some species, the water’s current is necessary to make sure the eggs get fertilized.

1. http://water.usgs.gov/edu/qa-home-percapita.html

2. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256

Nuisance Geese Tips

When Canada geese return for the spring, it’s usually a welcome sight. It means winter has finally passed, and warm weather is surely on the way. However, geese can be an irritant for many landowners and can even cause property damage. Listed below are some helpful tips to prevent conflict and handle geese if they become a problem.

  • Don’t feed geese! This can cause geese to skip or delay their migration, lose their fear of people, and increases their chance of developing and spreading avian disease.
  • Add vegetative barriers or suspended grid systems to make land less attractive to geese
  • Air horns and sprayers are useful nonlethal techniques to scare geese away
  • Removing nests without eggs is legal
  • A permit is required to capture and relocate the animals, remove nests with eggs, and shoot geese outside of hunting season.

For more information, visit the Nuisance Canada Goose Management page.

Wildlife-Friendly Yards & Weed Ordinances: Finding the Balance

Many people who want to create wildlife-friendly landscapes often run into the frustrating hurdle of municipal weed ordinances.

Although created with good intentions, these restrictions can make it difficult to use the plants that are best adapted for the local soils and climate and that provide food and shelter for wildlife. That being said, there are ways that you can manage your native plants and have a beautiful, sustainable yard that supports the local ecosystem without violating ordinances.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind for your yard:
  • Remove any invasive plants or (verified) noxious weeds
  • Use design standards like scale, variety, emphasis, balance, sequence, etc., to create an aesthetically-pleasing and intentional look
  • Tout the benefits of natives—cost savings, lower maintenance, food and shelter sources for wildlife, erosion prevention, runoff control, water conservation, and so on
  • Add borders or trims
  • Use common sense regarding a plant’s height and width (in other words, don’t relinquish all control and DO maintain your natives)
  • Be respectful of your neighbors’ rights
  • Take a 360-degree view so you can envision how plants will look from others’ perspectives
  • Use pervious materials to create defined paths
  • Plan ahead, start small, and notify your neighbors about your intentions
  • Get your yard certified as a Wildlife-Friendly Habitat through our joint program with NWF and post your certification sign!

 

For more information on managing your natural landscape and weed ordinances, visit the Wild Ones website.

National Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Launches

This week, the National Pollinator Garden Network and 25 partner organizations launched a new project, the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, to help stem the tide of population declines among pollinating species. The project, announced on June 3rd, hopes to achieve its goal of registering a million gardens that support pollinators with food sources produced by native and non-invasive plants by the end of 2016. Providing nectar and pollen-generating plants is a key tactic for rebuilding the numbers of bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinating species that are so critical for healthy, sustainable habitats and agriculture.

The Challenge is an easy and effective way to help fight one of the biggest threats to wildlife worldwide—habitat loss. Find out more about the Challenge and register your pollinator-friendly habitat through our joint certification with the National Wildlife Federation!

Join the #polliNation today!

Want more information about which plants to use in your garden?  Visit our Native Plants page for native species recommendations or the Pollinator Partnership for detailed ecoregional plant lists.

2015 Spring Conservation Conference & Annual Meeting

We had a terrific turnout on March 21st for our 2015 Conservation Conference & Annual Meeting. We were fortunate to have a number of guest speakers present on important conservation issues in Indiana. Travis Stoelting, property manager at Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area, described the success of restoration work at Goose Pond and reminded us of the many year-round activities available to Hoosiers who visit the property from kayaking to hunting to

 

photography and more. Suzie Ronk, co-founder of Miner Monarchs and 6th grade student at Linton Stockton Middle School, impressed the audience with her in-depth presentation on monarch butterflies and fundraising activities to support new butterfly habitats. Travis Buckel, Wildlife Biologist with APHIS, spoke about multi-agency efforts to control feral pig populations in southern Indiana.

It was also our privilege to present the 2015 conservation awards to individuals and organizations who worked tirelessly on behalf of Indiana’s natural resources. This year’s recipients were:

Paul Bunner Conservationist of the Year
David Craig

Conservation Organization of the Year
Clay Township Regional Waste District

Conservation Education Award
Purdue University – West Lafayette

Wildlife Conservationists of the Year
Suzie Ronk and Emma Brinson

Conservation Affiliate of the Year
Indiana Catfish Conservation Association

President’s Award
Jon Laramore
Brent Taylor
Stephanie Boxell
Sarah Sharp
Faegre Baker Daniels LLP

To learn more about these awards, please visit: http://www.indianawildlife.org/about/conservation-awards/.

Thank you to the IWF board, members, and guests for joining us to support common sense conservation in Indiana, and congratulations to the award winners.  If you were unable to attend the Spring Conservation Conference, we hope you will be able to join us for the fall conference in September (date TBD).

IWF Action Alert – Here it comes again!

Canned Hunting Bill HB1453 has passed out of the Senate Natural Resources Committee and is headed to the floor

The bill may be heard as early as April 1st, 2015. Please call or write your Senator and give your opinion. To find your senator click here.

To read our fact sheet, click here.

IWF and the vast majority of hunters and conservationists OPPOSE canned hunting.

  • Captive deer shooting preserves violate ethical standards.
    • Not fair chase, not ethical hunting.
    • Wildlife are owned by the public for the benefit of all.
  • Captive deer shooting preserves threaten wildlife health.
    • Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a contagious neurological disease similar to mad cow disease that quickly spreads among captive herds and is transmitted by animal to animal contact or animal to soil contact.  There is no live animal test for CWD, no cure for CWD, and death is always the result.
    • Bovine tuberculosis outbreaks would jeopardize the Indiana beef producer industry.
    • The interstate transportation of deer to hunting preserves contributes to spread of disease.  Importation of captive raised deer should be banned.
  • Captive deer shooting preserves threaten Indiana’s economy and put taxpayers at risk.
    • Wild deer hunting in Indiana contributes over $300 million annually and supports >1600 jobs.
    • Taxpayers are liable for captive deer herds condemned due to disease and the cleanup of property.  Hunters and anglers license fees are spent to fund State monitoring and management of CWD.

With your help, this bill can be stopped.  It’s bad for wildlife and bad for Hoosiers.

Please share this information with others who are concerned about wildlife.

‘Go Wild’ Tips for National Wildlife Week

Looking for a way to enjoy and help local wildlife during National Wildlife Week (March 9-15)? Check out the tips below to see how you can get involved:

  • buy native plants (you can buy them right now during our annual Native Plant Sale or visit local nurseries that stock natives)
  • visit a state park, fish & wildlife area, or preserve (visit the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for a complete list of natural areas near you)
  • watch out for invasive species (help keep invasive plants and animals from harming native wildlife by monitoring them with the Great Lakes Early Detection Network (GLEDN) app. It’s free and available for iOS and Android phones!)
  • photograph wildlife and share your pics with friends and family
  • recycle (not sure what you can or can’t recycle? Our friends at the Indiana Recycling Coalition have great information to answer all your recycling questions!)
  • create a habitat in your yard, neighborhood, school, or workplace (visit our Habitat Programs page to find out where to start)
  • volunteer (share a few hours to help local conservation organizations serve wildlife’s needs)
  • become a citizen scientist (help keep Indiana’s water clean for people and wildlife by monitoring water in your area. See the Hoosier Riverwatch program for details.)
  • share the beauty of wildlife with kids (try these activities for connecting kids and nature from the National Wildlife Federation)

Indianapolis Is A Top City for Wildlife

The National Wildlife Federation has recognized Indianapolis as #8 on the top 10 cities for wildlife in the US. Each city was ranked according to its amount of parkland, level of public activism on behalf of wildlife habitat, and the number of schools incorporating outdoor learning in wildlife-friendly spaces. Indianapolis has received special attention thanks to its resident peregrine falcon, KathyQ, and her popular Facebook profile and webcam.  KathyQ and the other falcons are a terrific reintroduction success story for the state and great encouragement for future conservation efforts.

Other cities recognized by NWF for their contributions to wildlife include: Austin, Portland, Atlanta, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Seattle, Albuquerque, Charlotte, New York City, Los Angeles, and Broward County, FL.

The full list is available at http://www.nwf.org/National-Wildlife-Week/Top-10-Cities.aspx.

Want to learn more about KathyQ?  View her activities via IndyStar’s webcam or visit her Facebook profile.

IWF Members – July 11th Walking Tour of Eagle Marsh: Lead by Little River Wetlands Project

Eagle Marsh is the second most vulnerable place where Asian Carp could enter the Great Lakes.  On the tour you will see the temporary “carp fence” across the Eagle Marsh – where the Mississippi River and Great Lakes watersheds meet, and learn about the plans to construct levees to permanently separate these two huge basins.

  • Eagle Marsh is a 716-acre wetland nature preserve located on the southwest border of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
  • Ten+ miles of trails allow hikers to access the preserve’s varied habitats of shallow-water wetland, sedge meadow, prairie, mature forest and young trees.
  • 28 bird and two amphibian species endangered or of special concern in Indiana.
  • Bald eagles are often found at the preserve and have a nest just off the property
  • Preliminary results of the Bioblitz survey just completed found an estimated 250 species of native plants and 73 bird species were indentified along with many other exciting finds.

PLEASE RSVP before Thursday, July 10th to info@indianawildlife.org or 317-875-9453

TRIP DETAILS:

Please bring a sack lunch.  IWF will provide water and soft drinks.

Wear waterproof boots as the walk thru the Marsh can be wet and muddy.

Meet at Eagle Marsh 11am, Friday, July 11th 2014

6801 Engle Rd

Fort Wayne, IN 46804

Directions to Eagle Marsh:  click here.  Park at the Barn.

The tour will wrap up around 2:30 pm.

Photo Credit: Emily Wood

IWF Adopts New Policies to Stop Habitat Destruction

For Immediate Release

June 24, 2014

Contact:  Barbara Simpson, Executive Director, Indiana Wildlife Federation

Phone: 317-875-9453

Email: simpson@indianawildlife.org

Members of the Indiana Wildlife Federation (IWF) at their 2014 Annual Meeting approved two policy resolutions supporting “common sense conservation” of wildlife, and wildlife habitat in Indiana.  IWF opposes the construction of the proposed “Mounds Reservoir” near the headwaters of the White River in Anderson, and urges its full membership to also express their opposition.  Damming the White River as proposed would inundate approximately 10 miles of high quality, free flowing river and nearly 1000 acres of adjacent, forested lands.  Several valuable wetlands areas would be destroyed, including the entire Mounds Fen State Nature Preserve, which shelters this rare habitat type, and is currently protected by state law.  One-third of Mounds State Park, featuring a nationally recognized cultural site, would also be flooded.  Constructed around 160 BCE by indigenous peoples of eastern North America, the ceremonial mounds area was inhabited by the Hopewell culture centuries later.

A second policy resolution intensifies the organization’s long standing opposition to the shooting of deer in fenced enclosures.  This policy calls for the state to prohibit the importation and exportation of live deer (cervids); their carcasses, reproductive materials, and unboned meat.  The policy goes further, calling for protection of monetary funds authorized for Department of Natural Resources to manage wildlife, and to prevent diversion of such funds to control disease outbreaks in captive deer.  IWF further urges that all deer farms be required to participate in the now voluntary herd certification program administered by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.  Captive deer operations should also be required to erect double, eight foot fences to prevent the escape of diseased animals.  This revised policy stresses the importance of protecting Indiana’s wild, free ranging deer herd from chronic wasting disease (CWD) and bovine tuberculosis, and to allow them to be enjoyed by all Hoosiers.

The Indiana Wildlife Federation was founded in 1938, and is involved in state and regional education and advocacy for conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat. IWF is an affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.

Captive whitetail deer – a threat all Hoosiers should know about.

Indianapolis Star reporter Ryan Sabalow has spent a year and over 100 interviews researching the captive deer issue.  The video link below is a promotion of the story expected to publish in the Sunday, March 30, 2014, issue of the Indianapolis Star.

 http://www.indystar.com/videos/news/investigations/2014/03/21/6710665/ 

All Hoosiers need to know about the captive deer “industry” including  the associated threats to wildlife health, and potentially, to human health. We are following this story and keeping you up to date.  Check back here or follow us on facebook or twitter

Final Asian Carp Control Forum will be held November 19th in Indianapolis

The Indiana Wildlife Federation in partnership with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the North-west Indiana Forum, Inc., and the Little River Wetland Project announce an educational forum to be held Tuesday, November 19th.

The meeting will cover the progress of control efforts to keep Asian carp and other aquatic invasive species out of the Great Lakes. The forum will also provide back-ground information in preparation for the Army Corp of Engineers report expected to publish in January, 2014, which will present alternatives for stopping Asian carp and all aquatic invasive species transfers between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basins.

Eagle Marsh in Fort Wayne is the second most likely pathway for Asian Carp to get to the Great Lakes. The draft plan for closing the connection between the Wabash River and the Great Lakes will be presented.

Information will also be shared about the location of Asian Carp in Indiana Rivers.

All stakeholders and the public are invited to attend.
Registration is not required.
November 19, 2013

INDIANAPOLIS
3:00-4:45 pm EST
IN Wildlife Federation
708 East Michigan St.
Indianapolis, IN 46202

Directions and Parking: 708 East Michigan Street – Located in the brick building on the north side of Michigan Street (one way going west) at the corner of Spring Street (just east of College Avenue). Parking is free in the lot on the east side of the building.

Agenda and Presenters:

  • Introduction— Cal Burleson, Vice President and General Manager, Indianapolis Indians
  • Asian Carp Control Progress—John Goss, Asian Carp Director, White House Council on Environmental Quality
  • Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) Interim Report—What to expect in the January 2014 US Army Corp of Engineers report –Nate Moulder, Community Planner, US Army Corp of Engineers
  • Eagle Marsh Invasive Species Barrier—Jerry Roach, Assistant State Conservationist, Natu-ral Resources Conservation Service
  • Asian Carp in Indiana– Doug Keller, Aquatic Habitat Coordinator, Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources
Photo Credit: Emily Wood

Attorney General Appeals Canned Hunting Court Decision

On October 15th Indiana Attorney General Gregory Zoeller filed a Notice of Appeal of the Harrison County Court ruling in the case of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources vs. Whitetail Bluff, LCC.  This is good news for hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts.  The Indiana Wildlife Federation is following this closely and will update this website as the appeal process moves ahead.

The IWF press release supporting an appeal may be found here.

To read the Harrison County Court Decision that is being appealed click here.

To read the earlier Owen County Court Decision from November 29, 2012 click here.

Photo credit: Maria Overlay

Indiana State Wildlife Action Plan

Background
The Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife is beginning the process of updating the State Wildlife Action Plan. Indiana’s Action Plan is a habitat-based model that incorporates all fish and wildlife species within the state. It identifies the condition of Indiana’s wildlife species and habitats, the problems they face, and the actions needed to ensure their long-term success.

Your Involvement
Partner input is crucial to this process. You’ve been identified as a key partner to this collaborative planning effort. We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to attend one of three stakeholder meetings. We need your success stories and your assistance in shaping the future and establishing outcomes that we all believe are vital to the natural resource community at large.

Meeting Dates
Three meeting dates have been scheduled, each in a distinct geographical region for ease of attendance:

Central Indiana    Thursday, September 26
Southern Indiana  Wednesday, October 2
Northern Indiana  Thursday, October 3

The exact time and location for the meeting will be updated shortly; however, if you know what meeting date and region suit you the best, please do not hesitate to RSVP today!

*For those unable to attend any of the in-person meetings, an alternative input forum will be available at a later time. To receive maximum benefit, we strongly encourage in-person participation.

RSVP
Please visit HERE to register your attendance at one of the three meetings (or the alternative input forum). Additional information about the meetings is also available on the website at www.swap.dnr.in.gov.

Indiana’s State Wildlife Action Plan Advisory Committee
American Electric Power
Duke Energy
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Indiana Farm Bureau
Indiana Forest & Woodland Owners Association
Indiana Land Protection Alliance
Indiana State Department of Agriculture
Indiana Wildlife Federation
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Pheasants Forever
Purdue University, Department of Forestry & Natural Resources
The Nature Conservancy
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Forest Service

DNR Black Bass Tagging Study

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (INDR) is tagging 500 legal-sized black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass) on three rivers in central and northern Indiana as part of a new research project.  Anglers who catch tagged bass can earn $5, $10 or $25 by reporting their catches and returning tags to IDNR researchers.

IDNR biologists are tagging black bass in the West Fork White River (Madison, Hamilton, and Marion counties), Eel River (Wabash, Miami, and Cass counties), and St. Joseph River (St. Joseph and Elkhart counties) during the late summer and fall.

The research project will help biologists learn more about angler catch rates and fish movement in these rivers.  Information gained from anglers reporting their tagged catches will help us better manage these species.

Tagged bass do not have to be kept to receive a reward.  Anglers may just remove the tag and release the fish.  Tags must be returned to the IDNR to receive a reward.

The project is a collaboration between Indiana DNR, Indiana Wildlife Federation, Indiana Smallmouth Alliance, Reel Women/Reel Men of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Fly Casters, Manchester University, and St. Joseph River Valley Fly Fishers to promote a healthy Indiana black bass fishery.

To learn more about the project, please visit: http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/7709.htm

Archive 2011 IWF Names New Executive Director

Feb 1, 2011 Zionsville, Ind. – Barbara Simpson has been named the new Executive Director of the Indiana Wildlife Federation, a statewide nonprofit organization and grassroots affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.

She takes charge of the 72 year old conservation organization committed to conserving Indiana’s natural resources and creating a healthy and sustainable environment.
Simpson brings extensive experience to IWF. A co-founder of Casting for Recovery Indiana, Simpson has provided weekend retreats combining counseling, education, medical information, and fly-fishing for breast cancer survivors.

She also serves on IUPUI’s Center for Environmental Science’s advisory board as well as the board of directors for Friends of Goose Pond, which supports the Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area by coordinating research and educational programs.

“Barb has a strong conservation ethic, demonstrated by her involvement in Goose Pond and the close network she has within the fly-fishing community of Indiana,” said Glenn Lange, IWF Board member.

Professionally, Simpson took on a variety of positions for Eli Lilly and Company, most recently the director of human resources.

“Her blend of high level business experience, scientific background, and nonprofit management experience made Barb an incredibly skilled and seasoned candidate to lead IWF,” said Lange.

Simpson takes over for John Goss, who was recently appointed to coordinate the regional effort to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.