ODEAB Publishes Recycling Guide

In response to residents' ongoing questions regarding recycling in Ogden Dunes, the Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board (ODEAB) recently published A Guide to Recycling Ogden Dunes. A .pdf of the document may be found on .
http://www.ogdendunes.net/images/Guide_to_Recyling_in_Ogden_Dunes.pdf
A special feature is hypertext linking that allows you to jump to the question you want answered.

The Guide was developed through a phone interview with Jim Smith at Able Disposal, and by researching recycling information available from the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County.

One objective of the document is to increase how much solid waste in Ogden Dunes is prevented from entering a landfill. Currently, the town's diversion rate is 25 percent, which is strong for the area, but short of the nationwide average of 32 percent.

According to resident Randi Light, 75% of our trash can be recycled. Randi should know -- she used to work for the City of San Francisco in recycling education. "The benefits of recycling go well beyond waste reduction," said Randi in a recycling fun facts document provided to the ODEAB. "For instance, recycling all of your home's waste newsprint, cardboard, glass, and metal can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 850 pounds a year. Recycling one ton of paper saves the equivalent of 17 trees, enough energy to power an average home for 6 months, and 7,000 gallons of water; and keeps 60 pounds of pollutants out of the air," she said.

Take a look at the Guide and let the ODEAB know if you have any additional comments or questions. A few printed copies will be placed in the Town Hall. Recycling markets can change periodically, opening up new possibilities for increasing recycling output. Be sure to check the document periodically for new information.

DNR Grants Town Hearing on Burns Waterway Dredging Project

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently acknowledged the Town’s request for a Public Hearing on the Burns Waterway small boat harbor dredging project being proposed by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE). USACE has been proposing disposal of the dredgings on or near the Ogden Dunes beach. A hearing will hopefully be scheduled soon after the holidays. The hearing is especially important because the permit will be in effect for five years, meaning that USACE would be able to conduct these activities yearly without any recourse or notification to residents.

DNR permits for the dredging project have been officially noticed to the public and may be found on the DNR website at http://www.state.in.us/dnr/files/wa-112008.pdf (pages 4 and 9 of the .pdf document). Documentation may also be found in the DNR water permits database on http://www.in.gov/serv/dnr_water_permit_query. The permit application numbers are FW-25073 and LM-163. If the project is funded by the federal government, it is slated to start some time in 2009.

DNR permits are required because the dredging project will help maintain this navigable waterway, which is also considered a “floodway.” There are two permits because one is required for dredging the Burns Waterway; and one is required for dredging the entrance, which is actually in Lake Michigan.

The dredging project came to the attention of town officials in October 2008 when residents on Shore Dr. received a preliminary Public Notice about the project from USACE. Several residents expressed concern about the previous dredging project conducted in 2000. At that time an abnormal amount of garbage, such as shredded aluminum cans and glass; and silty, bad-smelling sediment was hydraulically dredged and placed on the far-east end of the Ogden Dunes beach for beach nourishment. In addition, concern has been expressed about contaminants that may have washed down the 331-mile Burns Waterway watershed during the September 12-13 floods in Northwest Indiana. Testing on the material was conducted in 2008 before the flooding occurred. The National Park Service has also requested that the material be re-tested.









To comply with Indiana Law, residents and the Town will be sent the public notice again, which will be confusing to some people. The main difference between the two notices is that the first notice indicated that only the small boat harbor of refuge would be dredged. The DNR and USACE have now come to an agreement that the permit will encompass dredging of the harbor of refuge, the channel as well as the entrance to the harbor (see the photo above for the specific areas to be dredged).

It is not the Town’s position to prevent the waterway from being dredged. Town officials simply want to be clear about the quality of the material that will be dredged and are requesting that additional testing be completed. The Town needs to seriously consider the implications of turning away this material outright. It’s very obvious that the beach is again in need of nourishment.

The National Park Service, which owns the beach at the Portage Lakefront site and has a walking easement on the Ogden Dunes beach, has been adamant about not having the sand placed directly on the beach because of their experiences with the material that was previously dredged and placed on the beach in 2000. That material contained many non-native species seeds that are now establishing themselves in the Portage Lakefront Site area. The material also contained a lot of silt, which can blow easily behind the foredunes and change the composition of the soil in that area.

After a site visit to the area on November 21, which included officials from DNR, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), USACE and NPS, USACE is now leaning toward placing the dredged material in the littoral drift, at about 300’ off shore, instead of on the beach. This is approximately the same location as the sand that is currently being dumped there from the NIPSCO intake. DNR and USACE seem to feel that the wave action in the lake would help drop out any seeds, silty sediment and other contaminants that residents might find objectionable.

Residents concerned about the current erosion on the beach should be assured that requesting a Public Hearing is by no means slowing down the project. The project still requires a Section 401 Water Quality Certification Permit from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). In addition, no federal money has yet been appropriated for the project; and no material could even be dredged before mid-July due to DNR rules related to the salmon-spawning season.

IDEM would rather that the material be placed on the beach so that it does not add to ammonia and nutrient-loading in Lake Michigan, which can impact water quality, increase algae growth and affect the food web in the lake. They would like to see it placed in a bermed area so that it could not wash back into the lake. They recognize, however, that there simply is not enough room to accomplish that. The public will also have an opportunity to comment on that permit once it is public noticed.

It’s interesting to note that the sediment is somewhat different in the various parts of the project area. While sediment within the channel of the small boat harbor may be influenced by silt from Burns Waterway, sediment in the entrance of the waterway may have higher concentrations of sand because of wave action and westerly winds pushing sand from Lake Michigan into the mouth of the waterway, which generally has a fairly slow current.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to USACE about the project has been fulfilled to the Town, including a document that contains sediment sampling results, elutriate analysis, which helps predict the concentration of contaminants in the water column at the point of dredging; and information on proposed sediment disposal sites being evaluated. If you wish to see a copy of these materials, please contact Susan MiHalo at spsmodin@verizon.net or send an FOI request to USACE referencing the Burns Small Boat Harbor Dredging Project (http://www.lrc.usace.army.mil/foia.html). USACE will send the information in a .pdf format on a CD at no charge.

The town will let you know as soon as a Public Hearing is scheduled. Participants in the Public Hearing are urged to familiarize themselves with the project parameters and contaminant analysis prior to the meeting as questions will only be considered that are limited to the permitting statutes of DNR outlined in Indiana Code 14-28-1 and IC 14-29-1. DNR’s jurisdiction under the Flood Control Act, IC-14-28-1, is confined to the floodway of the stream and its review is limited to the following criteria:

A project must demonstrate that it will:
(1) Not adversely affect the efficiency and capacity of the floodway. The project cannot result in an increase in flood stages of more than 0.14 feet above the base 100-year regulatory flood elevation;
(2) Not constitute an unreasonable hazard to the safety of life or property. This is defined as, the project will not result in either of the following during the regulatory
flood: a loss of human life or damage to public or private property to which the applicant has neither ownership nor a flood easement; and
(3) Not result in unreasonably detrimental effects upon fish, wildlife, or botanical resources. In addition, the Department must consider the cumulative effects of these three issues.

In addition, DNR’s jurisdiction under IC 14-29-1 is confined to the area at or lakeward of the ordinary high water mark of Lake Michigan and requires the DNR to evaluate if the USACE proposal will do any of the following:
(1) unreasonably impair the navigability of the waterway;
(2) cause significant harm to the environment;
(3) pose an unreasonable hazard to life or property.

Public Hearing Requested on Dredging

A letter to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was mailed today requesting a public hearing on the Army Corp of Engineers' proposal to dredge the small boat harbor at Burns Waterway and place the sand on the beach at Ogden Dunes.

Signed by Town Council President Brad Wood, the letter was accompanied by the required petition containing more than 25 signatures of Ogden Dunes residents.

In the letter, Brad Wood noted that residents have expressed deep concern about the project and that residents need more information on permitting process. "While we recognize that the Public Notice sent by USACE was very preliminary, we are very concerned about this project and potential impacts on the beach and Lake Michigan," said Wood. "We also believe that our residents need to be more fully informed on how the permitting process is supposed to work."

Concern about the process stems from the fact that the Public Notice was apparently sent to residents before any sort of application was received by DNR or the Indiana Department of Environmental Management; and it provided very sketchy information on the project. Furthermore, the Notice neglected to let residents know how much time they had to respond to request a Public Hearing.

Another concern expressed in the letter is the timing and methodology of the testing completed by USACE. With the significant flooding that occurred in September, residents are understandably concerned about the impact that flooding may have had on the sediments in the proposed area to be dredged. "Our residents are not comfortable with tests results that would have been completed prior to that date and want tests to be completed again," said Wood on the letter.

The Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board has submitted a Freedom of Information request for more information on the project, such as test results and methodology used. We will keep you informed as more information is gathered.

November 15: America Recycles Day

Saturday, November 15 has been declared "America Recycles Day" by the National Recycling Coalition (NRC). Start by visiting the America Recycles website.
http://www.nrc-recycle.org/americarecycles.aspx

From there you can take a recycling pledge and figure out how you can make an impact by tinkering with the Conversionator gadget on the website. For example, if you drag a glass jar into the Conversionator, you'll find not only what can be produced from recycled glass, but also energy savings you might achieve. Let's say you recycle 15 glass jars a week. According to the Conversionator, that saves enough energy to power a conventional light bulb for 60 hours or a compact fluorescent light bulb for 300 hours! For all the fun visit
http://www.nrc-recycle.org/theconversionator/shell.html.

The site also contains helpful information on why it's important to recycle, as well as interesting end products that are being produced through recycling efforts.

According to the NRC, recycling is one of the most successful environmental initiatives in our country's history. While there's still much to do, efforts of the past few decades are really paying off. Around half of all the people in the United States are now served by curbside collection programs. These programs, along with drop-off and buy-back centers, now help us divert about 33% of the nation's solid waste stream away from landfills.

Here in Ogden Dunes, we divert approximately 25% of our solid waste from landfills by recycling, so we know we can be doing better. To help you accomplish this, the Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board is working on a FAQ sheet to show specifically what can and cannot be recycled in our town.

America Recycles Day (ARD), November 15, is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and to buy recycled products. Celebrating its 11th year, it has grown to include millions of Americans pledging to increase their recycling habits at home and work and to buy products made with recycled materials.

By the way, former Ogden Dunes resident Carey Hamilton is now the Executive Director of the Indiana Recycling Coalition in Indianapolis. Way to go Carey!

Green Expo in Valparaiso Saturday

Want to learn ways to save energy and save money at the same time? Interested in native landscaping? What about green roofs?

If any of these areas interest you, you may want to consider heading to Valparaiso this weekend for the "Living Green Expo" being sponsored by the Porter County Builders Association. The event will include free educational seminars on topics such as:

• Green roofs
• Geothermal technologies
• Rain barrels
• Reducing energy usage
• Native landscaping

More than 20 vendors will also be there to show you actual examples of products and technologies that can help you lead a greener life.

The event is both Saturday, November 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and Sunday, November 16 from noon to 5:00 p.m. It is being held at the Legacy Banquet Center, 1356 West Lincolnway, Valparaiso. The admission fee is $3.00 or $2.00 if you bring canned items for a food pantry.

More information may be found on: http://www.pcbaonline.com/images/file/livinggreenflyerjpeg.pdf

http://www.pcbaonline.com/images/file/Programschedule.pdf

Ditch Dredgings Proposed for OD Beach

Residents on Shore Dr. and the Town were recently notified by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that the Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) is applying for permitting to dredge the small boat harbor at the end of Burns Waterway and place the sand on Ogden Dunes' beach, as well as the beach of Portage Lakefront Site.

The Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board (ODEAB) is gathering more information on the proposed project so that town officials can consider taking action on the proposal, including requesting a public hearing on the project.

Residents and the ODEAB have expressed several concerns about this project, which is projected by the USACE to take place no earlier than spring 2009. Garbage, such as broken glass and shredded beverage containers, appeared in sand previously dredged from this particular area and placed on the beach. The ODEAB will also be requesting from the USACE a copy of any chemical and soil-type analysis completed on the proposed dredging area.

According to Jennifer Miller at the USACE Chicago District Office, the area that would be dredged is at the south end of the Burns Waterway small boat harbor, where sand has accreted over a period of years, not the entrance or the channel area. The ODEAB will be requesting a map showing the area to be dredged, as well as where the dredgings are proposed to be placed.

The ODEAB and town officials are also trying to get a handle on the permitting process itself to make sure all administrative procedures are being followed correctly by the USACE, the Indiana DNR, and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). DNR is reviewing the project to make sure it will "not result in unreasonably detrimental effects upon fish, wildlife or botanical resources," according to the Public Notice. IDEM will also be reviewing permitting for the project.

Concerned residents are encouraged to respond to the DNR Public Notice. However, according to Indiana law (IC 14-11-4-8(a)(2)) there is a specific method for responding, which includes filing a petition to request an informal public hearing. The petition must include the signatures of at least 25 individuals at least 18-years old, and who reside in the county where the dredging will take place or who own real property within one mile of the dredging site.

The petition must gather the addresses of those who sign it, printed legibly, and each petitioner must affirm that they are qualified to sign it. The petition also needs to identify the project by the name of the applicant (Army Corp of Engineers) and the location of the project (small boat harbor of Burns Waterway and the beach at Ogden Dunes). The ODEAB is trying to obtain a DNR docket number for the project, which will also be helpful.

Any petitions requesting a public hearing should be mailed to:
Technical Services Division
Division of Water
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
402 West Washington St., Room W264
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2641

The deadline for responding is currently unclear on the Public Notice, and you will be notified when this information is confirmed. According to the USACE, the National Park Service, as owner of the Portage Lakefront Site property, has also been notified about the proposed project.

Marsh Flooding Investigation Continues

(Click on images for easier viewing.)

Work continues behind-the-scenes to identify reasons for high ground water around Long Lake Marsh and areas of Indian Camp Trail.

Last spring a Task Force was appointed by the Town Council to investigate this issue, which was identified as a problem in January 2007 when water started ponding at the intersection of Diana Court and Diana Road. Around that time several residents also started experiencing various levels of water infiltration in their basements.

Several causes of the high ground water are being explored. It has not yet been determined if there is a single cause or if there are several contributing factors causing the problem.

Precipitation the Biggest Culprit

Most likely the largest contributing factor is precipitation. As you can see from the above chart (click on the photo to enlarge it for better viewing), this area has experienced some unusually high rain and snow events since 2005, exceeding the wetland's ability to absorb and transpire water.

In addition, there are no evident surface outflows from the marsh. All outflow is far below ground, where the water is slowly seeping out rather than flowing out like a river. The effects of high precipitation this past few years, combined with increased run-off resulting from more development, can be evidenced all over Northwest Indiana, ranging from the recent flooding event on the Little Calumet River, to high ground water residents of Beverly Shores have been experiencing for several years.

Backflush Lagoon Cited as a Problem
Another critical area of investigation is the filter backflush lagoon that is owned by the Indiana American Water Co. on Diana Rd. At the urging of the Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board (ODEAB), the company was cited twice by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) in the past 1.5 years for unlawful discharge of lagoon water into Long Lake. During the past few years, more than 130,000 gallons of chlorinated water and sediment have been discharged into the lagoon every 24-48 hours after the filtration plant's filters were cleaned.

It's possible that the current state of the lagoon infrastructure may be allowing backflush water to continually infiltrate through the sides and bottom, potentially causing what is known as "ground water mounding" in areas adjacent to the water treatment plant. The only way this can be determined, however, is by looking at data provided by monitoring wells on Long Lake owned by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). However, the data is spotty, with no recorded elevations or data later than 2006.

The Task Force is working to get these wells re-opened, and to get a new well placed in Ogden Dunes. The USGS can do nothing more, however, until necessary funding is obtained. A cost estimate is currently being developed by the USGS in Indianapolis. As soon as that cost estimate is received, the Task Force can start seeking sources of funding.

An outcome of continual communication with IDEM on this matter, which should also be viewed as a pollution violation, is that IDEM is requiring Indiana American Water to replace the current lagoon. Indiana American Water presented their plans to the public at the October 6 Town Council meeting.

An October 28, 2008 e-mail from Hala Kuss, Director of the Northwest Indiana office of IDEM, indicated that a referral has been sent to the IDEM Office of Enforcement requesting that an Agreed Order be prepared that obligates Indiana American to complete corrective actions within a specified time frame. This schedule will be provided to the public as soon as it is received.

At the request of the ODEAB to IDEM, Indiana American Water must also provide information on what will be done with the existing lagoon once it is taken off-line.

It's possible that water chemistry in the marsh and adjacent areas may also be an indicator of ground water infiltration from the lagoon, and that is being undertaken by the Task Force as well. Preliminary tests were run in July, and additional testing to re-confirm these results is being scheduled.

County Line Road Ditches May be a Factor
It's possible, but not yet proven, that lack of maintenance on ditches on the east side of County Line Road, as well as beaver dam construction, may be also be contributing to the problem of high ground water in the area. Task Force members are working with the City of Portage to request funding from Representative Pete Visclosky that will be used to clean the ditches and replace collapsing culverts. The earliest this funding will be received, however, will not be until 2010.

Task Force members include Susan MiHalo, Bill Gregory, Jay Lauritzen, John Hannon and Jim Kopp. Resident Gerry Lehmann has also informally joined the Task Force in the past few weeks. Critically needed technical assistance on this investigation is being provided by Dr. Erin Argyilan, who is a professor in the Geosciences Department at Indiana University Northwest.

We will try to keep you informed as new developments occur, and we apologize for the long duration of the investigation, which is dependent on goodwill and information provided by sources outside the Town's control.

Marsh Restoration Activities to Take Place

Residents should see restoration activities take place on Long Lake Marsh in the next week as part of a federally funded grant project underway.

The Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department (ODVFD), a partner in the project, will burn the cattails and Phragmites in the marsh this fall, depending on weather conditions and personnel availability.

Also dependent on weather conditions, work will begin soon on a vegetated filter strip to be planted around the marsh late next spring. In preparation for that project, a delineated area of turf grass will be herbicided. Signs will be posted as soon as the herbiciding is underway. Residents are urged to keep away from the grass for at least two days after the spraying is completed.

The purpose of burning the cattails and Phragmites, which are taking over the marsh and driving out native species, is to remove the dead matter and discourage re-growth next spring. A more diverse habitat is better suited for wildlife, such as birds, turtles and fish. These invasive plants are also inhibiting recreation, such as fishing, canoeing and kayaking, on the wetland.

A burn was also conducted last April. That burn's purpose was to make the cattails grow lower and thicker this past summer, allowing for more surface area for application of the aquatic plant herbicide completed in August by Aquatic Weed Technologies.

Also as a result of the April burn, the ODVFD was able to provide the value of its equipment and personnel time to the grant project as in-kind match totaling $6,438.28. This is a significant development in the grant project because that value has helped the Town achieve its one-to-one match of $15,700 on this $31,400 grant funded by the Coastal Zone Management Act by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program.

The purpose of the vegetated filter strip is to purify water as it runs off Diana Road and Diana Court into the marsh. Certain native plants, such as grasses, sedges and shrubs, can help filter water and prevent sedimentation in the marsh. Native Connections, a restoration and native seed company out of Three Rivers, MI, has been selected to develop and implement the vegetated filter strip, which is also known as a "stormwater best management practice."

Town Survey Results Discussed at EAB Meeting

At its monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 15, the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) noted the amount of interest by residents in improving air and water quality in the area.

While nearly 80 percent of residents agree or strongly agree that the town is adequately protecting the environment within its borders, 54.6 percent of residents indicated that the town could be doing a better job of addressing air quality issues produced by neighboring industries.

Residents feel slightly better about water quality issues with 40.2 percent of the survey respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing that Ogden Dunes is doing a sufficient job of addressing water quality issues produced by neighboring industries.

Air and water pollution issues, as well as beach clean up issues, were also frequently cited in the open-ended question that asked respondents to indicate priorities the Town Council should be focusing on.

At the meeting, EAB members discussed strategies for addressing these issues and making sure the public knows about its efforts. Members offered to speak at meetings of civic groups, such as the Lions Club, and Susan MiHalo continues to build a list of residents who receive information through http://www.odeab.blogspot.com/.

EAB members decided that one of the first things that needs to be accomplished is to strengthen their contact list with key industries. Mark Coleman, who is responsible for monitoring permits and violations at Precoat Metals, agreed to find an environmental contact at that plant. Susan MiHalo has ongoing contact with Jim Biancotti at U.S. Steel Midwest, and sits on the Citizens Advisory Board of Arcelor Mittal. Jim Petsas is responsible for monitoring Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) violations that impact beach water quality.

Bob Cattani continuously monitors AMROX permits and whether or not that plant is complying with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforcement order on clean air violations settled in 2006. According to EPA, AMROX failed to properly control hazardous hydrochloric acid and chlorine emissions from three facilities it owns, including the Portage plant. The company also failed to get a state operating permit for its Portage plant.

As part of that settlement, AMROX is required to complete odor impact and health risk assessments in the Portage area and implement any measures recommended by the studies. This is important because hydrochloric acid is corrosive to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Chronic exposure may cause chronic bronchitis and skin problems. Chlorine is an irritant to the eyes, upper respiratory tract and lungs. At higher levels of exposure, it is extremely irritating to the skin and can cause severe burns.

During the meeting, Bob Cattani expressed frustration with EPA in providing updated information on the AMROX settlement and environmental projects. According to Cattani, apparently AMROX is not providing reporting in an electronic format, which makes it difficult for EPA to place the information on the Internet. Before the EAB resorts to filing a Freedom of Information Act request, Susan MiHalo agreed to find out if her contacts at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) might be able to provide assistance on this matter.

EAB members strongly encourage residents to file pollution complaints with IDEM either through the Internet or by telephone. This may be accomplished by visiting http://www.in.gov/idem/5275.htm or by calling the Complaint Coordinator at (800) 451-6027 ext.24464. Filing complaints is helpful in tracking incidents and bringing greater attention to resident issues by IDEM. Information on the IDEM pollution complaints program was also covered in http://odeab.blogspot.com/2008/10/citizens-file-complaints-about-blast.html.

Also at the meeting, EAB members reviewed the town's recent response to the garbage and refuse disaster on the beach that resulted from the Burns Ditch flooding incident on September 12-13, 2008. Overall, the EAB felt that the town did a good job on informing residents about beach safety and water quality. Susan MiHalo will look into whether or not sediment scoured out of Burns Ditch is being tested for parameters other than E. coli.

The next meeting of the EAB is November 19. The public is invited to attend the meetings, which are held at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall.

(Photo above taken on September 15, 2008 and provided by resident Linda Bulla.)

National Geographic to Feature IDNL!

National Geographic has selected the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to participate in a BioBlitz, a 24-hour inventory of species in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (IDNL). On May 15-16, 2009, teams of scientists and naturalists, along with public volunteers, will comb the park’s 15 miles of shoreline and more than 15,000 acres of sand dunes, oak savannas, wetlands, prairies, rivers, and forests to observe and record as many species as possible.

The Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board encourages residents to get involved in this prestigious event, which is being held annually at a National Park until the Centennial of the National Park System in 2016. The IDNL was selected because it is the 5th most biodiverse national park in the entire nation.

Knowing how many and what kind of plants and animals live in the park is the first step toward helping both park managers and the public do a better job of protecting them.

To kick off public interest in the BioBlitz, the public is invited to the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore the Saturday, October 18 at 1:00 p.m. for a free program called “Science in the Indiana Dunes…100 Years and Growing.” The program will kick off at 1:00 p.m. with biographer Victor Cassidy highlighting the life and work of Henry Chandler Cowles.

Cowles (1869-1939) was an ecologist, botanist, teacher, and conservationist. At the end of the 19th century, he made hundreds of scientific observations of the sand dune landscapes of southern Lake Michigan. His study demonstrated that the outdoor environment is a dynamic system in which plants, soil, moisture, climate and topography interact.

Following Cassidy’s presentation, IDNL staff will explain the importance of scientific research to present day park management, and will provide more information on how to get involved in the BioBlitz. Home schoolers, educators, gardeners, hikers, children, senior citizens, birders -- anyone who appreciates having the INDL as a neighbor -- are encouraged to participate in the BioBlitz. Additional public meetings on the event will be held on January 17 and April 25, 2009.

IAW to Present at Town Council Meeting

Indiana American Water Co. (IAW) will present information to the public on Monday, October 6 at 7:00 p.m. regarding plans to replace the plant residuals lagoon behind their building on Diana Rd. Ken Buczek, who is from the IAW Regional Office, will provide background and up-to-date information on the project, which has been under development for nearly 1.5 years. Replacement of the lagoon became paramount for IAW after the lagoon wall breached at least two times into Long Lake in 2007 and 2008, which is a federally listed, 82-acre wetland.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has been working with IAW to make sure the project is environmentally sound and within Indiana permitting requirements. Questions remain to be answered, however, such as what will happen to the lagoon after it is retired from use.

Please come to the meeting to air your questions and concerns.

Garbage Keeps Landing on Beach

With north winds prevailing the last few days, more garbage and debris has again appeared on Ogden Dunes' beach. The Street Department, with the help of inmates from the Westville Correctional Center, has valiantly tried to keep up with the situation. Town officials ask for your patience while the lake and Burns Ditch continue to clear out from the storms.

Plans from the Army Corp of Engineers to clean up the Portage Lakefront Site and West Beach (and possibly the O.D. beach) are still pending. We will try to keep you apprised as new information is learned.

Citizens File Complaints About Blast Furnace

On Friday, September 26, 2008 several residents contacted the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) regarding black smoke and steam, as well as loud noise, coming from the Arcelor/Mittal plant in Burns Harbor.

According to Dave Sampias, IDEM Air Inspector, IDEM is investigating the situation and that this issue occured while Arcelor/Mittal was taking the blast furnace off-line for re-lining. The noise and black air emissions resulted from pressure that needed to be released from out of the top of the furnace. The process of taking a blast furnace off-line must be completed in careful steps for safety reasons. The blast furnace will now be off-line until December. Mr. Sampias did not indicate if any air pollution violations occurred during this incident.

If you ever witness an air or water pollution event, please consider filing a Pollution Complaint with IDEM. This may be accomplished either on-line by visiting http://www.in.gov/idem/5275.htm or by calling the Complaint Coordinator at (800) 451-6027 ext.24464. Spills and environmental emergencies should be immediately reported to IDEM at (888) 233-7745.

When filing a complaint, please provide as much detail as possible about the location of the complaint, when the activity occurred, and what happened. The information submitted may be considered public record and subject to disclosure by IDEM. It may also be submitted anonymously.

For more information on the IDEM Complaints Clearinghouse Program, visit http://www.in.gov/idem/5274.htm.

E. Coli Counts at Acceptable Levels

(Photos right show crews hard at work and part of the west end cleaned up on September 24.)

Town officials decided to open the Ogden Dunes' beach today for swimming since E. coli counts have returned to acceptable levels.

For samples drawn by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on September 24 at the east end and Accessway #5, E. coli readings were respectively 118 colonies and 173 colonies per 100 ml. of water. The Environmental Protection Agency limit is 235 colonies per 100 ml. of water, which is when a beach closing should be posted. Swimmers should still utilize caution as debris and wood still lurks in the water.

Several residents have asked about E. coli levels in the sand. Samples taken by the USGS over a period of days have indicated that E. coli readings have been consistently low with readings being between the low-teens and the low-twenties per one gram of sand.

Clean up and burn efforts on the beach were stalled today due to a northeast wind, which would have unacceptably pushed all of the smoke from the fires into town. Residential beach fires are still prohibited for the time being. Contact Jim Matthis if you are interested in assisting in this effort once it resumes.

As reported in the Post Tribune today, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore officials, the Coast Guard and the Army Corp. of Engineers toured the Portage Lakefront Site yesterday. The United States Coast Guard will begin removing boats in that area very soon, especially those that are posing a hazard to navigation. Other plans are still pending.

Additional attention has been paid to the west end of the beach in preparation for the re-scheduled Family Night on the Beach to be held on October 4, 2008. Come celebrate our beach-cleaning success by joining the activities starting at 4:00 p.m., which includes the unique, once-a-year opportunity to camp overnight on the beach.

Festivities will include music by the Scoville Brothers, star-viewing with a telescope, food, a hula hoop contest, and more. Bring blankets to keep warm by a bonfire, as well as a dish to share. Contact Randi Light at 764-2259 to make your reservation. If it is raining, the event will be held overnight in the Fire Station with the band and most of the festivities.

Beach Status Update

Beach clean up efforts continued today with the focus on consolidating wood piles and burning natural wood debris. Jim Matthis, Street Department Superintendent, is coordinating efforts starting on the west end of the beach and working eastwards, using additional part-time assistance. It is hoped that larger, hotter fires will allow for a cleaner, more complete burn of the wood.

The Town Council considered options other than burning the wood. One of the only other options would be to haul away the debris, which would impact the environment as well. Think of the hundreds and hundreds of dump-truck loads that would be needed to haul it all away, plus the fuel spent and air pollution emitted. A special Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) permit had to be obtained before the burning could commence.

To keep the burning efforts under control, the Town Council has placed a temporary ban on beach fires until further notice.

None of these efforts could be taking place right now without the assistance of more than 125 volunteers who showed up on Saturday, September 20 to clean up garbage and begin stacking wood. Some areas of the beach still need a great deal of work, but it is looking far better than it did last Friday. Residents should be proud of their efforts, which were lauded last Saturday evening as the lead story on WBBM Newsradio 78.

Unfortunately, what can't be seen can also harm you. Based on samples taken Monday, September 22, E. coli readings are still far above recommended levels for swimming. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), E. coli counts on the far east end are 866 colonies per 100 milliters of water; and around Accessway #5 it is 613 colonies per 100 milliters of water. The Environmental Protection Agency's recommended limit for swimming is 235 colonies per 100 milliters of water. It is recommended that you not use the beach for swimming or wading until further notice.

USGS staff members are also analyzing the sand for E. coli counts and will inform the Town on those numbers as well.

You should also be aware that several used syringes were found during the beach clean up. Use caution when walking on the beach.

Town officials are also coordinating efforts with the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and will let you know of plans pertaining to the Portage Lakefront Site and West Beach as soon as information is available.

Plans Ready for Beach Clean Up

Residents are buzzing about the beach clean up scheduled for Saturday, September 20; especially after four dumpsters were dropped of at various locations on Shore Dr. on Thursday. The dumpsters will be used in the effort to dispose of garbage and non-wood debris on the beach.

Participants will check in at Tamarack Beach at 9:30 a.m. where they will be able to sign up for a particular area to clean. The beach will be divided into seven different areas grouped by accessways. "This is the most efficient way to make sure the whole beach is covered by volunteers," said Susan MiHalo, clean up coordinator for that day. Extra emphasis, however, will be placed on the east end and west ends of the beach, where Jim Matthys from the Street Department will have front loaders.

The front loaders will assist volunteers in those areas in getting garbage bags and debris off the beach into the dumpsters. Once those areas are cleaned of garbage, Jim can then start managing the wood debris, which will take several weeks of work. Details are still being finalized on the management of that kind of debris.

Participants will also receive strict instructions to work in a safe manner. Gloves should be worn at all times, and it is highly recommended that you wear shoes instead of sandals. This is due to the high E. coli concentrations expected on the beach from the raw sewage that came down Burns Ditch; and because some of the debris may have nails or sharp edges. Sunscreen should also be worn. If you are scrapped or cut, it is highly recommended that you have a tetanus shot.

Garbage bags and extra gloves are being provided courtesy of the Alliance for the Great Lakes and the Portage Home Center on U.S. 20., which is also supplying a first-aid kit, hand sanitizer and bottled water. Falk PLI Engineering is also providing bottled water, and granola bars will be available.

Recycling will be optional to participants. The Alliance for the Great Lakes has provided blue garbage bags to hold plastic bottles, pop and beer cans and glass bottles. However, those bags must be poured into yellow recycling bins at the accessways and should not be placed in the dumpsters if you want the items to be recycled.

For the areas that don't have a front loader, the participants will need to determine who in their assigned group will help run filled gargage bags and debris up to the street and into the dumpsters. Several wagons and wheelbarrels will be available to assist in that effort.

Participants are asked to help keep children out of the water, which has a lot of contaminants, including E. coli, in it right now. E. coli readings from Wednesday, September 17 were twice the recommended limit for safe swimming. When E. coli is present, it is highly likely that other pathogens may be present as well.

Three volunteers in each area will also be asked to participate in the Alliance for the Great Lakes' garbage tracking project. They will spend some time picking up and tallying types of garbage they find. This information is highly useful to the Alliance, as well as the International Ocean Conservancy, as it advocates for clean water and clean beaches.

Please Be Advised: Swimming Dangerous Right Now

Town residents and visitors are advised to refrain from swimming or wading in Lake Michigan until further notice. Chesterton, Valparaiso, and other municipalities, had to bypass their sewage treatment plants this past weekend, which means that there is untreated sewage in the lake that could cause you to become sick. In addition, there is a lot of dangerous debris out there that could cause injuries. A sample drawn at the beach by the U.S. Geological Survey on Wednesday, September 17 had 548 colonies of E. coli per 100 milliters of water, nearly twice the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limit for recommended beach closures.

Furthermore, residents should be advised that walking on the beach barefoot or even with sandals might be hazardous. There is the potential for medical waste to be on the beach, and a lot of the debris has nails sticking out of it. Anything that is handled right now out there should be handled with gloves.

Lingering E. coli in the sand and in the wood debris can also be a problem. Recent research has revealed that beach sand contains high concentrations of E. coli and other fecal indicator bacteria, often greatly exceeding the concentration in beach water, according to Richard Whitman, Research Ecologist/Station ChiefLake Michigan Ecological Research Station, U.S. Geological Survey, Porter, IN.

"There is evidence that beach closings due to elevated fecal indicator bacteria may be linked to these sand populations," said Whitman in a recent press release on the topic. Whitman was one of the first to describe these high concentrations of E. coli in sands and to link them to high bacteria counts in water.

Beach Looks like a Disaster Zone

(Photos above: Burns Ditch watershed and photos taken on O.D. beach 9/15/08)

Legions of people will be needed on Saturday, September 20 to help clean Ogden Dunes' beach after 10 inches of rain brought garbage, wrecked motor boats, docks, bottles of motor oil, propane tanks, and much, much more down Burns Ditch this weekend. As you can see from the photos above, there is also a great degree of organic matter that washed down from the Ditch. (Click on the photos to enlarge them for better viewing.)

A worldwide beach clean up was already planned for 9:30 a.m. and the deluge of additional garbage will make it even more necessary. Volunteers should meet at Tamarack Beach. Gloves and trash bags have been provided by the Alliance for the Great Lakes, but you may want to bring your own gloves just in case we run out.

Parents are urged to keep their children from walking on the beach without shoes while the beach is in this state.

Considering the unique rain event the area experienced, none of this should be surprising. What you may not know is the reason why this happens.

First of all, Burns Ditch drains a watershed that is more than 331 square miles (see watershed map at the top). Burns Ditch is like a funnel that takes all of the stormwater from all of the area rivers and streams such as Coffee Creek, Salt Creek, the east branch of the Little Calumet River; as well as the west branch of the Little Calumet River all the way to Griffith, and all of its tributaries, such as Deep River. This is combined with the fact that the Town received notification this weekend that both Valparaiso and Chesterton had to bypass their sewage treatment plants, also known as Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO's) and Sanitary System Overflows (SSO's) because they were overwhelmed with stormwater.

More information on CSO's and SSO's may be found on the following previous blog article posted after the Town experienced a similar beach garbage event on January 7, 2008: http://odeab.blogspot.com/2008/01/town-and-water-company-ask-for-cso.html

Show your love for our beach and Lake Michigan this Saturday. Set aside a few hours of time to help out and join us at 9:30 a.m. If you can confirm your participation, please send Susan MiHalo an email right away at spsmodin@verizon.net so she can make sure she has enough supplies.

Lyme Grass May Assist in Beach Erosion

Residents need to be aware of an invasive species that is capable of causing erosion of foredunes on the beach. John Ervin, Regional Ecologist, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), recently discovered an invasion of Lyme Grass (Leymus arenarius (L.) Hochst.(= Elymus arenarius L.) on Ogden Dunes' beach.

According to Gerould Wilhelm, Conservation Design Forum, Elmhurst, IL, this plant's clumping nature promotes greater erosion, and it will eventually surplant Marram Grass, which is native to the Indiana Dunes. The Marram grass' root structure supports the establishment of foredunes, which are just important to protecting homes on Shore Drive.

While this ornamental grass is not noted federally as an invasive species, the State of Wisconsin is very concerned about an invasion in that state, where it appears to be spreading quickly and outcompeting native flora. Following is a link to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources information about this grass:http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/invasive_species/leyare01.htm

According to John Ervin, this grass can be distinguished from Marram Grass by its height, which is around 4 feet. If the Town of Ogden Dunes is able to sign an Memo of Understanding with IDNR, he may be able to control the invasion by applying a herbicide treatment to it this fall. (Thanks to Noel Pavlovic from the Indiana Dunes National Lakshore for the photo at the top of this page. He also found Lyme Grass back in 2004 in Miller.)

It is also important that all residents refrain from planting this type of ornamental grass in their yards. In the place of non-native grasses, many of which may be invasive to the Indiana Dunes, consider instead planting native grasses such as Prairie Dropseed (http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=sphe_004_avp.jpg), Big Blue Stem (http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch), Little Blue Stem http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=scsc_003_ahp.tif and Indian Grass (http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SONU2&photoID=sonu2_014_ahp.tif).

Long Lake Marsh Restoration Project Moves Forward

Control of Cattails and Phragmites on Long Lake Marsh moved forward several weeks ago with the application of an aquatic plant herbicide by Aquatic Weed Technologies and the Save the Dunes Conservation Fund. The herbicide adheres to the leaves and is absorbed into the roots of the plants, which is from where these kinds of plants grow and spread.

If left unchecked, the Cattails and Phragmites would turn the entire marsh into what is called a “monoculture,” where there is little biodiversity that is necessary to support a healthy ecosystem. A healthy, balanced ecosystem includes all plant and animal species, including frogs, fish and macroinvertebrates such as dragonfly larvae.

The next phase of the project will include the development and implementation of a planting plan for the banks and the area around the wetland that is currently grassy. Native Connections, a restoration and native seed company out of Three Rivers, MI, has been selected to develop and implement the planting plan.

The objective of the planting plan is to plant more than 100 native plants and shrubs, and more than 27 million native seeds. We will be seeking volunteers next spring to assist with that effort. The goal is to use the native plants to help filter stormwater as it runs off Diana Road and Diana Court, helping to reduce pollution in the marsh. This is called a "stormwater best management practice." Water quality tests were run several weeks ago to establish benchmarks for improvement.

The project is part of a $31,700 federal grant being implemented by the Town of Ogden Dunes. The project start date was August 28, 2007, and it is expected to be completed in 2009.

One-half of this project’s funding is from the Coastal Zone Management Act by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program ($15,700). The other ½ is being funded by the Ogden Dunes Community Fund ($3,500), the Indiana American Water Co. Environmental Grant Program ($6,699.11); and through “in-kind” match. In kind match will be mainly garnered through equipment value and time provided by the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department (ODVFD) during a prescribed burn. Volunteer time spent on the project also can be counted as match.

Project Partners include the ODVFD, the Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, the Ogden Dunes Community Fund and the Indiana American Water Co.

Wildflowers on Show at Pollywog Pond

Now that much of the Phragmites is under control at Pollywog Pond, a number of native species are making an appearance right now. These include:

• Purple-leaved Willow Herb (Epilobium Coloratum)
• Upland White aster (Aster Ptarmicoides)
• Purple Gerardia (Gerardia Purpurea)
• Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
• Kalm’s Lobelia (Lobelia Kalmii)
• Water Horehound (Lycopus Americanus)
• Bushy aster (Aster dumosus)
• Common Bog Arrowgrass (Triglochin Maritime)
• Hardstem Bulrush (Scirpus Acutus)
• Smooth Sawgrass (Cladium Mariscoides)
• Juncus (Juncus spp.)

If you go out to enjoy them, please be careful not to trample them and leave them for others to enjoy.

Unfortunately, there are still, and will always be, some invasive species that need constant vigilance and control, including:

• Phragmites
• Reed Canary Grass
• Foxtail Grass, which is a popular ornamental that is now invasive
• Bull Thistle

The success of this project is key to the ongoing achievement and improvement associated with Ogden Dunes' participation in the Clean Community Challenge sponsored by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Rip Current Forecasts Available

With heightened interest in rip currents lately, you may be interested to know that NOAA (Natl. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) produces forecasts for rip currents through its National Weather Service offices.

If there are sites on the Great Lakes, these sites will appear on:
http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/forecasts.shtml

Also, if you go to the forecast for Portage and click on the Hazardous Weather Outlook button, information on the rip currents will be included if the National Weather Service is forecasting a moderate or high risk of rip currents.

Portage Forecast:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Portage&state=IN&site=LOT&textField1=41.5867&textField2=-87.1815&e=0

Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=INZ002&warncounty=INC127&firewxzone=INZ002&local_place1=Portage+IN&product1=Hazardous+Weather+Outlook

What you decide to do with this information is up to you.

With respect to educating yourself about rip currents, helpful information exists on the town website:
http://www.ogdendunes.net/beachconditions.html
(Clicking on the Rip Currents button links to you NOAA.)

Brochures on the subject are also available in the Town Hall foyer.

The Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board would like to request that the Town Council discuss how this information can be effectively brought to the attention of residents and visitors.

Spraying to Officially Begin August 20

Just got the word from John Olsen from Aquatic Weed Technology that the spraying of the cattails on Long Lake Marsh will officially begin on Wednesday, August 20.

Please stay away from the area, and especially keep kids and dogs out of the marsh, until the weekend.

Contact Susan MiHalo if you have any questions or concerns.

Cattail Spraying Waits for Weather Window

The cattail control project at Long Lake Marsh did not start on August 14 as planned due to the wet weather the night before. In order for the herbicide to be effective, it should be sprayed on plants that are fairly dry. Therefore, the spraying project will commence as soon as we experience a string of dry weather, hopefully some time during the week of August 18. We will notify you the day it starts, and signs will be posted advising you to keep out of the area.

Cattail Herbiciding to Begin Aug. 14

As part of the Long Lake Marsh Restoration grant, we are tentatively scheduled to begin herbiciding the cattails in Long Lake Marsh on Thursday, August 14, depending on the weather forecast. Please keep kids and dogs out of the area within a day or two after the herbiciding. The most critical time is within two hours of application.

Aquatic Weed Technology plans to post signage warning people to stay out after they spray. Phone calls will be made to neighbors in the area, and to parents of kids known to play there.

The Glyphosate spray that will be used is specially formatted for use in wetlands and, with the help of what is called a “surfactant” will adhere to the leaves of the cattails. It then is absorbed down to the root of the plant, which is where the cattail is storing a lot of energy this time of year. Because cattails spread mainly through roots, getting the plant dead at the root is very important.

John Olsen, who works for Aquatic Weed Technology and is an O.D. resident, is coordinating with Matt Vesh at Save the Dunes Conservation Fund to make sure more desirable plants, such as Button Bush, are not targeted. Fortunately, all of the birds have fledged this time of the year.

It can’t said that the substance is not harmful. Unfortunately, it is, but not as harmful as others, and for that reason we are using a certified applicator. Remember: our goal here is to increase biodiversity in the marsh. In the short run, we may have some impacts. In the long-run, though, the benefit will be a more biodiverse wetland, which will benefit all species. When creating this grant all of the control options were carefully researched. Everyone agrees that this is the only effective, and least expensive, option.

Please let Susan MiHalo, grant administrator, know if you have any questions or concerns.

This action is part of the restoration work being conducted on Long Lake Marsh in Ogden Dunes between 2008 and 2009 through a grant funded under the Coastal Zone Management Act by NOAA and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program. Project partners also include the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department, the Ogden Dunes Community Fund, the Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, and the Indiana American Water Company.

A Busy Day at Long Lake Marsh

Some interesting activities took place around Long Lake Marsh today. First, we drew water quality samples that will be analyzed by ALS Labs in Chesterton, IN. A whole slew of parameters are being tested, including:

• Chloramines
• Copper
• Fluoride
• Lead
• Mercury
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorous
• PCBs
• Nitrates
• Nitrites
• Ammonia
• Dissolved Oxygen
• pH
• Salinity
• and more

The lab fees will be covered by our Lake Michigan Coastal Grant for Long Lake Marsh. This provides us baseline quality information for the grant; and conveniently provides more information for our Long Lake flooding problem. The information will also be used to let us know what kinds of native species the marsh will support in the long run.

We also had 6 kids and 4 adults participate in a water quality demonstration program, based on Hoosier Riverwatch, where everyone got to do their own water quality tests, i.e., pH and dissolved oxygen. They about learned about and saw all kinds of macroinvertebrates that live in the marsh. Everyone really enjoyed this program, which was conducted by Erin Crofton and Matt Vesh of Save the Dunes Conservation Fund.

It was interesting to note that the dissolved oxygen is very low in the marsh; and that they found very few dragonfly larvae; although there were a number of dragonflies out there.

John Olsen, O.D. resident and our contact for Aquatic Weed Technologies, the company that will be herbiciding the cattails and other invasives starting August 15, also met with Matt Vesh to start preparing for that project. Matt was also out there today flagging Button Bush and other desirable species so that they will not be sprayed with herbicide. So, if anyone asks what the flags are all about, they are there to indicate a good native species for the marsh.

Some Purple Loosestrife, which is an invasive species, does exist in the marsh, but may be under control through the assistance of Galerucella Beetles, a biological control method. The Galerucella Beetles may be have been deposited in West Beach several years ago and are migrating into Ogden Dunes. Matt Vesh spotted a number of the beetles today, which is a tremendous thing for this area.

More information about the August 15 herbiciding project will be provided as we get closer to that date.

This outreach event brings attention to the restoration work being conducted on Long Lake Marsh in Ogden Dunes between 2008 and 2009 through a grant funded under the Coastal Zone Management Act by NOAA and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program. Project partners also include the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department, the Ogden Dunes Community Fund, the Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, and the Indiana American Water Company.

This project is also tied to the town's desire to improve the quality of the Lake Michigan Watershed as part of Ogden Dunes' participation in the Clean Community Challenge.

Learn about the Water Quality of Long Lake Marsh

Children and adults are invited to learn more about Long Lake Marsh and its ecology by attending a Water Sampling Event on Tuesday, July 15 at 9:15 a.m.

Erin Crofton, Resource Specialist, Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, will get participants involved in water quality sampling for turbidity, nitrates, ph -- and other important parameters that indicate the health of the wetland. Particpants will also get a close view of macroinvertebrates, such as water bugs; and will learn about the importance of watersheds and water quality in our area.

Participants should meet at the marsh at Diana Ct. and Diana Rd. in Ogden Dunes and be prepared to get their feet wet.

This outreach event brings attention to the restoration work being conducted on Long Lake Marsh in Ogden Dunes between 2008 and 2009 through a grant funded under the Coastal Zone Management Act by NOAA and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program. Project partners also include the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department, the Ogden Dunes Community Fund, the Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, and the Indiana American Water Company.

What should you do with old meds and CFLs?

Did you ever wonder what to do with those old, half-used bottles of medicine? What about burned out fluorescent bulbs or energy-efficient Compact Fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs)?

Today I cleaned out my medicine cabinet, and it got me to wondering. Should I throw those expired Claritan Tablets in the garbage? What about the Omnicef my doctor prescribed several years ago that didn't agree with me?

You may be aware of some of the recent controversy about finding residual medications in our water supply. Although much of that may be the result of body fluids, why add to the problem by flushing old medicine down the John?

I'm also hearing controversies about kids having parties where they pour medicines into a bowl, mix them up and then dare each other to take them. This further fuels my interest in getting old medications out of my house. So what should I do with them?

A call to my local Walgreens (which does not take old medicines back) reminded me that the Recycling & Waste Reduction District of Porter County hosts Household Hazardous Waste events each year. There are several events coming up that you might want to place on your calendar:

http://www.itmeanstheworld.org/recycling_events.html

Medications will only be accepted in their original container. They are then delivered to a special incineration site for disposal.

I've had several residents ask me recently about what to do with CFLs. Unfortunately, these items, as well as fluorescent tubes, carry a small amount of mercury. They can be delivered to the HHW collection site as well, but should be sealed in a plastic bag.

There are other items as well that are collected at these sites. Here is a helpful list that will allow you to get those nasty items out of your home, and, more importantly, removed from landfills:
http://www.itmeanstheworld.org/household_hazardous_waste_collections.html

Oh, and don't forget to recycle your old household batteries at the drive up box at the Town Hall. To date we have prevented more than 2,000 lbs. of batteries from entering area landfills! This effort contributes to the success of Ogden Dunes' participation in the Clean Community Challenge sponsored by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Beach Season Starts Today

Believe it or not, despite the chilly temps, beach season officially starts today in Ogden Dunes. Why? Starting May 21 through September 5 lake waters are evaluated daily to determine whether or not it is safe for swimming.

Water quality monitoring in Ogden Dunes is made possible with a $14,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The monies from the grant are used to hire a Grant Administrator, a Sampling Technician, and to contract with a laboratory for testing.

For the second year in a row, Polly Costanza has been hired as our official Sampling Technician. You may see her bravely wading into the lake at 7:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, to grab water samples at three locations along the beach. She then transports the samples to a pre-arranged location in Marquette Park in Gary.

From there, our contracted Laboratory, United Water, picks up the samples for immediate analysis. United Water tests the samples for both turbidity and E. coli. High turbidity is a strong indicator that pathogens are present. Turbidity readings and other factors, such as previous rainfall and wind direction, are then fed into a predictive model, called "Project Safe," that helps determine whether or not an advisory or closure should be posted for that day. This is because results from the E. coli tests are not available until the next day.

Results from these tests are e-mailed to Karen Berrier, Grant Administrator, who is responsible for determining if a beach is open for swimming, if an advisory should be posted, or if a closure is necessary. Information is then posted on http://www.ogdendunes.net/beachconditions.html. If the public needs to be informed that an Advisory or Closure are necessary, Karen is also responsible for posting the appropriate signage along the accessways and near the Town Hall.

Yellow signs will indicate that an Advisory is posted. In this case, an increased risk of illness may be present based on recent monitoring for E. coli bacteria.

For your safety during an Advisory:
• Swim at your own risk.
• Do not ingest lake water.
• Shower after swimming.
• Wash hands before eating.
• Do not swim if you are ill.

Red Signs will tell the public that the beach is closed to swimming, and that a serious risk of illness may be present.

Look for more information on this topic as the summer progresses.

Marsh Burn Conducted

Conditions were finally right yesterday for the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department to try to burn Long Lake Marsh. Fire Chief Eric Kurtz indicated that they started out doing the burn as a test, and then decided to continue since the conditions seemed to be right.

While the result may not be as dramatic as a burn of a prairie or forested area, this is a significant first step in our restoration project. The burn helped eliminate a lot of the dead cattail material, which will allow us to more effectively apply herbicide this summer. Burning the marsh will certainly not prevent the cattails from coming back, however. They may come back even denser, providing even more surface area for the herbicide to cling to.

Another advantage of the burn is that we can utilize the value of the equipment and volunteer time as in-kind match, bringing us that much closer to meeting our $15,700, 1:1 match on the project. As of the end of the last quarter, we were $4,985.63 away from meeting our grant match.

This project is funded under the Coastal Zone Management Act by NOAA and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program. Project partners also include the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department, the Ogden Dunes Community Fund, the Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, and the Indiana American Water Company.

What's Your Carbon Footprint?

In honor of Earth Day, please take this quiz to determine your own personal carbon footprint on the earth. Then take a minute to think about how you can make adjustments in your lifestyle to help the earth!

http://green.yahoo.com/calculator/

Rain Barrels Available for $10!

Would you like to do more to improve water quality and save money at the same time? Think about installing a rain barrel -- or two -- or more. By storing rain water that runs off of your rooftop, your rain barrel will reduce the amount of runoff entering our roadways, storm drains, ground water -- and ultimately Lake Michigan. It will also help reduce erosion, conserve water; and will provide a convenient and free water source for your garden.
Save the Dunes Conservation Fund (SDCF) has recently announced a Porter County Community Rain Barrel Program that would allow you to purchase a rain barrel for $10. That's right, $10! (One per household -- additional barrels may be purchased for $70 each.)

How is that possible? They are able to provide this service through a grant provided by Indiana Department of Environmental Management funded by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Water from rain barrels is better for plants because it contains no chlorine. One rain barrel can typically store 55 gallons of water. Each barrel will come with fittings, an overflow valve and a wire mesh screen to prevent mosquitos from breeding in it.

For further information on the program, please send an e-mail right now to Jen Nebe at SDCF at water@savedunes.org or call 219-879-3564. SDCF will contact you this summer with more ordering information.