Eagle Creek Watershed Alliance Receives $650,000 Grant

By John Ulmer
Posted: January 18, 2010
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The Eagle Creek Watershed Alliance, ECWA, was awarded a federal Clean Water Act grant to continue its work in the Eagle Creek Watershed. The watershed, all the land area that drains into Eagle Creek reservoir, includes portions of Boone, Hamilton and Marion counties in central Indiana. The Alliance, and its predecessor the Eagle Creek Watershed Task Force, have worked to improve water quality for over ten years.
The focus of this grant will be to reduce nutrient loads in the water. Excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus (two of the three major components of fertilizer) provide plenty of food for aquatic plants, especially algae. Excessive algae “blooms” (dense floating mats of algae) degrade water quality by reducing oxygen and producing taste and odor problems as the algae dies and decomposes. While taste and odor have been problems in past years, blue-green algae presents new challenges for the three area drinking water supply reservoirs. Blue-green algae can produce a toxin called microcystin which can cause eye, ear, skin irritation and in high concentrations be a liver toxin. Blue-green algae has been a particular problem in Geist reservoir in the past.
The Center for Earth and Environmental Sciences at IUPUI recently developed a Microcystin analysis laboratory which is the only one of its type in Indiana. The Center is also the administrator for the Alliances grant as well as providing essential scientific support. Past efforts of the Alliance have included the promotion of no-till farming practices, fencing of livestock from being able to get into streams, manure management systems to reduce runoff into streams, education of hundreds of elementary students in water quality awareness and DNA typing of e. Coli bacteria just to mention a few.
The ECWA’s goal, in this grant, is to limit the amount of nutrients entering our waters through the education of homeowners in reducing the amount of phosphorus used on their lawns. Other groups such as Indiana Wildlife Federation are also working to educate the public on the importance of reducing the amount of nutrients that we put on our lawns that eventually ends up in our waters. Reducing or removing the phosphorus in the fertilizer you apply this spring is something you should consider.
John Ulmer is for Eagle Creek Watershed Alliance.

Indiana regulators ban IPL tree trimming on private land

December 14, 2009

By John Tuohy
john.tuohy@indystar.com

http://www.in.gov/iurc/" target="_blank">The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has temporarily stripped Indianapolis Power and Light of its unique written permission to go on private property to raze and snip trees.

“This is very good news,” said Jerry Baker, a resident of Traders Point who helped spearhead citizen opposition to what he calls aggressive tree trimming practices. “This shows that they are listening.”

The IURC found that only IPL has a written clause in its charter, or tariff, to trim and destroy private trees if it thinks it’s necessary to keep electricity flowing. The state’s four other utilities, the IURC suggested, operate just as efficiently without the controversial tool.

“It does not appear that such a provision is necessary for public utilities to provide electric service,” the IURC said in its ruling last Thursday. It found it “to be without authority granted by statute or Commission rule.”

The immediate effect of the temporary suspension was unknown but Baker said it could expose the utility to lawsuits.

“That provision was put in there was for legal cover,” Baker said. “They go in, knock all the trees down, and then say they are allowed to by the provision.”

IURC spokeswoman Danielle McGrath said the order does not bar IPL from still going onto private property, because all utilities are allowed to do so to a certain degree. But it does force them “to the language from their policy and make them operate as any other utility.”

The IURC has been investigating tree trimming in Indiana since April. The probe is scheduled to end in a few months.

An IPL spokeswoman refused to comment.

IURC suspends tree trimming pending final order (VICTORY!)

Dear Traders Point Neighbors:

I met today with our State Senator Mike Delph (about a new impending tree removal disaster from another utility, Vectren), and, in the process of our discussion, I learned from Mike that just yesterday (12-10-09) IURC issued a ruling in the investigation of electric utility tree trimming practices and tariffs. The complete ruling is attached. In its last sentence it says that the tariff 15.2 (that said IPL is allowed to trim and remove trees on private property) is suspended pending the final order of the proceedings.
IURC's Tree Trimming Decision 12-10-2009 -

This is quite an accomplishment by us little David citizens that came together to take on the Goliath IPL.

Sincerely,
MAStevens
TPAN Secretary
/IURC%27s%20Tree%20Trimming%20Decision%2012-10-2009.pdf
On Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 11:18 AM, Jerry and Cindy Baker wrote:
Charlie and I were not sure this was public yet, but it obviously is. Thanks to Mary Ann for the verification.

In my opinion there is still questionable legal language in 15.1, and 15.3 that also needs consideration, but this is a very positive indication from the IURC that we are being heard.
Keep in mind the word "suspended", but, nevertheless, with the help of many, we have really achieved something here. Hopefully, much more positive progress to come.
This news will be sent to our larger list shortly.

Thanks to all of you...

Jerry Baker / Charles Goodman

TOX DROP REOPENS

Dear Traders Point Neighbors:

As follow up to the Lafayette Road Bridge over Eagle Creek reopening to traffic, the city's tox drop location is also reopening (see news release below). I, myself, was in hopes the city would rethink having a collection site for toxic and hazardous materials on the banks of Eagle Creek, water supply to the reservoir providing drinking water to 500,000 Central Indiana residents, but the reopening of the tox drop signals the city is comfortable with the risk of accident, spill, or malicious mischief. Have others of you noticed the sign at the tox drop, which was replaced by an even larger sign, saying do not leave materials when the tox drop location is not open (only open on first and third Saturdays of the month)? The sign was ignored by numerous people as evidenced by the collection of cans of paint and other materials that mounted up between Saturdays when the facility was open. Heaven forbid, any pranksters decide to toss that collection into the creek. At least, fellow TPANers, only take your materials for disposal to the tox drop during hours the facility is open.

Other news items included below are:
City addresses parking citations in a new way.

For Facebook and Twitter fans, you can follow the Pike Twp. Fire Marshall on these sites.

Sincerely,
MAStevens
TPAN Secretary
___
htp


TRADER’S POINT TOXDROP LOCATION RE-OPENS Program officials excited about once again expanding opportunity to northwest Indy

INDIANAPOLIS – The ToxDrop Trader’s Point Collection Facility will once again open to offer northwest area residents a convenient location to properly dispose of unwanted and unused household hazardous waste (HHW.

Due to the Lafayette Road over Eagle Creek bridge replacement project, program officials decided to temporarily close the Trader’s Point Facility until construction of the new bridge could be completed. The previous bridge was replaced with a three-span, pre-stressed concrete beam bridge.

“The Trader’s Point facility is very popular with northwest Indy residents who are acutely aware of the need to keep household hazardous waste out of our sewers and waterways through proper disposal of these materials,” said ToxDrop Program Manager Nathan Self. “We’re excited about the opportunity to once again offer area residents an easy, convenient way to properly dispose of potentially dangerous household waste.”

The facility, located at 7550 N. Lafayette Rd , will resume previous hours of operation on the first and third Saturday of each month, from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

A program of the city’s SustainIndy initiative, ToxDrop is a free collection service that makes it easier for Marion County residents to properly dispose of their household hazardous waste year-round. Over the last decade, the ToxDrop program has been able to divert more than a quarter of a million gallons of HHW from the city's sewers, waterways and aquifers through periodic ToxAway events and on scheduled Saturdays. The ToxDrop program is a significant advancement to help residents properly and safely dispose of HHW. For a list of accepted materials and additional collection sites, visit www.sustainindy.org/toxdrop.cfm.

Mayor Ballard launched SustainIndy and created the Office of Sustainability in October, 2008. SustainIndy is a bold and innovative enterprise aimed at delivering long-term cost savings to the City, building the local economy, improving our quality of life and enhancing our environmental and public health. Its efforts are designed to aggressively move Indianapolis forward in making it one of the most sustainable cities in the Midwest.

_________________________________________________________________

Lafayette Road Bridge OPEN (! ! !)

Dear Traders Point Neighbors:

You may have already seen that the barriers are gone from 71st and Lafayette Road indicating that the project to reconstruct the bridge over Eagle Creek is finished and Lafayette Road is open to traffic once again. (See below for the city's release describing the project.) Blessings to Noel Road for all the traffic it carried during this bridge closing---may it have a more peaceful and restful existence from now on!

Also below, you can read the city's statement about increased crack sealing being accomplished on roadways to combat pot holes developing.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Sincerely,
MAStevens
TPAN Secretary
___
htp

LAFAYETTE ROAD BRIDGE OVER EAGLE CREEK REOPENS
All lanes of traffic are open and unrestricted; ToxDrop location to open
soon

INDIANAPOLIS - Northwest side residents and commuters can enjoy a
smoother route to work and home thanks to the replacement of the
Lafayette Road Bridge over Eagle Creek. After being closed for the
construction and total replacement of the concrete bridge, Lafayette
Road from 71st to 79th streets is now open to accommodate the estimated
8,000 vehicles that travel the thoroughfare daily.

"The structural support of this bridge was deteriorating and
necessitated a complete replacement," said Department of Public Works
Director David Sherman. "The average life span of a bridge is about 50
years and the Lafayette Road Bridge was built in the 1920s and widened
to four lanes in 1935."

Work began on the three-span, prestressed concrete beam bridge in March
2009 and included the construction of a new bridge deck, beams and
rails. Texas classic rails were constructed, which helped improve the
appearance of the bridge railing. The project also included the
resurfacing of the bridge and includes a bike lane that connects to
Eagle Creek Park.

"The city's infrastructure is aging and in need of repair," Sherman
said. "We recognize the importance of bridges as a part of our overall
infrastructure maintenance, but we're facing an estimated need of $291
million to replace or rehabilitate our aging bridges. As a result, we're
working to prioritize our bridge work."

In addition to the Lafayette Road Bridge, the city plans to replace or
reconstruct 10 bridge structures, totaling more than $18 million in
construction costs from 2009 through 2013.

Eighty percent of the $2.3 million Lafayette Road Bridge over Eagle
Creek costs was federally funded. The other 20 percent was matched with
local dollars.

The ToxDrop location at the Traders Point Collection Facility has been
temporarily closed for construction on this project and is scheduled to
reopen in early December.

For more information on the ToxDrop Program, please visit
www.sustainindy.org/toxdrop.cfm.

For more information on the Indy BikeWays Plan, please visit
www.sustainindy.org/bikeways.cfm.

Mayor Ballard launched SustainIndy and created the Office of
Sustainability in October of 2008. Both represent an innovative
enterprise aimed at delivering long-term cost savings to the city,
building the local economy, improving our quality of life and enhancing
our environmental and public health. Its efforts are designed to
aggressively move Indianapolis forward in making it one of the most
sustainable cities in the Midwest. For more information, visit
www.sustainindy.org.

###
----------------
CITY CONTINUES TO MAKE MILESTONE IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET MAINTENANCE
Unprecedented strategy expected to yield better results than ever

INDIANAPOLIS - In an unprecedented strategy in Mayor Ballard's mission
to improve city streets, the Department of Public Works (DPW) have begun
efforts to crack-seal more than 1,400 lane miles of city streets by the
spring of 2010 in one of the most significant preventive maintenance
efforts the city has ever seen.

"It's good sense and fiscally responsible to invest in projects that
have proven results," said Mayor Greg Ballard. "Due to a combined effort
of crack-sealing, better pothole repair methods and more efficient
management of resources, we've averaged about 5,000 less pothole
complaints from July to November 2009 vs. the same period in 2008."

In previous years, the accomplishment of very little crack-sealing by
the city had a major impact on the number of potholes residents and
commuters had to navigate when driving city streets during the winter
and spring of 2008. In addition to implementing Six Sigma strategies to
improve the pothole repair process, city officials committed to a more
proactive approach budgeting $1.4 million for crack-sealing work and
purchasing 4 new crack-sealing machines By the end of 2008, city
operations crews completed over 250 lane miles of crack-sealing
contributing to significantly less pothole complaints and a greatly
decreased number of potholes across the city.

Directed by Mayor Ballard to find ways to do more to protect citizens
and their vehicles from existing street damage, department officials
combined the resources of the engineering and street maintenance
divisions of DPW. This strategy for improving existing street
infrastructure allowed the city to contract out almost 1,200 lane miles
of crack sealing work to supplement approximately 250 lane miles of
crack-sealing work planned by the street maintenance division.

Funds for the effort are a result of under-run savings of about $2
million from other engineering projects.

"As we are doing in all areas of city infrastructure, we will continue
to work to creatively identify ways to better protect residents as they
travel city streets," said DPW Director David Sherman. "With the
preventive maintenance of crack-sealing work, roads will be better and
there will be less damage to vehicles."

Potholes are formed when water and moisture freeze after seeping under
streets through cracks in the pavement. The frozen water causes the
pavement to expand resulting in a concave area underneath the road
surface once the frozen water melts. A pothole results once the weights
of traveling vehicles break the hollow area under the pavement surface.
Sealing the cracks in the road surface before water and moisture can
enter them is a proven method of preventing the formation of potholes.

The current cycle time average for pothole repairs has remained constant
from July through November at 2.2 days. The number of pothole complaints
received this time in 2008 was 17,412. Current requests this year are
5,112 less at 12,300.

For more information about the Chuckhole Kaizen process click on the
following link to learn more about the city's efforts in partnership
with Eli Lilly to improve pothole repair methods in Marion County.
http://indianapolis.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=223

To report a pothole online visit:
http://www.indy.gov/eGov/Mayor/Pages/Pothole.aspx.
You may also call the Mayor's Action Center (MAC) at 327-4622 to report
a pothole.

Eagle Creek Park Foundation Fall Newsletter

The fall newsletter is now available on the website at Eagle Creek Park Foundation.

As you know the membership drive letters and forms have been delayed due to changes in the way that Indy Parks will be handling season passes. The Foundation will no longer be selling its own pass to the park. Instead we will be sending out a voucher for each pass purchased through the Foundation that can then be exchanged for an Indy Parks card for access to the park. These Foundation vouchers can only be purchased through the Foundation and not at the gatehouses, so it will be important for you to return the membership form that you download from the website in order to support the Foundation and its goals. We hope to send out the membership drive emails shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thank you very much for your patience and have a safe and happy holiday and a great season at the park!
Your Eagle Creek Park Foundation Board and Staff

Original site of Traders Point Indian settlement to be protected by conservation easement

Preface: Several years I was told in confidence that the name Traders Point actually referred to an Indian settlement located west of Traders Point where Crown Point Road terminates and becomes private property. I was asked not to publish the information because the property was privately owned and the owners might not appreciate the publicity. Now the property owners, Bob and Lou Rice of 8751 Crown Point Road, have formally created a conservation easement to protect their property and their story is published in the current issue of Conserving Indiana, the publication of the Central Indiana Land Trust. This is a significant event and you will enjoy reading about the Rices and their property. The map shows the property's proximity to Traders Point, Indiana.
http://www.conservingindiana.org/docs/Fall_Winter_2009.pdf

Bob and Lou Rice are not your
typical Marion County residents.
First of all, they own 56
acres of woods and prairie in this
highly-populated county. Secondly,
they are true nature lovers
who, rather than keeping an
option for development of their
land on the table, decided to
permanently protect it through a
conservation easement with the
Central Indiana Land Trust. This
is only the Land Trust’s second
permanently protected property
in Marion County and the first
since the Gene B. Glick Nature
Preserve was donated in 1992.
Cliff, Heather, and I visited the
Rice Property, located near Eagle
Creek Park on the Northwest
side of Indianapolis, in September.
The Rice’s love of the land
and all things living was evident
from the moment we drove onto
their land and knocked on their
door. The driveway, which is the
“gate on the left” in a
small cluster of driveways,
gives the land
its name “Left Gate
Farm Nature Sanctuary.”
Its winding path
leads you back to the
Rice Home. Bob and
Lou greeted us with
hugs, while their five
dogs greeted us with
plentiful kisses.
Bob and Lou designated
their land,
which is bisected by
a tributary to Eagle
Creek, as a nature
sanctuary long before
the Central Indiana
Land Trust became involved.
The Land Trust is merely a
means to an end – ensuring that
their family land protected forever.
Bob walks his land, which
has a well-maintained loop trail,
everyday. Upon his return, Lou
always asks him if he saw anything
new. “He says yes every
single time,” she said. On the
day of our walk in September,
it was green dragon (Arisaema
dracontium) in fruit at a new
location.
Left Gate Farm
is a special place,
not only because
it exists in Marion
County when such
a small amount
of privately-held
natural land is
left, but because
it is teeming with
native Indiana
plant species, from
wildflowers to ferns to trees.
Bob handed me two booklets
during our visit. One was “The
Wildflowers of Left Gate Farm,”
in which he has recorded 283
species since 1937! Some have
disappeared due to natural
causes, and some due to greedy
human intruders, but most are
still there. Dutchman’s breeches,
hepatica, rue anemone, trillium,
violets, shooting stars, bluebells
and many others carpet the
forest floor in April, while the
fall offers Short’s aster, bluestemmed
goldenrod and nodding
ladies tresses.
This wildflower lover will be
back in the spring, if not sooner,
I promised Bob and Lou.
The Rice’s conservation easement
does not automatically create an
open invitation for Land Trust
staff or members to visit their
land. This is one of the benefits
of a conservation easement. The
landowner can continue to live
on the land which is still private
property; they must simply agree
to never develop it, and allow us
to monitor it on an annual basis.
However, the Rices are nature
Fifty-six Acres Protected in Marion County!
Bob Rice led the Land Trust staff on a tour of the
Rice property, now protected in perpetuity.
Short’s aster is one of the wildflowers seen in the fall
in the woods of Left Gate Farm Nature Sanctuary.
Photo by Cliff Chapman
Photo by Cliff Chapman
By Maria Steiner,
Community Relations Director
4
lovers, so they have offered the
use of their land for future educational
field trips to Land Trust
members and our kids club.
And an educational resource it
is, with its well-maintained trail,
picturesque terrain, and cultural,
historical, and ecological
features. In fact, school groups
have been coming here as a field
trip destination for years. Nowadays,
they told us, it is harder
to get school groups out, due to
smaller field trip budgets and
tightly-controlled curriculum.
Left Gate Farm has been in the
Rice Family since 1935. At first
it was a weekend getaway. The
family would venture from their
home in what is now Meridian-
Kessler to this property for
picnics. They decided to build
a home here and use it as their
summer vacation spot instead of
Michigan, where they had previously
ventured. This allowed
their father to join them on the
weekends, rather than taking
two full days to drive to Michigan
in the pre-interstate system era.
The home was built in 1937 and
1938 from a single Idaho white
pine tree that was cut in 1919.
The home was designed by the
same architect that designed
the Abe Martin Lodge in Brown
County State Park, Richard
Bishop. Bob and Lou became
the first full-time residents of the
home in 1984, after adding on to
create space for their five children.
The Rice’s five children are
now grown and living scattered
around the Indianapolis area.
Perhaps most interesting about
this property is its Native American
history, in which Bob and
Lou are well-versed. In 1818,
the Treaty of St. Mary’s (Ohio)
forced the Delaware (Lenape)
Indian tribe to move west. As
they followed the buffalo trails
westward, their chief fell ill,
which forced them to stop and
camp at what is now the Rice
property. They ended up camping
atop this ridge for almost a
year before the chief died. Bob
and Lou can point out where
he was buried, because it was
marked by a large arrowhead
pointing west, the direction his
followers subsequently went.
The arrowhead mysteriously
disappeared some time ago. The
Native American component of
their property is a big part of
the educational information that
they have shared with schoolchildren
over the years.
Also of note are the flowing
wells on this property, which
attracted the first settlers in this
area. Those first settlers traded
with the Native Americans, thus
giving the area the name “Traders
Point.” This little
town, which no longer
exists, was comprised
of a grocery store, two
gas stations, eighteen
homes, and three
churches. What many
folks now call Traders
Point is actually slightly
off from the original
town of Traders Point.
The adjacent Scott Starling
Nature Sanctuary,
a portion of Eagle Creek Park
managed as a tall grass prairie,
was the inspiration for the Rices’
installation of a 10-acre prairie.
The prairie plants have been
carefully documented over the
years, just as the wildflowers in
the forest have been. Savannah
and field sparrows, along with
monarch and black swallowtail
butterflies can be found in the
prairie, as well as purple coneflower,
rattlesnake master, big
bluestem, and dozens of other
grassland species.
We are thrilled that the Rices
have chosen to permanently
protect and share their sanctuary
for native plants and animals
in the city of Indianapolis. We
also want to thank YOU, our
members, for helping us protect
natural areas for plants, animals
and people throughout central
Indiana.
Be sure to watch the newsletter or
sign up with your email address to
receive special invitations to visit
this and other natural areas in
Central Indiana.
Photo

Traders Point - A Branding Proposal

(Almost made it to Pecha Kucha Nov. 12, 2009 event - www.pkindy.org)

In 2009 an 1800 acre section of Pike Township known as Traders Point/Eagle Creek was designated a Rural Historic District by the National Parks Service. The award gives Indianapolis the distinction of having the largest Rural Historic District in a metropolitan area in the nation.
The Rural Historic District runs alongside Eagle Creek and is adjacent to one of the largest municipal parks in the country. The district is nestled within a concrete triangle of interstate highways. The entire triangle is often referred to by long-time residents as Traders Point. This “rural place in the city” is accessible, distinctive, and now, nationally recognized.
Yet, there is no signage at ground level to inform residents and travelers of the area’s significance. This is a request for signage to be designed and placed in coordination with the area residents who funded the award. The $10,000 gift is to be devoted to the creation, installation and maintenance of signs to be located throughout the triangle. Nationally known artist and area resident Nancy Noel has agreed to donate an artistic design for the signs, insuring a distinctive visual branding for the area.
Traders Point blends rural and suburban living just 15 minutes from the Mile Square. It has two family-operated dairies, including the Traders Point organic dairy which brings a national eco-tourism following. It also is known to competitive triathletes; challenged by the district’s terrain. The area boasts the historic Lafayette Road toll house, as well as a cemetery with the grave of a Revolutionary War Veteran, and a covered bridge original to the area.
The township’s first property owner, William Conner of Conner Prairie fame, also chaired the site committee that moved the state capital to Indianapolis. His only Marion County purchase, in 1823, was 80 federal acres where an Indian trail crossed Eagle Creek. A few years later, this path became the first road through the township, Lafayette Road. Conner’s parcel may have been a spot where trade was taking place between the Indians and the white settler. Nearly 150 years ago a few acres within the 80 acres were platted as a village named Traders Point. In the 1920s the area attracted urban motorists whose vehicles could be serviced in Traders Point by two separate service stations. Today motorists still enjoy its scenic, pastoral two lane roads named for area farmers. Important figures of their day lived here. Residents included J.K. Lilly, Jr., Industrialist Herman Krannert, William Fortune and artist Cassilly Adams. In 1963 the Traders Point hamlet surrendered to the creation of a public reservoir.
Today the name Traders Point, and the Eagle Creek Valley within it, have been recognized by the National Park Service. It is fitting that a brand identity campaign be embraced by thought leaders within the city. Artistically designed, professionally constructed and well-placed signs will call attention to one of the city’s largest geographical areas of national distinction.


http://www.in.gov/dnr/historic/files/hp-TradersPointEagleCreek.pdf