Twelve representatives from five regional water and soil conservation environmental groups met recently in Monticello to discuss joint concerns related to the present and future state of the Tippecanoe River watershed and explore areas for cooperation. The meeting was organized and hosted by the Shafer and Freeman Lakes Environmental Conservation Corporation (SFLECC) and facilitated by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).

Also in attendance were representative from the Nature Conservancy, Arrowhead RC&D, Kosciusko County Lakes and Streams.

According to SFLECC President John Shellcrosslee, "We have several environmental organizations in the ten-county area that comprises the Tippecanoe River Watershed. Essentially they are all trying to do the same thing: protect and preserve our wonderful Tippecanoe River and its tributaries, Lakes Shafer and Freeman, and smaller lakes in the area. We engage in such activities as soil conservation to reduce runoff to the watershed, protection of the land from erosion, conservation of our forests and wildlife, removal of silt, and other programs to maintain our water quality. We at SFLECC felt it was high time that we at least find out who our counterparts in these organizations are, meet with them, and look at possibilities for cooperation, networking opportunities, future partnerships, data sharing and funding sources for innovative projects."

Chad Watts of the Nature Conservancy remarked that the Tippecanoe River is the eighth most important system in the U.S. for its great diversity of aquatic species. The unique range of species of the mussel population in the river serves as an important barometer of water quality and should be protected, he said.

According to Watts "Certain species of mussels react differently to changing levels of water quality. Mussels need clean water to grow."

The meeting in Monticello was essentially an exploratory meeting to find out if furthering contact among the many regional organizations and other environmental organizations was warranted and of interest to those organizations present. After hearing presentations on the missions, goals, and present programs of the five organizations, the group discussed the many problems facing the ten-county watershed.

Among the problems and needs cited were: flood plain protection along ditches feeding into the main watershed; forest cover to hold soil along the rivers; the need for more filter strips on farmland to reduce runoff; reducing the entrance of e-coli from poorly maintained septic systems, aquatic birds, and confined animal feeding operations; storm sewer overflows from large cities along the river; siltation of river and lake channels; trash and chemical pollution; and the need for more conservation education for young people.

The consensus from the meeting was that a survey to determine the missions, programs, networks, and concerns of those organizations present and other interested regional and state organizations should be completed and an initial, day long, conference to explore cooperation among the entities should take place. IDEM's NW Indiana Watershed Specialist Linda Schmidt agreed to develop and send out the survey. SFLECC volunteered to host a day-long conference on Sept. 17 in Monticello.

The Tippecanoe River Watershed the following contiguous counties - Benton, Carroll, Cass, Fulton, Jasper, Kosciusko, Marshall, Miami, Noble, Pulaski, Starke, Tippecanoe, Wabash, White, Whitley. It includes several tributary rivers, Lakes Shafer and Freeman, and many smaller lakes.

The Shafer & Freeman Lakes Environmental Conservation Corporation was formed in 1992. It is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is "to promote the welfare and enhancement of the Shafer and Freeman Lakes; the propagation of consistent and prosperous shore front management; and the reduction of siltation entering the lakes and accumulated siltation." The SFLECC Board of Directors meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the White County REMC except in January and February. Meetings are open to the public.