The Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee learned at its meeting Tuesday evening, that the trail project had received a $235,000 grant from The Ruth Lilly Philanthropic Foundation at the request of Lake Wawasee summer resident Ginny Lilly Nicholas on behalf of her family.

“The gift is to be used exclusively for the preservation, creation and maintenance of trails connecting the town of Syracuse to Lake Wawasee,” states a letter to Spike Ford, director of the Syracuse-Wawasee Park Foundation Inc. Ford is also the chairman of the trail committee.

In order to receive the funds, The Ruth Lilly Foundation must confirm the tax-exempt status of the local foundation. The paperwork has already been sent by Ford and Chad Jonsson, Syracuse park superintendent and foundation executive officer.

The gift dovetails perfectly with the trail feasibility study for the Pickwick corridor presented to the trail committee at the meeting by Daniel L. Ernst, vice president of the consulting firm Earth Source Inc., Fort Wayne.

Basically a plan in five segments, it extends from the Main Channel Bridge on Pickwick Road to North Warner Road and Cornelius Road intersection. The total cost of all the segments is estimated to be $485,350 without engineering costs, which are projected to be about $40,000.

“This will certainly kick-start this phase of the trail and, hopefully, encourage others to donate money for a bridge, safety crossing signals, a boardwalk section along Mud Lake or just sections of the trail,” noted Ford.
He continued, “ Our efforts are focused on building a trail segment that would connect the visionary and magnificent Eli Lilly Road trail, which was built by the Nicholas family for the community, with Wawasee High School using the Pickwick Road corridor. Our lakes area is blessed in so many ways, not the least of which are the many families like theirs who have given so much to the overall betterment of our community.”

Dave Lichtenauer and Mike Buhrt were instrumental in giving information to the Nicholases. However, Lichtenauer stated, “We did not ask them for money. We felt they had done more than enough. We are so grateful to them for providing the seed money for this part of the project.”

Trail had already been scheduled to be laid on a portion of Cornelius Road this fall and work should start by Oct. 29, weather permitting. This will be the first portion of the Pickwick Road corridor.

In other business, Phil Gordon discussed putting together an informational public meeting for the section of the trail from Waco Drive to Harkless Road on the south side of Syracuse. It will probably be held in January. A grant will again be applied for to assist. Its deadline is April 15. A meeting with the county commissioners about the trail was also suggested.
Ford reported that the trail in front of the high school was essentially finished with the help of Clint Houseworth and the Syracuse Street Department.

The Syracuse-Wawasee Park Foundation meeting was a review of finances.

Anyone interested in becoming an active member of the trail committee is welcome. Contact Jonsson at the Syracuse Park Department, (574) 457-3440.

Donations for the trail may be sent to the Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee, c/o Syracuse Community Center, 1013 N. Long Drive, Syracuse, IN 46567. Donations are tax-deductible.

Directors for the Wawasee Property Owners Association are chosen by members and each director represents a section of the lake.

One such member has spent her entire life at the lake. "I love the lake so much. I’m excited about being on the WPOA board. I feel that I can bring some energy to the board. I love to do activities and things interject some fun, different things. I’m excited too." Cindy Quinn noted.

Quinn is one of the newest members of the WPOA board who grew up on Lake Wawasee. She wasn’t one of those who just came up on weekends. Her family spent four days each week at the lake and activities in the community were a part of her life. Even learning to drive.

"When I was growing up, my parents owned a business, like a Dairy Queen, called Cone Palace in Kokomo," Quinn said, adding their busy time was Thursday through Sunday. The family would pack up Sunday evening and come up every Monday and stay through Thursday.

"I grew up here in the summer. I took driver’s ed up here. That was really fun because I met a lot of local kids. We would ski every single morning before driver’s ed. Go to driver’s ed, then come back and ski again," she explained.
Now the Quinns, husband Brad, Cindy, and their children Hayden and Allie, come up a week or two after school is out and spend the rest of the summer. Brad commutes back and forth between Indianapolis and their lake home when he is not traveling for work. Her parents, aunts, uncles and cousins reside in the area as does Brad’s family, including his mother and stepfather who are several doors away.

"I love the lake. I love everything about the lake," Quinn said. "I love to sail. I love to boat, like to wakeboard, go out on the waverunners. We fish. We turtle hunt. It’s a pretty full schedule up here, even though we spend our summer up here we don’t have any obligation. We send the kids to Tippy (country club) they play golf, tennis."

Quinn stated the family began becoming full time summer residents after Hayden, 11, and Allie, 9, were over 4 years old. "We do have our relatives; we get to see more of our family and friends and then it’s fun when we go back in the fall and we haven’t been around all our friends in Indianapolis. So I think it’s really easy to come up here."

When the Quinns come up for the summer, they become a part of the community. The kids are in gymnastics, baseball, tennis, golf, attend camps, just like other year-round residents. "We do as many activities up here as we did at home. Once we get into high school it will probably be different." But the lake is the center of their activities.

"I love being on the water. I could go around the lake 10,000 times and never get bored looking at the houses to see what’s going on. I like all the activity on the weekends, then the tranquility during the week."

The Quinns and their families have all different kinds of boats č sail boats, personal watercraft, pontoons, speed boats, Boston whalers and they use all of them. "One of my favorite things to do up here is to teach kids how to ski, wakeboard, any of the water sports. I could spend the entire day out in the boat teaching kids how to do stuff. That’s just really fun for me."

Her appointment on the WPOA board coincided with the end of some responsibilities in Indianapolis. She served a six year term on the Children’s Museum Guild and was president and past president of the Parent’s Association at Orchard School where her children attend. "I don’t have all those obligations this year," she laughed.

So what will she do? "Concentrate on my family, exercise a little bit, have fun, maybe clean out all the closets I’ve put off the last six or seven years. That’s what I have planned, whether I do it or not ."

Prior to becoming a stay-at-home mom and active in things at her children’s school, Quinn was an interior designer. She graduated from Miami of Ohio where she received her degree in interior design and she sold commercial furniture. That is until the couple, who had been married for 13 years, adopted Hayden, then Allie.

"I don’t do any one thing," Quinn said about her hobbies and interests outside of her children and lake enjoyment. "I’m a little bit of everything person. So I’m not real great at anything, but I can do a little of a lot of things," she laughed.
Those little things include snow skiing, playing golf, exercising in the winter, and a little tennis. Of course she loves decorating, helping people with their houses by giving them ideas, going to Shipshewana looking at things and entertaining. "I love to have parties. I have lots and lots of little big parties both here and at home. I like to invite people over."

Her grandparents, Osee and Elmer Smeltzer, started the tradition of coming to the lake by purchasing a house in the Hess Addition, where Quinn’s parents later purchased a home before finding the right house on Kale Island. "One day my dad just finished painting the cottage ; it’s the old cottage with big overhangs. He did it himself and said ‘That is the last time I’m going to paint that cottage.’"

That evening he went for a walk and watched a for sale sign go up in a yard. The next day he was on the doorstep trying to buy it. "Because it was completely aluminum sided."

Citizens for Responsible Environmental Lake Policy, a small but growing group of Lake Wawasee property owners, have asked the Natural Resources Commission to consider their arguments against establishing Conklin Bay in Lake Wawasee as an idle zone and deny the request.

The letter, which was accompanied by 166 signatures of lake residents opposing WACF’s petition, was sent Aug. 23, just days after WACF’s request was sent requesting an idle zone be established to protect the wetland adjacent to Conklin Bay.

"We believe there is insufficient scientific evidence supporting WACF’s proposal for making Conklin Bay an idle speed zone. If the intent of the petition were to be implemented, it would unnecessarily infringe on boater rights on a public lake and may have a serious negative affect on property owner land values in Conklin Bay," stated the request filed.

A cover letter, signed by Paul V. Demarco and Eloy C. Stevens, just two of the group’s organizers, provides an overview of the submission request.

"No attempt was made at this time to poll 100 percent of Wawasee area residents. Our goal was to sample a small, but significant, number, of residents to ascertain where residents stood on this issue. Of those contacted, a clear majority supported the recommendations We believe a more encompassing survey of lake residents would yield a similar result."

CRELP and the petition signers support the position the status quo in Conklin Bay be maintained until DNR commitments are fulfilled as stated in the NRC Hearing Officer Report dated Oct. 17, 2002 and then approved by the NRC June 3, 2003. The group stated "It was DNR’s stated commitment to fulfill certain requirements before ‘rule adoption for this site should be reconsidered."

The group believes there is no basis for a petition to be submitted for altering the status quo in the bay until the cause or causes of wetland changes have been scientifically identified and irrefutably confirmed.
There is also a request should the DNR decide not to deny the WACF petition, any subsequent hearings be held in Syracuse during the summer when most residents are available to attend.

The Request
Titled "Wawasee Area Residents Opposed To Making Conklin Bay an Idle Speed Zone," the thee page argument states the group’s arguments in opposition of the WACF petition.

The group believes the WACF petition is environmentally unnecessary, an arbitrary infringement of boater rights on a public lake and it could have serious negative impact on property values in Conklin Bay.

Arguments against the petition include:
Referring to input from a public hearing as well as DNR recommendations in 2002 and approval by the NRS in 2003: Buoys placed in both Conklin and Johnson Bays have not remained at their designated GPS locations due to improper anchoring and enforcement of the buoy lines has been inconsistent. It also notes the DNR has not completed its commitment to undertake data collection over several years to determine the effect of a properly placed and enforced buoy line on wetland preservation.

That the cause of the wetland changes should be identified and irrefutably proven before any action is taken in Conklin Bay.

That WACF has not presented any new or conclusive scientific evidence confirming wave action is the sole or dominant cause of the wetland changes and since the scientific method for aerial data collection has not been available for public scrutiny, claims of wetland losses lack credibility to many lake observers as there appears to be little correlation to water level happenings.

They state questions need answered regarding the aerial data: Were the photos taken by professional aerial photographers following scientific protocols or taken at different times in history, times of the year, by different individuals with no set procedures? Were the aerial photos taken each year before and after boating season, major summer storms, freezing and thawing of ice? Has data collection at lake level been carried out to confirm correlation with aerial results? Do these photos reflect the presence of cattails only or cattails plus surface vegetation when present?

"If aerial data submitted in support of the WACF petition does not address such questions, it must be considered of questionable value related to claims of wetland loss and the cause of such," states the letter.

Other factors noted not considered are: forging and pulling impact of ice, impact of higher water levels since the construction of the dam in 1963, impact of spring and summer storms rising the lake levels 4-6 inches subjecting the wetlands to wave action from winds in excess of 40 miles per hour, the impact of construction and development since the 1950s in that area and the effect of road salt on SR 13 during the winter entering the bay.

The document states "The focus on Conklin Bay by WACF seems disproportionate given that it represents only .6 percent of the total area of Lake Wawasee and is subjected to high speed boating activity for a mere 2 percent of the hours in a year. If it were true, as WACF maintains, that high speed boating is detrimental to wetlands, restricting such activity in Conklin Bay will simply transfer it to, and increase the density in, other wetland areas such as Johnson Bay."

It is believed the WACF’s request to restrict high speed boat activity implies an intent to return the wetlands to a state which may have existed in years past or previous generations. This is opposed by the group unless irrefutable scientific data demands such consideration and applauds the DNR’s position, citing an Oct. 27, 2002, commission report, in which the rule adoption did not seek to restore conditions from another time, and provide a balance between wetland protection and public boating rights.

The documentation further states any proposal that would affect a wetland area should not be made in isolation and data presented by the WACF focuses exclusively on Conklin Bay, not all wetland areas that would provide a more definitive picture of the state of affairs of the wetlands and a more intelligent basis for responsible decision making. They point out a key question needing considered is how many acres of total wetlands are required to support the environmental viability of Lake Wawasee.

Regarding boating safety, the opposition letter states consideration should only be looked at during the eight to 10 summer weekends a year between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A practical solution offered was consideration of restricting wake boarding, water skiing and inflatable tube pulling activities in this area on specific days and hours, allowing other boating activity to continue unrestricted.

"The premise that Conklin Bay be made a permanent idle speed zone 12 months of the year for safety reasons is not only irrational, but a gross overreaction and infringement of boaters rights on a public lake."

So what has the Wawasee Area conservancy Foundation been up to the last year? What is the ecological state of Lake Wawasee? The watershed?

Those who attended the annual WAcF annual meeting Sunday afternoon heard about the state of the watershed.
While the "lake lovers" appreciated and were kept up to date with what has been happening, three individuals were recognized for going "over and above" the call of duty. "These individuals have done something so good for the ecology or to help the watershed," said Dave Brandes, chairman, the board feels they should be recognized. Brandes noted while the awards were not made out of gold, the cattail Awards were presented with a lot of pride, and past recipients accepted the award with a lot of pride as well.

Dave Tyler, Ted Rogers and Mike Kiley were the recipients this year.

Tyler, who is a Tippecanoe Lake resident, was the one responsible for taking on county government and getting anti-funneling approved through the Area Plan commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. Brandes likened his battle to that of David with Goliath.

"Nobody gave him a chance," Brandes said. "He is so persistent, so intelligent that he convinced the powers that be, Area Plan commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, that unless we change our ways in this county we are going to lose a lot more than just a shoreline here and there," saying he would not bend and stayed firm. "He came up with a formula to be able to slow this down (funneling), to make it such that it makes sense; the man knows how to bend, he knows how to stand firm and he got the job done."

"This is a great honor," said Tyler, who added the accomplishment of the anti-funneling rule was gratifying. "It will primarily benefit our children, grandchildren and their grandchildren."

Kiley, whose family has resided at Lake Wawasee for five generations and he himself has been a resident for 73 years, was introduced as "an institution. Mike is just one of those people that is just bigger than life."

Kiley was head of the Natural Resource commission for 30 years, appointed by six different governors from both parties and served as chairman of the commission. He traveled back and forth to Indianapolis to help "all facets of living in Indiana, wherever the NR:had a foothold, he was on that committee."

Kiley noted this was a singular honor. "The WAcF is a really pretty sophisticated, knowledgeable, proactive group," he stated, recalling the original group which attempted to do something for the protection of the environment and eco-system of Wawasee were guys who got together in the 1960s, prior to the enactment of the public fresh water lake act. Kiley noted the original group was "not nearly as sophisticated as this group with the study and work that is done. This means a great deal to me."

Rogers, not present, was recognized as the first development chair of the conservancy. Brandes referred to Rogers’ "honesty, clear thinking, and patriotic" ways. "He cuts through the BS and gets done what needs to be done. He’s always been a supporter of the conservancy."

It was also announced Dick Pletcher, Nick Stanger, and Tom Yoder will be joining the board of directors replacing retiring directors Doug Grant, Sherm Goldenberg and Tina Leatherman. Grant and Goldenberg have served the nine-year maximum board term.

It was also announced Deborah Flanagan will be taking over the vice chairman’s role and in one year take over as chairman.

State of The Watershed
Bob Myers presented his last ecology report as he will be stepping down, turning the reins over to Diana castell. Myers noted water monitoring and testing of the watershed has been done by several volunteers and the great news is Wawasee is "holding its own, even with cultural eutrophication."

Referring to PH/chlorifil testing, on a scale of zero to 100, the lakes are measuring 43-45. "The worst in the state is 75, the best is 35. We’re holding right in the middle and we’ve held there for 10 years."

However, the concern has been the dissolved oxygen level which has decreased over the last several years. This level affects the fish habitat. He noted below 25 feet the dissolved oxygen level is lost. Myers noted fish need between 3 and 5 ppm, at those depths it is 4.5, below that it "drops to practically nothing at 8 meters it drops to .3"

He also noted findings on e-coli testing. It was pointed out in the upper watershed tests showed 666 colonies above the limit for human use, at the outlet to Papakeechie it was at 235. "Below 250 is acceptable," said Myers, adding the reading at Tri-county was at zero and around the lake there was no appreciative amount.

Heather Harwood, coordinator, presented a slide show of the various projects: the planting of wildflowers at the conklin Bay property along SR 13; the Eco-zone established in conklin Bay and Johnson Bay and the petition to include the entire conklin Bay area in that zone. She noted the littoral zone study, the no boat zone in the North Bay area, the sea wall project along the Eli Lilly shoreline with glacial stone, which has shown improved fish diversity; the grade control structures upstream of Dillon creek and the sediment basin and stabilized shoreline in that area.

Other projects completed and shown were the work on Griffith’s Island with core logs, stabilization of agriculture areas with grass waterways, and the work on the Bayshore Ponds behind the WAcF House.

It was noted the land acquisition committee did not purchase any land during the last year, as no land became available, but is working on a number of projects to bring under its auspice.

Before the meeting ended a plea was given to remember the conservancy in estate planning. "Organizations like ours relies on it. Otherwise we go hand to mouth," stated Brandes.

The request for an idle zone in Conklin Bay on Lake Wawasee is now in the hands of state officials.

No specific time line for the idle zone is noted in the petition, leaving it at the discretion of state officials. The conclusion of the petition asks:

“A balanced approach to safe boating and wildlife/wetlands preservation demands that the concentration of high speed and deep draft boating within Conklin Bay be controlled by the creation, demarcation and enforcement of an idle zone in Conklin Bay. Such an idle zone will serve the purposes of boating safety and fish, wildlife and botanical resource management.”

Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation filed the request Saturday with Steve Lucas, director, division of hearings, Natural Resources Commission. It will now be reviewed by Department of Natural Resource Commission officials, and the NRC. A public hearing will be held in the future before a decision is made.

The request is to encourage the safe operation of watercraft upon public water, and to establish a more meaningful zone for the protection of fish, wildlife and botanical resources and users of those resources.

It is noted a public meeting was held June 16 to report on the perceived problems within Conklin Bay and to hear concerns and recommendations from those in attendance. It is also noted a photograph of Conklin Bay was displayed with a proposed buoy line restricting about one half of the bay to an idle zone.

At a WACF board of directors meeting in July, it was voted to propose an expanded area of restriction and protection, moving the line from the tip of Oakwood Park to the Hugh Dunithan property č more consistent with the recommendations of Commonwealth Engineers and J.F. New (both of whom have provided studies for WACF).

A historical perspective was given to the state officials noting the 1995 “Lake Enhancement Diagnostic/Feasibility Study for the Wawasee Area Watershed” by Commonwealth Engineers Inc. This study recommended the “major wetland areas should be designated as no wake zones to protect the wetlands.”

It was in 2001 WACF requested and was granted the state’s first eco-zone, in Conklin Bay and other Wawasee wetland areas. This was a compromise crafted in an attempt to preserve both high speed boating and wetland habitat. These zones have been in place since that time.

J.F. New was hired to create a current and comprehensive Wawasee Area Management Plan in 2007. Their findings on the eco-zones showed “most of these eco-zones are relatively successful and the plant communities continue to thrive; however, buoy locations (50 feet from shoreline) ╔ do not appear to be adequately addressing shoreline and plant erosion issues in the kettle.”

Safety and protection is also noted in the petition.

As stated in the filing, the request seeks safe operation of watercraft in that area where “unusual hazards” exist due to factors within the scope of the state code: the configuration of Conklin Bay includes significant wetlands to the south and Oakwood Park to the north which protrude into the waterway creating a narrow channel which obstructs vision and concentrates boating activity and the congestion within the bay due to the proliferation of high sped and erratic boating activities - skiing, wakeboarding, wake surfing tubing, PWC operation, etc. - is dangerous and inconsistent with the safe operation of watercraft.

The final notation on safety points out the numerous public commercial and private facilities within the bay - Macy’s Slip, Macy’s Pointe, Frog Tavern Oakwood Hotel, SS Lillypad II, pontoon tour boat from the hotel and transient watercraft dockage at the hotel as well as numerous private and rental piers in Conklin Bay and the various channels, all contributing to substantial, diverse and unusual activity within the confined bay area.

Looking at protection the WACF notes its request is also made to establish a zone of protection for the fish, wildlife and botanical resources within the scope of the state law.

It is pointed out fish, wildlife and botanical resources are not being effectively managed in that area because of the acceleration of boats, intentional and unintentional creation of waves and the high speed and deep draft boating activities.
It is also pointed out users of the natural resources found in the bay are not being protected due to the high speed boating, disrupting more sedate activity such as fishing, sailing, birders, canoeists, kayakers and photographers.

The document filed indicates boating trends have changed significantly over the last few years creating enhanced wakes at speeds above idle as a result of their natural or augmented displacement. Recreational boating trends have increased in the size and diversity of towed devices diverting operator attention and occupy greater surface areas as they cross and jump the wake and make tight turns in the western end of the bay.

“Conklin Bay is a very small percentage of the surface area of Lake Wawasee, but it receives a disproportionately high proportion of the high speed and recreational boating described ╔ such boaters overuse Conklin Bay precisely because the wetlands absorb the substantial wave energy ╔ rather than reflect the waves ╔ the present 50-foot eco-buoy line does not reduce such increased wave size. Even if the eco-buoy line could be constantly monitored to prevent boating incursions and more eco-buoys maintained, the numerous and larger wakes of 2007 are not dissipated by a mere 50 feet of open water.”
Further discussion noted the bottom of the bay is soft and shallow and the bottom is disturbed by the boats using the area causing a “dark soup of re-suspended material and floating plants.”

It's noted this re-suspension encourages algae growth and silting of the wetlands and beaches to the east. This detrimental water quality and damage to the lake bed cannot be expected to sustain historical levels of plant or fish populations.

“Of the approximately 3,000 acres of Lake Wawasee, the Conklin Bay wetlands are the most crucial to the life cycle of fish, ducks, turtles, frogs, birds, etc. Yet, the unrestricted human recreational activity noted above is presently allowed to be disproportionately focused in Conklin Bay despite the fact that fish and wildlife cannot relocate and have few other appropriate habitats. And the users of such quiet habitat for slower and more reflective recreational pursuits are endangered by the competing high speed activity.

“The fixed and relatively fixed obstructions existing due to the wetlands, fishing boats, canoeists, sailors, piers, private buoys and eco-buoys, combined with the moving hazards (which have closing speeds of 70 miles per hour or more) and their substantial wakes created by all manner of high speed and deep draft boating have created a ‘video game’ atmosphere which can only be described as an accident waiting to happen.”

A petition asking the Natural Resources Commission for an eco-buoy line in “The Kettle” on Lake Wawasee is being prepared by the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation.

“The board has been reviewing information from the public meeting,” said Dave Brandes, chairman of the WACF, who added it was a unanimous decision by the 20-member board to proceed with a petition. Specifics of the petition were not made available.

The board reviewed all input received at the June 16 informational meeting, petitions, personal correspondence with individual board members on both sides of the coin.

“The board feels it must do this to keep the lake as healthy as it is for as long as it can be,” said Brandes.

“WACF is interested in the opinions of the people who use and live on the lakes, but we’re more likely to listen to the lake’s opinion, he said. It’s the board’s job, a group of volunteers who assumed the responsibility of protecting the watershed from Noble County to outside of Syracuse, to step in anywhere the board sees a threat.”

The petition is in an attempt to protect the remaining wetlands in Conklin Bay, which have decreased 10-25 feet between 2003-05. “If in five years we lose 5 feet, we will have the scientific evidence it’s from boating. If we lose 25 feet in five years again, we will look at other reasons,” stated Brandes.

The board has also committed to monitoring and measuring the wetland egression in Johnson’s Bay. “If there is a shift (in usage) it goes there,” stated Brandes. A request for more buoys may be made for the Johnson’s Bay area.

“If the petition is granted, and to be effective, we are asking that the eco-zone area be monitored by the law enforcement division of the Department of Natural Resources,” said Brandes, adding the WACF, if necessary, has taken a position it will hire an officer to patrol the eco-zone area.

The petition will also seek adequate equipment to mark the area and a monetary fine for violation. “It needs to be effective.” The WACF is also hoping residents seeing a violation, if approved, will report the violation to authorities immediately.

Filing Process
Steve Lucas, director, Division of Hearings, Natural Resources Commission, provided information as to the process taken once a petition is completed and filed.

When a petition is filed, it will be filed with the Division of Hearings of the Natural Resources Commission. The petition would then be distributed to the DNR divisions that seem likely to have a professional interest and ask which ones wish to participate in a review of the petition. Based upon the responses received from the DNR divisions, the Division of Hearings would write to the DNR director and recommend the formation of an informal DNR workgroup.

The workgroup would review the petition, talk to interested citizens, and make recommendations to the DNR director and potentially to the Natural Resources Commission.

The commission would act upon those recommendations during a public meeting. The commission would decide whether to give preliminary adoption to the proposal as a rule amendment. If preliminary adoption were voted by the commission, the rule would be processed by the Division of Hearings.

A hearing officer would coordinate fiscal analyses and schedule a public hearing in the county where the petition originated to consider the amendments. Following the hearing and the completion of any added period for the receipt of comments, the hearing officer would prepare a report to the commission for possible final adoption of the rule.

If the commission gave final adoption, the rule language and accompanying documentation would be forwarded to the Attorney General for a review as to legality. If the Attorney General were satisfied, the proposal would be forwarded to the Governor.

If the Governor elected to approve the rule, it would be filed with the publisher and become effective 30 days after filing or at a later date stated in the rule.

The function of the orderly development committee and increasing membership were two of the major discussions during the annual Wawasee Property Owners Association public meeting Saturday, June 9.
Yearly the WPOA board holds a public meeting for interested individuals to see what the WPOA board does, hear updates from various committees and express concerns.

A letter of recommendation by the WPOA’s orderly development committee to the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals on Ander-Green condominiums in March drew criticism by Jerry Babb, board member, who said he had to hear about the recommendation from a neighbor and read it in the newspaper. “Are they part of us? Are they voting on something we directors have no part in?”

“They are making suggestions and recommendations without board approval,” stated Babb, who wanted an explanation.

Kay Young, board president, explained the committee was formed 10 years ago to look at variances and exceptions to be discussed by the BZA as well as the Area Plan Commission when it pertains to lake development. “They do sometimes listen,” Young stated about the recommendations provided, adding approval was recommended on the Ander-Green condominiums with conditions. It was also noted logistics was a problem. The agenda and information are not available far enough ahead to call a meeting of the board of directors review. Thus the committee has a standard meeting time of the second Saturday of each month so recommendations can be made before the BZA’s meeting the second Tuesday of each month.

Dave Lichtenauer, former WPOA president, stated the committee was given a free hand to make recommendations unless they perceived they would cause difficulty with the impact. He added the committee works closely with the executive committee and the board of directors would not review topics if there were no questions.

Steve Snyder, board member, stated the board could withdraw the committee’s authority “if you feel it’s inappropriate,” and even dissolve the committee, forcing the board to review the applications or no one.
While it was noted only one member of the committee was a WPOA board member and the others residents of either Syracuse or Wawasee lakes, it was the consensus board members be kept abreast via e-mail of matters the committee reviewed and recommendations made.

Membership
Janet Hartley, administrative officer, reported 1,338 paying members and 958 non paid members based on the database list. She also reported 61 property owners had paid dues for 2008. Jim Tranter, board member, asked if the 958 were ones to go after?

This opened up discussion as to who is on the list, who are considered members and who are not, along with how long are names kept on the list.

During the discussion it was noted the database list is being updated, but Enchanted Hills residents are not on that list. Contact will be made with an Enchanted Hills Association member to invite the residents to become paying members.

While it was noted every property owner on the lake is a member of the WPOA, this membership is broken down into paying and non-paying members.

Board members will be given a list separating paying members from non paying members, and those on the list noted as Friends of Wawasee, so they can see what the potential membership availability is.

“A certain percentage will never join,” said Young, who noted all names in the database receive a “Neighbors” book as well as “LakeViews” mailings.

Questions were raised about water quality testing and aquatic weeds. Bob Myers reported beetles that feed on purple loose strife have been released but will take some time before results are seen. He also explained the lack of state funding to treat the Eurasian Watermilfoil plants found in Wawasee.
Concerning water quality testing, Myers reported the lake is constantly tested with positive results.
It was suggested the WPOA become acquainted and participate in the Indiana Lakes Management Society after one resident suggested the association become as powerful as the bass fishing association.
The board was asked to look into why the Department of Natural Resources is not policing the boat ramp in regards to more parking spaces being used by tournament fishermen than agreed. “The DNR needs to have more control on Syracuse and Wawasee, similar to the reservoirs,” stated the resident. Spike Ford, a member of the local trail committee provided an update. Professionals have now been hired to assist with funding and engineering. “We continue to look for funding,” Ford stated adding “We’ll get there.”

Other Matters
Jim Tranter, board member and coordinator for the Wawasee Lake Patrol, reported the patrol has five boats and two personal watercraft in operation and eight volunteers. He encouraged other individuals interested in the lake patrol to come forward.

Tranter also announced the boats are now strategically located around the lake instead of at marinas which caused a logistics problem.

Board approval was given to purchase 10 lighted buoys to place around the fireworks barge. The cost was announced at $4,800, which will come out of the fireworks fund. These lights, which are dusk to dawn and visible for three miles, flash 30 times a minute and if knocked out of the buoy will float.

Upcoming dates of interest were announced, including:
WPOA/Syracuse Lake Association Family Breakfast June 23, at the Community Center.

The annual WPOA Dinner will be Aug. 11 at the Wawasee Family Fishing Area with the meal being catered by Channel Marker and Dick Stoner, magician, is expected to provide the program. A silent auction and cash bar will also be a part of the evening.

Support, request for scientific evidence, restrictive ski times, and lack of enforcement on the existing eco-zone area, were just some of the comments at a public informational meeting Saturday. Some even suggested making the entire Conklin Bay area an idle zone.

The Conklin Bay Eco-Zones meeting brought approximately 125 individuals together to hear information on the history of the eco-zones, the process for creating such a zone, wetland recession and its causes, water quality and a littoral zone study.

Lt. John Sullivan, Department of Natural Resources law enforcement; Jed Pearson, DNR fisheries biologist and Sara Peel, lake manager with JFNew, presented the information and responded to questions from a number of those present.

The final presentation showed a proposed buoy line requiring idle speed in the back area of the kettle. This would encompass approximately four acres.

During the question period, it was repeatedly noted the present buoys marking the eco-zone were jokes.

Numerous individuals stated the buoys may have started out at 50 feet from the eco-zones, but have drifted closer to the wetland area and there has been no enforcement.

Others stated they regularly see boaters and operators of personal watercraft going inside the buoys.

It was also questioned why not protect the eastern edge of the wetland, as well, and make the entire kettle area idle speed.

It was noted the DNR has had two officers to patrol 102 lakes until this year. Now there are four officers. The lake patrol officers will now be assisting the enforcement of the zone better.

Regarding the movements of the buoys, it was noted a GPS system is used to put the buoys at the locations according to law. However, these are anchored with a block and can easily be moved with excessive wave action. “Some have been cut,” stated Dave Brandes, chairman of the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, who moderated the event.

However, there were others who noted only a few times during the summer is the kettle a hot bed of activity.

Bill Hess was one of those who suggested an alternative to leaving the entire Conklin Bay area open, except for peak hours on Saturday and Sunday.

Others suggested setting specific hours where skiing would be allowed in the bay area. “Six days a year is it crowded,” said Bill Johnson, noting during the week there is not a lot of traffic in the kettle area.
Concern was also expressed about moving the problem from one area to another c Johnson’s Bay. A number of residents stated the skiing would be moved to that area and the same may happen there to the wetlands as is occurring in Conklin Bay.

During Peel’s presentation on boating impacts to water clarity, water quality and erosional affects of wave action, she cited a number of studies.

A Kale Island resident questioned if these were all published studies and if the studies could be shared with others. “Either they are available or they are not facts,” he stated.

Both Peel and Brandes stated the studies or links to the studies could be made available on the WACF Web site or information as to where the studies could be found could be included in the WACF newsletter.
This same individual, as others, questioned if the water level and wind had been considered.
Aerial photos from 1938 to 2005 showed a 110 foot recession in the wetlands. Another aerial from 2003 showed a 10 to 25 foot decrease between 2003-2005.

Paul Demarco questioned whether human intervention and construction impact was considered, as well as the effects of winter ice and mother nature. “There is no conclusive evidence,” he said, noting in the “absence of information, it is not appropriate to infringe on the rights of people.” He questioned what happened to the study to have taken place with the first buoys. Pearson stated evidence was collected, and there was a follow up study, however he admitted the right study degree level was not done.

Demarco and several others questioned if the kettle is made an idle zone and in five years it is holding its own, or continued deterioration, what will be done?

Brandes stated something else would be tried. “We have to do something,” he said.

Several fisherman who reside in the area and at the lake spoke in favor of doing what needs to be done to protect the wetlands. Several noted the decrease in wildlife in the wetland area over the years. It was also pointed out the impact to the community if something would happen to the lake.

One of the board members for Macy’s Condominium presented a petition with 25 signatures against making the kettle an idle speed area.

Dan List, a resident along the kettle, stated he hasn’t seen the cattails receding and he doesn’t agree with all the boat problems. He noted high water in the spring and seeing clumps of the wetlands floating away. He also believes some of the wetlands are disappearing due to ignorance of individuals killing the wetlands with chemicals such as Round-Up.

While it was pointed out a study in 1996 recommended buoying off the entire area of Conklin Bay, and if it wasn’t done there would be problems never dreamed of, Brandes stated the 50-foot eco zone was established.

While several residents questioned how long it would be known if a new eco zone was working, Brandes stated it may be one year, it may be five. That was unknown.

No immediate plans were announced. Should requesting the entire kettle be an eco-zone, a petition will need to be filed with the DNR. Public hearings would then be held.