The IKEs Update NEWSLETTER August 2017 Like a turtle floating in the water, dreaming up ideas for fall. One thing I’m excited about is a new home-school group that will be meeting once a week at the IKEs for art and nature studies. Members Kristen Stoddard, Sally Triant, and I are creating a way for 6- to 9-year-olds to explore and learn, starting ursday mornings in September. Contact us if you are interested. Sally also hosts Wisdom Walks in Luton Park, which are free and open to the public. She has a pleasant way of leading tours, in hopes that we can be familiar with changes in the prairie. Aug. 17 is Monarchs, and Sept. 21 is a look at Wildflower Seeds. ey are 6-7pm; meet in the lot at 5871 Kies St. Bongo and I really hated to miss Dog Day, but from what I heard it was great! Big thanks to Linda Arnold-Lillibridge for pulling all that together and starting something new for us! I was up at the traditional arts camp on Drummond Island, teaching and taking classes. Maybe I can share the birchbark etching with you sometime. We also restored an older birchbark canoe, replacing the spruce root lashings and re-pitching the seams. It floated like a dream! Seeing the sweet waters of the Straits and eating smoked whitefish reminded me even more how precious our resources are. e DEQ is taking comments about Enbridge’s Line 5 until Aug 4, and then for 15 days more comments about alternatives to the old pipeline. Enjoy the water! Camping at the IKEs offers a great view of shooting stars in August. See you at the Chicken & Ribs BBQ dinner on the 17th! Georgia Donovan Learn about the history of this park, gain some introductory knowledge about tall grass prairie ecosystems, and learn about the work that is being done to create and maintain this spe- cial prairie right here in Luton park. This event is free but please RSVP: growwiselearn- [email protected]as spaces and materials are lim- ited. Please park in the Luton Park - Prairie Overlook Parking Lot located at 5871 Kies St NE, Rockford, MI 49341. There will be signs directing you to the WISDOM WALK. We will NOT meet at the 10 mile parking lot also associated with Luton Park. From Grow Wise Learning: Devel- oping educational experiences for all ages founded in a nature based sea- sonal curriculum.
Transcript
The IKEs Update
NEWSLETTER
August 2017
Like a turtle floating in the water, dreaming up ideas for fall.
One thing I’m excited about is a new home-school group that will be meeting once a week at the IKEs for art and nature studies. Members Kristen Stoddard, Sally Triant, and I are creating a way for 6- to 9-year-olds to explore and learn, starting Thursday mornings in September. Contact us if you are interested.
Sally also hosts Wisdom Walks in Luton Park, which are free and open to the public. She has a pleasant way of leading tours, in hopes that we can be familiar with changes in the prairie. Aug. 17 is Monarchs, and Sept. 21 is a look at Wildflower Seeds. They are 6-7pm; meet in the lot at
5871 Kies St.
Bongo and I really hated to miss Dog Day, but from what I heard it was great! Big thanks to Linda Arnold-Lillibridge for pulling all that together and starting something new for us!
I was up at the traditional arts camp on Drummond Island, teaching and taking classes. Maybe I can share the birchbark etching with you sometime. We also restored an older birchbark canoe, replacing the spruce root lashings and re-pitching the seams. It floated like a dream!
Seeing the sweet waters of the Straits and eating smoked whitefish reminded me even more how precious our resources are.
The DEQ is taking comments about Enbridge’s Line 5 until Aug 4, and then for 15 days more comments about alternatives to the old pipeline.
Enjoy the water! Camping at the IKEs offers a great view of shooting stars in August. See you at the Chicken & Ribs BBQ dinner on the 17th!
Georgia Donovan
Learn about the history of this park, gain some introductory knowledge about tall grass prairie ecosystems, and learn about the work that is being done to create and maintain this spe-cial prairie right here in Luton park.
This event is free but please RSVP: growwise learn-ing@gmai l .com as spaces and materials are lim-ited. Please park
in the Luton Park - Prairie Overlook Parking Lot located at 5871 Kies St NE, Rockford, MI 49341. There will be signs directing you to the
WISDOM WALK. We will NOT meet at the 10 mile parking lot also associated with Luton Park.
From Grow Wise Learning: Devel-oping educational experiences for all ages founded in a nature based sea-sonal curriculum.
Raising the Future of Monarch Butterflies
page 2
Our Tear Drop Island native plant open house had the largest attendance since the event started four years ago. The perfect weather, better advertising, several new signs and a plant sale all contributed to the larger turnout. Several people commented that they had “always wondered what was back here” and were surprised to learn we had a 39-acre property with a clubhouse, pavilions and walking trails. Joining our membership was encouraged and hopefully we will see some new faces. Many thanks go to Barb McGuirl and Tam Bagby for all their help (and the only!) in the garden. We plan some major
planting and reworking of certain areas of the garden this fall, which is a wonderful time for planting. Be sure to walk the garden each time you are on the grounds, different plants are always blooming! Keep growing everyone.
Tear Drop Island Open HouseTammy Lundeen
page 3Dog Day
Dog Day
page 4
Stormwater GuideBob Stegmier
I represent our DLC chapter as a board member of the Rogue River Watershed Partners now for about 8 years. If you’re interested in getting involved please contact me. More voices and member are always welcome. Rogue River Watershed Partners is a 501-c-3 NGO.
I wrote the following article, which appeared recently in The Squire newspaper:
The Rogue River Watershed Partners (RRWP) determined at
a recent monthly meeting it would be good to publicize segments of a well researched and written manual “Stormwater Guide for the “Rogue River Watershed.” Our thinking, like a river “runs” like this. Getting the data out into public print where “all walks of life” can read and digest its “messages.” And we the RRWP emphasize the word “messages” with more to come. Here is a picture of the watershed.
Credits:This project was funded with grant
assistance from Section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The Frey Foundation, the Wege Foundation and the Wolverine Worldwide Foundation provided matching funds. This guidebook was produced as part of the Trout Unlimited Rogue River Home Rivers Initiative project. February 2014.
Let’s take another look at the Rogue River Watershed picture and see what cities are in it and then you check to see where you are in the watershed. There is a saying more frequently being used these days, which is “we all live in a watershed.” We generally don’t say that because there is no watershed government or zip code. We generally revert back to our mailing address, which is a city. Sometimes we will say the township and follow it with reference to a city and say east of Rockford in Courtland Township. We suggest that we all begin thinking and saying something like this, “I live in the Rogue River watershed just east of Rockford.” Of course, whatever is appropriate for you.
(continued on page 5)
page 5
Since this document is about stormwater let’s continue with another picture, a graph, of the Rogue River’s change in water flow volume from a recent rain storm early on April 20, 2017 showing just how quickly water flow increases. In this case it was a significant 1.66-inch rain in about 10 hours and the flow rate of the Rogue jumped from a near normal rate of 325 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 740 cfs
in about 12 hours. The Rogue’s flood height is also measured at this site just downstream of Packer Dr. jumped from 4.8 feet to 5.2 ft. We all like “soaker rains” so the water can soak into the ground where our lawns, farm crops, forests etc can utilize it. This rain event was certainly not a soaker and resulted unfortunately with rapid runoff of grime, nutrients, dirt, fertilizers etc. of all sorts items were dragged into the river or other bodies of water to the detriment of their water quality. Also unfortunately storm events are increasing and becoming more severe. FYI, while this 1.66 is not typical there were 27 rain events in excess of 1 inch from 2-29-2012 to 11-25-2014, of these 9 rain events in excess of 1.50 inches, 6 rain events in excess of 2.00 inches and 1 rain event in excess of 3.00 inches.
Such rain and flow information for the watershed can be gotten through this website link:http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/mi/nwis/uv/?cb_00060=on&cb_00065=on&format=gif_stats&site_no=04118500&period=&begin_date=2014-10-01&end_date=2014-10-31
Let’s recap the Rogue “River watershed.” Cities in the watershed starting from the north in Kent County are Sand Lake, Casnovia, Kent City, Sparta and Rockford. Townships in part or whole are Grant, Ensley, Brooke and Croton in southern Newaygo
County and touches Muskegon and Ottawa counties on the west and Montcalm to the northeast and encompasses most of the rest by Kent County.The RRWP and various other groups are working to protect and improve the watershed daily. You are urged to roll up your sleeves, put on your boots and to get in and lend a hand. Visit the RRWP websites for more information. Another saying appropriate, is “many hands mike light work,” so lend a hand!
FYI all units of government, particularly Planning Boards have this book, so if you have questions concerning your neighborhood you can discuss your questions with them and are encouraged to do so. One last good saying, “tTwo heads are better than one.”
Please notice the “s” in the name Partners, it is there to emphasize all of us living, working or have a business in the waters are “partners” in the task of keeping the watershed healthy.
We hold regular meetings the second Wednesday of the month from 9:30 to 11:30 AM at the Cannon Township offices on Belding Road. Visitors are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Stormwater Guide(continued from page 4)
August 5-6 Tom Watson Rental August 8 Board Meeting 7pm
September 12 Board Meeting 7pm
October 7 Veronica Antel Girl Scout/Overnight @ Lodge October 10 Board Meeting 7pm October 28-29 John Grostick Cub Scout Pack 3228 Rockford
page 6
Native Flowers in JuneTam Bagby
Photographs by Georgia DonovanI went to Roselle Park in Ada this week. It is the end of July and native flowers are in their prime! August brings us blooming Sun-flowers Horsemint, and Beebalm (or Wild Berga-mot). Native plants also include Big Bluestem, a perrenial bunchgrass.
Teardrop lsland will have Cup Plant, Asters, Spike-nard and False Boeset blooming in August.
officersPresident
Ron Waybrant ........................................... [email protected]
DWIGHT LYDELL CHAPTER of the IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE of AMERICACore Event Schedule 2017
NOTE: This is a draft schedule. Especially for late year events you can check for updates in our newsletters and on our website along with notice of special events that come up on short notice and are not listed on this Event Schedule. Also additional information about these listed events can be found in the newsletter and on the website.
Schedule ___________________________________________________________ Event & LocationJanuary 28, Saturday 10am-3pm.......................................................... Winterfest Family Outing @ IKEsMarch 3, Friday ...................................................................Conservation-Awards-Fund Raiser BanquetMarch 16 through 19 ........................................................................Ultimate Sport Show-Grand RapidsApril 20, Thursday .........................................................................Fish & Game Dinner & ProgramMay 6, 13,20, 27 - Saturdays ................................... Kids Fishing & Native Plants @ IKEs, 9AM-Noon May 11, Thursday ........................................................... Steak Dinner, Annual Meeting & Short ProgramJune 10, Saturday ................................................. Fix up/Clean up Day 9AM-?, work, eat, play, campfire June 24, Saturday, 10am-3pm .............................................Summerfest Community Family Day @ IKEs June 26-28 ...................................................................... 2016 IKE’s National Convention, Sandusky INJuly 15, Saturday ................................................... Native Plants for Everyone, Tear Drop Island @ IKEs August 17, Thursday .................................................. Ribs & Chicken Dinner & Short Program @ IKEsSeptember 13, Wednesday ..........................................................................................Oktoberfest @ IKEs September 16, Saturday ................................................................. Fix Up/Clean Up Day 10AM @ IKEs October 4, Wednesday ..............................................................................Chili Cook-off/Potluck @ IKEs November 9, Thursday ............................................................................................Game Dinner @ IKEs December 7, Thursday ................................................................................................Holiday Celebration
Website: www. michiganikes.org IKEs Property located at 5641 Myers Lake Avenue, Belmont MIMailing address is Izaak Walton League, PO Box 541, Belmont MI 49306
Conservation Needs a Friend …….. Ask a friend to join the IKEs!
NAME _______________________________________________ _________________ _____________________ HOME PHONE BuSINESS PHONESPOuSE __________________ CHILDREN & AGES _______________________________________________
ADDRESS ___________________________________ CITY_____________________ STATE ___ ZIP _______
___ Individual - $52 (62*), ___ Family - $72 (87*), ___ Student (18-21) - $24 (34*), ___ Youth (under 18) - $12 (22*)* Cost includes increase by IWLA. Please pay increase if you can. If you cannot afford the higher amount, the chapter will fund the increase for 2017 renewals only.
Mail to Izaak Walton League Membrship, PO Box 541, Belmont MI 49306. Checks payable to “Izaak Walton League”Email Tom Watson at [email protected] for more information. IA gate key is available upon receipt of member-ship fee. You can pick up a key at the next dinner at the lodge. Please enjoy the 39 acres.Indicate which of these important committees you're interested in working on: Natural Features Stewardship _____ Finance _____Membership _____ Building & Grounds _____ Conservation ____ Programs _____ Every Member Dinners ______
The Izaak Walton League of America – a non-profit conservation organization – is recognized as a Section 501(c)(3) public charity under the Internal Revenue Code.
Dwight Lydell Chapter
of the Izaak Walton League
PO Box 541
Belmont MI 49306
Defenders of Soil, Air, Woods, Waters and Wildlife RETuRN SERvicE REquESTED
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