Hike, kayak or tour Brown County with guide
YELLOWWOOD — Guided kayak tours are being offered during the daytime on Yellowwood Lake. Guide David Rupp will give instruction on how to safely and efficiently paddle a kayak and then lead a tour around the lake, while teaching participants about the history of the Brown County forests and the birds that live here. The schedule is:
- Fridays, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
- Saturdays, Oct. 26 and Nov. 8, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oct. 24, 29 and 31, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
The cost is $35 per person. Kayaks and all needed equipment will be provided.
Rupp also will lead Fall Color Nature Hikes in remote parts of Brown County on the following dates:
- Tuesday, Oct. 22: Yellowwood State Forest
- Wednesday, Oct. 23: Laura Hare Preserve at Downey Hill
- Thursday, Oct. 24: Stone Head Nature Preserve
- Tuesday, Oct. 29: Hitz-Rhodehamel Nature Preserve
- Thursday, Oct. 31: Hitz-Rhodehamel Nature Preserve
All hikes are from 9:30 a.m. to noon and cost $20 per person. Directions to meeting locations will be emailed upon registration. All locations are within a 15-minute drive of Nashville.
For more information and to register, visit indigobirding.com/calendar.
State tree nursery will pay for collected seeds
Indiana’s state tree nursery in Vallonia will pay people to collect certain tree seed throughout the state if the seeds meet Indiana Department of Natural Resources specifications.
Each year, the nurseries, part of the DNR Division of Forestry, plant millions of seeds to produce tree and shrub seedlings for conservation planting within the state. Much of the seed the nurseries use is supplied by collectors from all over the state.
DNR Forestry pays seed collectors on the basis of “pure live seed.” That means the seeds must be from the required tree species, and cannot be infected with disease or infested with insects.
Pay ranges from about 1 to 3 cents per seed.
Seed collection dates are as follows:
- Tulip tree: Sept. 7 through Oct. 25
- Shagbark hickory: Sept. 17 through Nov. 10
- Chinkapin oak: Sept. 20 through Nov. 12
- Red oak: Sept. 20 through Nov. 24
- White oak: Sept. 23 through Nov. 10
- Shellbark hickory: Sept. 27 through Nov. 10
- Swamp white oak: Sept. 27 through Nov. 12
- Black oak: Sept. 28 through Nov. 11
- Swamp chestnut oak: Sept. 30 through Nov. 3
- Bur oak: Oct. 1 through Nov. 29
- Pin oak: Oct. 4 through Nov. 11
Some pointers for collecting:
- Always call first to see if the seeds you plan to collect are still needed.
- Collect only seeds and fruit — no leaves, sticks or trash.
- Keep species separate. If you’re not certain that two (or more) trees are the same species, keep them in separate containers.
- If you are not certain if you have the proper species, email a photo of the seed/fruit, leaves, bark and twigs to the address below for identification.
- Most of the listed species are ripe and ready to collect when they fall off the tree.
- Healthy acorns (with the exception of bur oak) will fall free of the cap. Keep the seeds/fruit cool until you can deliver it to the office. An air-conditioned basement is good for a short period of time.
Contact the Vallonia Nursery at 812-358-3621 or [email protected] for more information.
DNR completes Monroe Lake aquatic habitat project
DNR fisheries biologists have concluded a two-year project designed to improve aquatic habitat in Monroe Lake.
Monroe Lake was the fourth lake selected for habitat improvement through the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Reservoir Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Program (RAHEP).
About 300 habitat structures were dropped into Monroe Lake in a 17-acre area to provide fish with a place to feed and hide from predators. Current structure locations can be found at wildlife.IN.gov/files/fw-monroe-habitat-map.pdf.
Four different types of structures were used, each designed for different fish species, fish life stages and water depths.
Learn more about RAHEP at wildlife.IN.gov/7665.htm.
Get answers to questions about your forest land
The National Wild Turkey Federation and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service are working together to help improve forest ecosystems on private lands.
Working out of NRCS field offices, 24 foresters and a project coordinator will collaborate with private landowners, state and federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations to deliver technical and financial assistance through Farm Bill conservation programs administered by NRCS.
How foresters can help:
- Provide technical forestry assistance for private landowners.
- Conduct site visits with landowners interested in forestry management and/or NRCS financial assistance programs.
- Aid with the application process for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Conservation Reserve Program.
- Assist with creating forest management plans.
- Develop standards for the forestry work to be completed.
- Certify all completed work to ensure it meets the outlined standards and requirements.
- Help landowners monitor completed forestry practices.
- Provide educational opportunities through landowner field days and educational resources.
For more information on the NFI, NRCS programs and how an NFI forester can help, contact Amy Spalding at 812-318-0115 or [email protected].
