Local work group to set conservation priorites
The Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors, in cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will convene a local work group to set local priorities. The local group provides recommendations to the NRCS district conservationist and state conservationist on local natural resource priorities and criteria for conservation activities and programs. The group includes representatives from cooperating federal, state and local agencies, conservation organizations, and the public.
The Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District local working group will meet in the Exhibit Building on the Brown County Fairgrounds, 802 Memorial Drive, at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1.
For more information contact Allison Shoaf at 812-988-2211. For those not willing/available to meet in person, a copy of the survey can be sent to you prior to the meeting.
Help with wildlife management at Monroe Lake
PAYNETOWN — Monroe Lake has an active wildlife management program, but one that exists largely behind the scenes. On Saturday, Oct. 3, a Hands-on Habitat day will offer visitors a chance to directly participate in and learn about this hidden side of the reservoir.
Volunteers with an interest in waterfowl hunting are invited to help clean, repair, and cut brush to camouflage the blinds in Monroe Lake’s Stillwater-Northfork wildlife area, beginning at 9 a.m. Youth volunteers (including Scout groups) are welcome, if accompanied by an adult. Details are at bit.ly/camouduck2020.
From noon to 1 p.m., visitors can stop by the new pollinator garden space next to the Activity Center at Paynetown State Recreation Area to learn why native plants are valuable for pollinators. Visitors can make a couple of mini “seed bombs” to toss into their own garden at home.
A guided hike through the field areas at Fairfax State Recreation Area at 3 p.m. will introduce people to how this area is managed for wildlife. Advance registration is required by Oct. 1. More details and registration are at bit.ly/fairfaxhike2020.
Volunteers are needed for a nest box build at Fairfax SRA at 6 p.m. The nest boxes will be used at the reservoir to support wild bird populations. Advance signup is required by Oct. 1 at bit.ly/nestbox2020 and will be limited to 10 people.
Admission to Paynetown (4850 S. State Road 446) and Fairfax SRA (9301 S. Fairfax Road) is $7 per vehicle with Indiana license plates.
With questions, contact Jill Vance, interpretive naturalist, at the Paynetown Activity Center on Monroe Lake, 812-837-9967 or [email protected].
Monroe Lake celebrates Earth Science Week
PAYNETOWN — A weeklong celebration of Earth Science Week will take place at Monroe Lake from Sunday, Oct. 11 through Saturday, Oct. 17.
Three of the programs require advance registration and have limited space. They are a Geology Driving Tour around the lake area on Monday, Oct. 12 (bit.ly/geotour2020), a paddling trip that will highlight the geology of the Allens Creek peninsula on Tuesday, Oct. 13 (bit.ly/exploremonroeoct13), and a crinoid fossil bed hike on Friday, Oct. 16 (bit.ly/crinoidhike2020).
Additional activities are scheduled throughout the week at Paynetown State Recreation Area, 4850 S. State Road 446, and are open to all visitors without registration. The full schedule of is available online at bitly.com/monroelakeprograms.
Ghostly Gathering returns to Paynetown
PAYNETOWN — Monroe Lake’s popular Halloween event, Ghostly Gathering, returns to Paynetown State Recreation Area Friday, Oct. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 25.
The event has been redesigned this year with all-outdoor programming that allows for social distancing. Bring a mask to wear when near other visitors or staff.
One of the main activities will be a weekend-long “Ghosts of Monroe” Scavenger Hunt, where visitors will learn about people from Monroe Lake’s past as they search for their “ghosts” hidden all over Paynetown SRA.
Friday, Oct. 23 will kick off with Polk Township Cemetery Tours. Each is limited to 10 people, advance registration required. Spooky Tic-Tac-Toe craft kits will distributed in the Campground (limited to 50 kits, may be reserved in advance), and the day will end with a Gourd Guts Campfire. Details and registration, where needed, for Friday programs is at bit.ly/ghostlyfriday2020.
On Saturday, attendees can explore camouflage by searching for miniature ghosts hidden on the forest edge, make a blood-sucking bookmark, set off a ghostly rocket, and design glow-in-the-dark ghosts. Information on Saturday’s activities is at bit.ly/ghostlysaturday2020.
As the event wraps up on Sunday, visitors can stop by to make a flutter ghost in the morning, and they have until 5 p.m. to turn in their final search results from the “Ghosts of Monroe” Scavenger Hunt. Details are at bit.ly/ghostlysunday2020.
While there will not be any prizes awarded for campsite decorating this year, Monroe Lake is still encouraging campers to set up their seasonal decorations for others to view and enjoy. Likewise, the annual costume contest has been suspended this year, but visitors are still welcome to attend other weekend activities in a costume.
Monroe Lake will decide in mid-October if trick-or-treating will be permitted in the campground during this event and will follow the recommendation of the Monroe County Health Department. If trick-or-treating does occur, it will be restricted to Paynetown SRA campers only, and participants will be required to follow special health and safety protocols.
