EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Summer is here and it is definitely going to be a busy year! Our clean up crew is currently cleaning up floating natural debris on both lakes. Our number one priority is always to get things out of the main lake that can cause hazards. Please remember, if you see trees, logs, or limbs to call our office and we will put work orders in for cleanup.
Fish stocking:
We continue to stock fish in both lakes according to what is needed. I work together with a fisheries biologist to determine what goes in and where. This year we will be stocking fish in the fall. As mentioned last year, we wanted to implement some fish habitat and have been able to do so. Having the opportunity to do this allows for great fishing in the lakes whether it be recreational or having tournaments on our lakes that in return bring revenue to our community.
Dredging:
We have finished in the Big Monon area and have started the spring up north and will be continuing to work our way down. If you’re on the north end of Lake Shafer, please be aware of our dredging signs and abide by them. We want everyone to have a safe and fun experience on the lakes.
Lake Level: (Statement from John Koppelmann, Taskforce Chair.)
After nearly a decade of an overestimated minimum flow that, at times, drained Lake Freeman during the summer months, the lakes community will now see relief in the form of a reduced minimum flow.
On March 30, 2023, FERC approved a NIPSCO requested license amendment. This amendment incorporates the compromise that the SFLECC, USFW and NIPSCO had discussed, studied, and agreed to implement. This compromise consists of reducing USFW’s mandated minimum flow from Oakdale Dam of 500 cubic feet per second(cfs) to a minimum flow of 315 cfs.
“This revised amendment will greatly reduce the number of Abnormal Low Flow events and in turn lower the likelihood of drastic loss of lake levels on Lake Freeman.
In 2014, the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFW) issued a Technical Assistance Letter requiring NIPSCO to deviate from their license with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This directive from USFW required NIPSCO, during drought conditions, to release a minimum amount of water into the Tippecanoe River to protect endangered species of mussels located in the river below Oakdale Dam.
Over the years following this directive, Lake Freeman could see drops in the lake level from 2 feet to 16 feet depending on the severity of the drought at that point in time. Also, during those years, the Shafer Freeman Lakes Environmental Conservation Corporation (SFLECC) fought this directive and tried to preserve the way the lakes had been operated for over 80 years. The SFLECC had help from city and county government, state and US legislators, local businesses, agencies, and property owners.
In 2019, the SFLECC’s Washington DC attorney files Petition for Review with the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit challenging FERC’s decision to permanently changing NIPSCO’s License. In 2021, the panel of judges on the DC Court of Appeals essentially told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and USFW to determine if the USFW’s mandate is only a “minor change” to the operation of the dam. In May 2022, USFW acknowledged that the 2020 drought that caused Lake Freeman to be drained for an extended period of time was not a “minor change”. This lead USFW to start the discussion that brought this compromise.
100 year Celebration of Norway Dam
This year marks the Centennial year for Norway Dam! Wow to think of how things would look in our community would certainly be different without our lakes! We are very fortunate to have the lakes and we will be celebrating the occasion this year on July 8th from 10am-2pm at Norway dam. SFLECC and NIPSCO have partnered for this event and will be focusing the day on the history of the dam along with safety by having several different first responder and emergency departments on site that day. We will have something for all ages so bring your family and celebrate with us. The SFLECC wave runner drawing will be at noon that day. The F.O.P. will be there with food so plan on eating lunch and supporting our local F.O.P. Also, there will be door prizes for families and games for the kids to win items. Please join us on July 8th!
In Greatest Regard,
Gabrielle Haygood, SFLECC Executive Director
