From NIPSCO – An Abnormal River Condition (ARC) Warning has been issued for Lake Freeman, as surface elevation levels as measured at the Oakdale Dam have gone below the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) required minimum operating level of 610.10 ft. and we are continuing to experience abnormal river conditions.    

As of 6:21 am EST, August 16, 2020,  the surface elevation taken near the face of the Oakdale Hydroelectric Dam was measured at 610.04ft. below the normal operating target of 610.35ft. The change in surface elevation measured at the hydro does not reflect or equate to the same potential change in depth for other areas of the lake. Surface elevation is the relative measurement to sea level, local datum.  A change of .01 ft in the surface elevation equates to 1/100th of a foot or .12 inches.  NIPSCO does not measure average depths.

Currently, the 24-hour daily average for flow is 414 cubic feet per second (cfs) at the Buffalo USGS gauge and 290 cfs at the USGS Winamac gauge. An ARC event will be lifted once the 24-hour average rises above 410 cfs at Buffalo and the 24-hour average rises above 300 cfs at Winamac.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers, remind the public to be mindful of their surroundings and be aware of any submerged objects in or underneath the surface of the water.  Due to the water levels objects such as tree stumps, old dock pilings and such may start to show or become a hazard to boat operators, swimmers, and tubers.

Without additional rainfall, depths could continue to be reduced. NIPSCO will continue to be in close coordination with the Indiana DNR, SFLECC, Emergency Management and other authorities to provide regular updates until levels return to normal.

The annual meeting of the Shafer Freeman Lakes Environmental Conservation Corporation will be on Saturday, August 22, 2020 in the Benjamin Pavilion at the Monticello City Park. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Five board positions will be filled at the meeting. Any person interested in being on the SFLECC board is asked to send their resume to:

Resumes must be received no later than July 15, 2020. Only members of the SFLECC are entitled to vote. Directors must be legal residents of the State of Indiana.

Members of the corporation consist of persons who have a paid current Shore Front License or have made a donation twice the amount of a standard Shore Front License during the calendar year. They could also be a recorded member of an association with a paid current Shore Front License. Members are encouraged to attend this meeting. Ballots will be available at the registration desk. Please ask about responsibility pertaining to a Directorship.

In observance of Independence Day, the SFLECC office will be closed Friday, July 3rd. It will reopen on Monday, July 6th. Please stay safe while enjoying the lakes this weekend!

The SFLECC Office is now located at 122 S. Main St. in Monticello. Thank you all in advance for your patience while we get things up and running at our new location.

This month’s SFLECC Board Meeting will take place online in Zoom format on Thursday, May 21st at 7 pm instead of the Hibner Room at IU Health White Memorial Hospital due to COVID-19.

Due to COVID-19, SFLECC Office Hours are being modified. If you would need to get in contact with someone from the office, please call 574-583-9784, leave a message and we will return your call. If you would like to come to the office to make your Shore Front License payment, there is a mail slot for payments on our door. If you are planning any shore front alterations or have shore-front-related concerns, please call 574-583-9784 and leave a message. We apologize for any inconvenience, but this decision has been made for the safety of our staff and the public.

Thanks for understanding,

Gabrielle Haygood, Executive Director

Mike Triplett, SFLECC Board President

LAKE WATER TEST RESULTS

There has been concern about the Blue-Green Algae in our state’s bodies of water. To date, nothing has been discovered in either Lake Freeman or Lake Shafer. In some areas, we do have plant growth which can be a nuisance but is considered a sign of healthy waters. Here is a link to find more information on this: Harmful Algal Blooms

This past Saturday, SFLECC held its Annual Meeting to give a brief overview of what’s been going on over the past year and to vote in new board members.

Board President Daryl Johns thanked exiting board members for their service.

Merle Peterson received a plaque for his many years of service and dedication to the SFLECC Board of Directors

Lynn West received a plaque for her many years of service and dedication to the SFLECC Board of Directors

Congratulations to our elected Board Members: Daryl Johns, Lindy Karberg, Mike Triplett, Tracey Linder, and Carrie Woodruff! Thank you to everyone who submitted a resume.

The Annual Meeting of the Shafer Freeman Lakes Environmental Conservation Corporation will be on Saturday, August 24, 2019 in the IU-Health White Memorial Hospital – Hibner Room. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m.