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MORSE
WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION
Go to www.morseh2o.org and click on MEETINGS
for previous meeting summaries.
Meeting
Summary
August
8, 2005
Highlights: Announcement of two
Morse Waterways Association public service events. Update by Steve Hunter, DNR
District Manager on safety/accidents on Morse and the open container law. Update
on algae treatment south of Carrigan bridge. See below for more details on
highlights.
The meeting was
attended by 47 people. Of the 47, 15 had not attended prior meetings. Our
membership has now grown to 220 people.
The meeting began with
a short introduction from Ford Hebner explaining our organization formation and
our mission. We have created six (6) working committees.
Each of the committee
facilitators gave a brief update of any new committee activities. For the new
members, some of which have signed up to work on committees, below is a list of
each committee and description of activities.
o
Safety Impact
Committee
§
The focus on boating
safety, specifically working with DNR and local boat dealers concerning the
education and notification of the public regarding safety.
o
Economic Impact
Committee
§
This committee will
examine the total impact of all factors, which affect the value of our real
estate and the community. Many topics covered by other committees will
contribute to the economics of the Morse Community.
o
Environmental Impact
Committee
§
One element currently
identified is the water quality of Morse Reservoir. This committee will keep
abreast of the Little Cicero Creek surveyor study, take samples of our reservoir
water, and study other factors affecting the quality of the
water.
o
Water Level and
Reporting
§
This is a subject that
concerns and affects virtually all of the Morse community and is already
beginning to impact our property values. What can we do about it?
o
Excessive Boat Noise
§
Depending on where you
live on the reservoir, this may or may not be your issue. This committee will
identify the issue, review options, and coordinate with DNR regarding
enforcement of existing state laws.
o
Property Owner Issues
§
This
committee will touch many issues impacting property owners including lake
debris, buoys, docks, shorelines, etc). This committee will provide information
for property owners and develop action plans as needed.
Environment:
Facilitator – Mike
Murphy
Mike has been very
active meeting multiple agencies who are doing water quality testing on the
various creeks feeding into Morse. He is researching the agencies and the prior
testing results. Once Mike consolidates the information, his committee will then
decide where they need to focus their sampling activities.
Morse has been treated
this past week with algaecide south of the
CUTRINE-ULTRA is a chelated copper
formulation containing an emulsified surfactant/penetrant combination for highly
effective control of coarse (thick cell-walled) filamentous algae, mucilaginous
(colonial) planktonic algae, Chara and copper-sensitive vascular aquatic plants.
CUTRINE-ULTRA, under field conditions, controls mat-forming, filamentous forms
such as Spirogyra, Cladophora, Hydrodictyon, Vaucheria, Ulothrix, and Lyngbya;
planktonic cyanobacteria such as Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Microcystis,
Pseudanabaena, Oscillatoria; and attached, bottom-growing forms such as Chara,
Nitella, Gleotrichia. CUTRINE-ULTRA has also been proven effective in
controlling the rooted aquatic plant, Hydrilla verticillata, Egeria densa and
other copper-sensitive species. The ethanolamines in CUTRINE-ULTRA prevent the
precipitation of copper with carbonates and bicarbonates in the water. Waters
treated with CUTRINE-ULTRA may be
used for swimming, fishing, drinking, livestock watering or irrigating turf,
ornamental plants or crops immediately after
treatment
At present
there are no plans to treat the north end of the reservoir, however should
algal blooms appear in the northern of the reservoir then treatment of the north
end may be necessary.
Economics:
Facilitator - Dean
Denhart
Focus of this
committee will be on property values and what we can do as an organization to
get the values up and growing. We need to “sell” the positive points of Morse
rather than concentrate on the negative water level issues.
For example, the
official ground breaking of the new Morse condos will take place on Tuesday
August 16th. These condo homes are expected to sell in the $329,000
to $529,000 price range.
Water
Level and Recording: Facilitator – Roger
Goings
Discussion on the
Indianapolis Water company kickoff to study the future water needs of the city.
Planning will include the future growth of the city and where additional water
supply can be accessed. Future sources for water may need to come from wells,
which is more expensive than surface, rivers, waterways, reservoirs.
Excessive
Boat Noise: Facilitator – Gary
Helgemo
Committee is working
with cities of Noblesville, Cicero and the DNR to better understand the existing
legal statutes and noise ordinances, the enforcement of these laws, and the
court processes.
Safety:
Facilitator –
Volunteer Opportunity Call or e-mail Jim
Schneider or Ford Hebner if interested.
Our focus will be the
Morse Waterways 1st public event
: the Safety Awareness Days. We need your help to volunteer on
either Saturday or Sunday over Labor Day weekend. Help your Morse community
and volunteer for a 2 hour shift. All you will need to do is to greet boat
launchers and hand them a one page boat rules guide and an Indiana Boating rules
handbook. Let’s make Labor Day weekend a SAFE
Property
Owners Issues: Facilitator – Jim
Schneider
Morse Waterways
2nd public event, the Morse
Cleanup Day will be held later in September. Details will come later
after the committee meets and completes the planning of this
event.
DNR – Steve
Hunter
There has been only
one minor accident reported this boating season on Morse reservoir. This is a
great and positive selling point for property value and bodes well for the DNR
and Noblesville PD who patrol the lake.
Through
Here is where we can
help by reminding boat launchers of some safety tips on Safety Awareness
Days.
Concerning the
numerous questions on the “open container” law, this law applies to motor
vehicles and does not apply to watercraft/ boats. However, boat operators and
boaters are subject to intoxication laws.
Donations
always accepted.
We need funds to
help with our two Fall events – Morse Cleanup Day and Safety Awareness
days.
The MWA is accepting
donations to begin funding some of the needs of our organization. It was
suggested that members contribute $100. This is a voluntary donation. You may
contribute more or less; the choice is yours. Make checks payable to Morse
Waterways Association. You can send your check to Morse Waterways
Association c/o Bill Steves,
VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES. We need your help.
Contact Jim Schneider if you can assist in any
capacity.
We need someone to
fill the roles of facilitators for our Safety Committee and the new Membership
Committee which we want to create. Neither of these roles would take much of
your time and would help spread our work load.
Also, we need someone
to attend our meetings, and write summary notes.
Next
meeting will be held on Wednesday September 14th at
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