A Fragile Watershed: Proposed Integrations to the Lifestyles of Land Users in the Small yet Important Lake George RSD sub-watershed.

Initial Proposal by Star Light

Submitted July 27th 2007 ::: 3 Eagle/ 1st Moon/ 2 Wizard Year

A. Maps included at the end:
Unfortunately, I have sent only one copy with any maps. For a more detailed look at Lake George RSD, the best place I could find (sadly) was the website Topozone.

B. Objectives
1. To bring awareness to the unique distinct potential of this secluded area, forgotten by maps.
2. To extend the life of this watershed for future generations to enjoy.
3. To extend the carrying capacity of the Lake George sub-watershed.
4. Make the wetland and topography connecting Lake George to Silver Lake stable and of primary importance.
5. To bring back the natural diversity of the area, and make this thriving habitat available and inviting to more species on the endangered and special concern lists.
6. To reduce road-kill.
7. To constantly improve water quality, aquatic habitat, nitrogen, phosphorus, and e- coli levels.
8. To create a comprehensive database for Lake George reports, statistics, analysis, and community, interest-holder, professional input.
9. To expand designated use to include environmental use.
10. To excite the stakeholders, landowners, and frequenters of the area into progressive action and awareness of sustainable, available, and user- friendly techniques which often include large profits for stakeholders.
11. To generate awareness and pride that this is a unique sub watershed, worthy of distinction.
12. To create a program for children so that our next generation may grow curious, excited, and empowered to think like their watershed in Lake George especially, but everywhere they may be for the rest of their precious lives.
13. To start a conversation which will help stakeholders to begin to prioritize their involvement with new eyes.
14. To spark interest in creating a “sister watershed” with another, similar watershed.
15. To create a comprehensive compilation of ideas from all interested organizations (CSAs, governmental offices, stakeholders, children who use the land, etc.) at one centralized organization that is dedicated to the integrity of the Lake George sub watershed specifically.
16. To implement sustainable and effective techniques that will help obtain all objectives.

C. Area Overview
1. General topography, boundaries, etc.
At the heart of this sub watershed, Lake George rests at 986' above sea level (See Map #A1), with the southern portion in Steuben County, Indiana and the northern in Branch County, Michigan. The lake, itself, is about 1792 acres of surface water and includes approximately 485,260.4 cubic feet of water over unconsolidated shale filled in with silty clay. Water filters slowly from a giant chain of lakes at upper elevations through an incredible wetland separating Lake George from Silver Lake. It is a miracle to have such an immense wetland protecting the quality of water from the contamination of so many other lakes. This perineal trickle from the wetlands enters the Northeast region of the lake, like an artery in perfect health. This exciting wetland is easily overlooked as insignificant, but should not be ignored. Something else protects the waters of Lake George - an interesting display of topographic idiosyncrasies. Although Silver Lake at 992’, in elevation is higher than Lake George there is a high point, hidden between ten-foot USGS contour lines, in the wetland connecting them, in fact in the channel therein, which lies at 995’ (see Map#A2). Due to the high point, roads, and the 1000' contour curve between the lakes, the incredible mileage of filthy runoff from the other higher lakes is filtered clean once again. Someone should take statistical readings from there to prove the effectiveness of this beautiful blessing of a place. This higher elevated point serves to slow the incoming water, which therefore allows it to be more effectively filtered. Many argue that this makes Lake George RSD the headwaters of it's own sub-watershed. This coarse distinction between watersheds is upheld by Jean Melchi when she wrote that the, "Crooked Chain of Lakes begins with Lake George," and by Kaiser and Associates when they produced a detailed map entitled Subwatersheds of the St. Joseph River Watershed in their huge district, distinctly outlining this area as unique between the Snow Creek and Crooked Creek watersheds outlined in Red and White Dots rather than as connected to the larger watershed. The Crooked Creek watershed involves Silver Lake, and the Snow Creek watershed involves the relatively gigantic chain of lakes below the dam at the southern and lowest reach of Lake George despite the fact that much of it's water flows in from Silver Lake and the greater Crooked Creek Watershed.
At the low point, in the Southwest reach of the lake, a perineal stream escapes into a huge system of lakes that encompasses over 20 square miles of open water. However, the southern artery, which is a feeder to a huge system of lakes in the St Joseph Watershed, is like the unhealthy aftermath of an unnecessary concrete operation perfumed by a drunken surgeon. This channel is left degraded memories stolen, unable to be passed to the next generation, and now haunted with the title 'Troll Bridge.' I have not assessed the quality of this stream in the field, but according to maps, it may have some extreme straightening of the channel further south. A channel should meander. Enhancing edge allows the streams water to infiltrate the surrounding environment, filtering itself and nurturing the environment. A straight channel will exponentially incise and cause erosion. So, I recommend Bill Zeedyk’s An Introduction to Induced Meandering published by Quivera, EarthWorks and Zeedyk Consulting in 2006 to solve the perpetual straightening of this channel. His method should ONLY be used on degraded stream areas which are obviously too straight, NOT in the northern most reaches and ONLY as a medicine for some unhealthy signs. Streams like this may be protected slightly with proper vegetation techniques on the outskirts. There is a gage and a gauging station on this reach and the dam doubling as Hwy 27 which connects with Interstates 69, 80, and 90 only 1584’ SE of the Lake’s SE point. However, it appears that direct runoff from this junction is not a nuisance to this lake because the watershed delineation runs very close to the lake at this and many other points. The watershed delineation, in the south, however, should be closely investigated in the field because the maps have severe incongruities. For instance, there appears to be no more interstate 69 even though we know it continues far into Michigan. This watershed area includes the Indiana Michigan boundary, the Steuben and Branch county boundary, and the boundary between four USGS 1:24000 series maps. Scholars have mapped some parts of this region in 1996 and 1963. It is more than probable that the boundaries just described are unacceptably inaccurate due to the continuous overlap of this overlooked fringe of summary jurisdictions so long ago.
Footwork and pride in the sub-watershed rather than a county or state is a vital next step in creating accurate and timely records for study. Highways and roads divide most of this sub watershed from incurring runoff from other lakes, streams, and even many farm lots or even the roads themselves. Kinderhook is the nearest town, followed by Coldwater in Michigan and Freemont in Indiana as the nearest public schools. All of these places are beyond this sub-watershed; their town centers and schools have closer lakes, streams, wetlands, and wildlife they deem as priority. Lake George stakeholders must hold certain aspects of this unique headwaters priority. Its boundaries are extremely fragile on every angle. Maps are old and should be updated. Certain contour lines should be highlighted to show fragile contours that separate this land from incurring unchecked and dirtied flow from other watersheds, involving thousands of acres in depredated accumulations. Due to the incredibly high water content of the soil and very close proximity to the higher lake. There are most likely leaks in the watershed runoff boundaries underground. As this is classified as ecosystem type 56a, lake country, the area is scattered with wetlands, pitted moraines, glacial till, fens, marsh, tamarisk swamps, bog, potholes, kettles, relic meltwater channels, clear streams and lakes, and rolling lazy hills that often pool water away from the lake. So many watering holes in such a small area remove priority from this fragile system. Unless the stakeholders take action, no one will, which is a shame because this beautiful place could be a symbol of land health for the entire region.

2. Climate
Since industry began, days of full sun average only four to five days a month. 200 days of frost per year with an annual precipitation around 36-40”/yr. Historically, the average temperatures in January ranged from daily lows of 19 to daily highs of 37°F, which includes a wind-chill factor of 10 to 30 degrees below 0°F, and often snowfall into the end of April. Snowfall reports often over 100", although the long-term average has been 30" a year. July historic average high and low respectively are 61° to 89°F, but the warming trend has pushed the temperatures into the higher 90s that includes incredible humidity. Global warming is seriously disrupting the average precipitation and weather inhabitants have grown to expect, and now we must learn to distinguish new patterns. It is expected that a few days in July and August will reach above 100°F. The only common natural disaster seems to be tornadoes, which are extremely less likely while the land is at its plushest capacity including wetlands as natural disaster mitigators.

3. Land Use & a Sense of Place
Historical: In the Southern Great Lakes watershed basin, a dying glacier retreated from the fertile plains of what would millennia later be called Northern Indiana, Southern Michigan, and Northwestern Ohio. In it's decent towards extinction it scarred the land, pitting it for seemingly infinite fertility, leaving behind countless kettle lakes and other telltale signs of its vanishing grandeur. Several kettle lakes in the area are now called Lake George, and two of those toggle the Indiana-Michigan border, but only one in both Steuben and Branch Counties. This lake is surrounded in lush wetlands, rolling hills, lovely topsoil and is shaped like a heart with two arteries. One points toward the great North where the glacier retreated, and the other to the South where the glacier once traveled. The topography is languid, and the slow harmonious flow of water is surrounded by English Romantic landscape views inspired by nature and honed by the influence of such timely artists as Frank Lloyd Wright and Fredrick Law Olmstead, who both worked very close to this area. Open space tempts mulberries, raspberries, apples, cherries, pears, plums, peppermint, melons, strawberries, soy, corn, and many other delectable treats to grow ravenously abundant. Turkeys, mallards, rabbits, bats, and dragonflies still have retreat near this ambient lake/pond. Although a gracious boom of conservationists have protected wetlands throughout the state, much of the wetland in this area has been forgotten or is owned privately.
Regional: If you love deep snow, thick ice, cold Budweiser, and wine coolers in every refrigerator, this is the place to come. Flood control of the area is remarkable and luxuriously relaxed considering that it lies on the center of the southern Great Lakes Basin watershed and 3% of the region's surface is lake, not including the Great Lakes. The topsoil measurements of the area are thick. Nettles dominate oak, maple, tulip, the fragile mayapple and trillium, endangered Sassafras, Buckeye, Hickory, poison ivy, ginger, Solomon’s seal and the rare jack-in-the-pulpit. Hoosiers have historically kept their wilderness sacred, preserving its majesty with batboxes, birdfeeders, rolling bridges, lightly worn footpaths, pristine wooded wildlife of frogs, toads, owls, chipmunks, squirrels, deer, water-spiders, ticks, owls. However, Lake George RSD, being a vacation retreat, has forgotten its ecological duties to the wilderness around it. Batboxes and birdfeeders are less remembered. Wetlands in the backyard are zoomed passed in a race to jump in the speedboat or off the pier into the refreshment of an uninhibited re-submersion into the amniotic fluid of Earth's womb. In other areas of the tri- states, one often happens passed an orchard of strolling lines of variety fruit trees, berry vines, and bird berry bushes. But in these distinguished higher class single family vacation homes, the luxury of orchards has been forgotten, replaced by less "messy" trees like tulip, weeping willow, and hickory.
With all of this splendor, and especially with a historically milder climate, naturally indigenous people came to eat, bathe, and fish here as nomads, such a fun place seemed natural for summer southern heat retreats and languid freshwater swimming and fish. Today, people still migrate south to Florida for the winter in hordes, and back in summer heat as the indigenous did. Some nomads stayed; collections of people gathered. The most historic date I have been able to find about who may have lived in the area in this particular study is itself quite astonishing and controversial. The Pottawattamie tribe endures the only native reservation in the state of Indiana just a few miles directly south of Lake George RSD. This slap in the face to all natives who inhabited this area - less than a quarter acre plot of land - is a reflection of the still dark underlying frontiersman mentality which haunts the area in the wake of the disgusting turmoil created in the complete overthrow of natives from their most fertile and sacred lands. The Miami tribe also inhabited the land, their capital Kekionga, was an easy and exciting days journey from Lake George RSD.
French fur traders established early relations there, boosting economy, diversifying culture and crops. Once, the French king sent 750 women to both please his faithful frontiersmen and to establish presence. The English threw a careful balance out of order with sadistic warfare that banded several native tribes together. When Americans won their revolution, George Washington himself sent General Mad Anthony Wayne to claim territorial land, and kill tribal peoples in response to the notorious Iroquois nature (especially while trading with the English Army) causing a fretful stir in safety concerns for the already small population. His massacre was too brutal to discuss and cities eventually were gridded according plan. City centers grew, churches migrated, and the Industrial Revolution boomed in the heart of the industrial belt. The Ordinance of 1787 from the Northwest Treaty declared absolutely all new slavery punishable to the full extent of the law. The highest count of slaves as chattel at the time was 750 and soon most were freed. Africans fled to Indiana for safety, and for a while a large percentage of southern Indiana was African farming communities happily dispersed among other new landowners. This was not the wild Wild West, but the wild and woolly west, where buffalo and gambling served as the main religion. Immigrants flooding the east coast cast their preachers far into the wild wooly west where they could really save us all. The first public school class held 25 students: ten spoke English; six spoke French, and five in native dialects. Five were native, one black, and fifteen whites were counted, which left four whose ethnicity is unaccounted for. In a historically short amount of time, however, absolutely no natives remained, and this space became heart shatteringly destitute for their diversity. In all of Indiana, one native reservation has been saved for the Pottawatomie tribe, only, of all the tribes who once lived here. They have 0.23 acres and not one of all those tribes still lives in any of the state. The glory of ghosted and shadowed Miami tribe capital Kekionga is now considered one of the nation's ten smallest large metropolitan regions.
Onto this settled populace, the Industrial Revolution on the Great Lakes piled its smoke stacks puffing billowing clouds over towering iron buildings. Ports between Canada, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio as well as rail held the region. The Great Lakes caught dangerously on fire on more than one occasion. Manufacturing boomed. The World Fair in Chicago bolstered area education and ingenuity. GE built a hub plant so everyone had light bulbs and televisions. Televisions assimilated local culture to an extent that heritage and traditions blended with conformity. At the mouth of the St. Joseph River Watershed, Gary Indiana became the steel production capital of the world. Wonderbread also built a huge bakery in downtown Ft. Wayne, making white bread traditions. The smell of sticky glutinous white bread still fills the air for over two miles around playing to innate cravings for comfort food as a culture robbed of both instinct and telepathy. And Lake George, RSD, became a suburban retreat town for those with cars and enough leftover money for a vacation home.
The first industrial union president, Hoosier Eugene Debbs, ran five times for socialist president five times, but was imprisoned for union work one year after establishing it. Politically, Indiana shows a 1/3 split of voting trends each for republicans, democrats, and doubtful. Its most famous artisans are James Whitcomb Riley, Kurt Vonnegut, Booth Tarkington, and the "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" song. World-class centers surround Lake George at every angle. Although, today, it may be difficult to distinguish the amazing, seemingly contradictory trends in history when examining the conservative republican cottage owners on this lake, the genetic memory encoded therein is easily seen in statistics, in philanthropy, and while discussing the behavior patterns with psychologists/sociologists.
Besides tribes, hateful people, and retreating work-a-holics, another cultural icon that distinguishes this region is honored in a delightful festival over the grave of an unlikely hero. In celebration of Johnny Appleseed, just southwest of Lake George a few miles, people gather on five acres of rolling sparsely wooded hills, the mighty St. Joseph river slips quietly unnoticed in his humble benevolence as they build local hardwood fires. Antique collectors and woodworkers, leather crafters, and caramel apple experts dress in pioneer gear, make local foods like ribs, caramel, peppermint sticks, apple dumplings, apple cider, and rock candy. The air smells of leather and cheery campfires. Laughter and flutes, dancing, and metal welding clangs fill the air with electric charge. A humble site, 8 feet by 3½ enclosed in a 3-foot tall iron fence and lined with gravel on a hilltop protects grave of Mr. Appleseed with three dedicated lavender bushes and a few wildflowers to outdo the headstone. At nearby Glenbrook Mall, a corridor shows a huge wooden carving of Johnny Appleseed, pot on his head, and deer beside him, under a tall tree. For all these years, that air has been kept rich with the apple spice scents brewing. Why was he so famous? Because he had the power to be himself, roaming freely between Michigan and Pennsylvania, planting apple trees, helping families, and being a generally kind and simple chap. Regionally, this is what is most honored, here, simple kindness. As a cultural historian, it may be hard to tell that among the sea of inlaid superficiality.
Auto is the primary manufacturing Industry. Ford built cars out of soy, corn, and hemp near here and the Indianapolis Speedway has a heavy influence. All this combined with being creepily haunted and close to diverse interests like Amish towns, big cities, and many swimming holes, make cars extremely influential icons. So is drinking. Although the accounts I’ve researched for this project claim that religious beliefs keep the region sober, this is not the truth. No one judges the drinking of others, morning, midnight, or alone. The region doesn't seem to judge skin or religion, either, but they do judge style, which also directly measures wealth.
Specific: Lake George is lost among a sea of lakes in Indiana and Michigan and due to its sharing of the two states, each state has studied only part the lake at a time. For instance, there are 324 acres in Indiana and 178 acres in Michigan. It is also forgotten in name, sharing its name with three other lakes in the short distance between this one and their final destination of Lake Michigan. This great Lake system of smaller lakes, wetlands, ponds, fens, and otherwise saturated soils has many lakes, and each has its own personality. Lake George of Steuben County, Indiana and Michigan is a tranquil, sleepy retreat for professionals who own well-shaded houses for occasional summer uses along the structure-supported banks. In Lake George the winter, fall, and spring are times of rejuvenation of wildlife. As the fruit falls, and the leaves turn the air sweet, the animals come to revisit the wetlands and the front lawns. Ideally, turkey and deer, osprey, bats, bobcat, and other random creatures become bolder, and stronger, finding their own retreat in the open space formed by the ghost town of cottages and forests mowed to dissolve the shrub undergrowth between raspberry brambles. The gardens of the Gardens for the Hungry program become overgrown and make delicious salads for gophers and deer, which in turn make delicious prey for other creatures, who have less affinity for herbaceous foods. Diversity springs back to life until, like dynamite exploding, 500 households (averaging ten people) parade back to their vacation homes on Memorial Day weekend to hammer in their piers for the summer. Although this greater region is 95% agriculture & 90% wetland, Interstate 69 crosses I-80 and I-90 in the SW corner of the lake as Hwy 29 winds north. The 500 houses lining the shores file generation ontop generation into each cottage. With their Televisions finally off and the Seasonal Effective Disorder depression quickly fading, they face each other once more, smiling. Loudly laughing away the winter's darkness through a myriad of beer cans, wine bottles, and soda can crunching, the animals retreat in confused horror. If they do not, their carcasses remain scattered in the roads, festering in ditches, as signs to the others that this place is not safe. The boats begin to roar in the aquatic habitats by June. Although only a few people are in every few cottages at one time in the summer (vacation is a couple extended weekends or a week every summer), the lake is very busy with speedboats, canoes, pontoons, jet ski's, tubors, skiers, fishermen, dogs, dog bathing, and swimmers. There are quiet hours on the lake and neighbors keep each other in check to make sure their lawns and attitudes are in check with regulation and the social standards of cleanliness. These professionals pile their children and coolers, dogs, magazines, top-seller novels, sunscreen, bugspray, and towels into their minivans and PT Cruisers to spend a weekend or two in retreat an hour or two from home. This retreat is relatively tranquil, quiet, and involves fishing for leisure rather than sport or hunt. They have come for generations and the future generations will also come. And they will leave quite a mark on the environment in their short stay.
Although some of the stakeholders dedicate a considerable portion of their time and wealth to charitable deeds in their own ways, and many have donated in similar ways toward the protection of this lake and its natural resources, these efforts must be re-evaluated before larger mistakes are made so that these resources are allocated in ways which are noble rather than simply commemorated. Additionally, there is a large population who doesn't seem too interested in preserving history or in respect for the indigenous life forms that should inhabit the lake. Luckily we are all evolving humans and many of us have remorse for the steps we took in ignorant bliss, so blame is no solution. For instance, the salamanders which were once prowled with the glee of childhood are now gone from the natural community and the one Indian burial ground in this watershed on Brown’s Pointe now has a gigantic mansion of windows and lights - a stunning picture of wealth - heavily suffocating the sacred site in a way that wards off any who may want to visit this site in a sacred manner.
Luckily, nature has quite a way of purifying herself and rejuvenating the ecosystem when left to her own devices. Although the natural system has been incredibly modified, including agriculture, architecture, pastureland, heavy recreation and vacation use, and being located in the bible-thumping, test-product marketing, republican proud state of frontiersman mentality, ground and treecover in the watershed remain surprisingly abundant and widespread. However, this quaint anthropomorphized system is in serious need of repair to ensure the enjoyment of future generations, and exponentially increase enjoyment of the lake now. I propose that the best way to make the changes is to form a sub-watershed council including all landowners and inviting any other person wanting to contribute. This decision is based on the amazing potential held in these particular people. Unlike the third world country scenarios famous in scholarly reviews and winning public activism, this group of people will find cost and budget easily managed and they are also well educated individuals who simply lack the current data and enthusiasm necessary to make well-rounded, environmentally, spiritually, and recreationally uplifting decisions. This can all be remedied with proper facilitation and PR techniques, especially in the hectic scramble for vacation time in June and July. Like a special edition newspaper, a frenzy of information must hit this crowd when they are most ready to feel it's important. The last weeks of August are sudden and hauntingly silent. Then, on Labor Day, the dynamite of hustle and bustle explodes again as the piers are taken out, boats washed off, and rugs pounded out. A parade of shiny SUVs, Labradors, minivans, Golden Retrievers, sports cars, Dalmatians, PT Cruisers, and Irish Setters exit the tranquility of this otherwise tranquil, languid Type A ambient lake/pond cushioned in wetlands. By the chilling winds of October, diversity begins to creep back into its play land.

D. Vegetation cover, forest types & abundance
There are five general types of areas harboring different cover amounts/types: Open Water, lake front property, garage plots, wetland, and farmland.

1. Open water
There is a five mile perimeter that surrounds 3,630,000 gallons of water at an elevation of 988.6'. No cover in these areas except slight shade on the first 10 to 20 feet from two trees per front yard and/or 2-6 boats per pier. To prevent phosphorous build up, heavy yard raking and composting is encouraged. Rather than composting, though, most households burn the debris in a pile behind their garages. The open water, otherwise, has only aquatic life, boats, and piers screening it from sun all week in any spot. Most of the lake is free from plants in the first 20 feet down, which leaves it quite conducive to swimming. However, shallow areas with only memories of children tend to grow murky, and eventually create habitat for shallow loving fish again. Invasive weeds are a major concern to the current Lake George associations because they clog up the swimmable, boatable water, multiply rapidly, and strangle the natural forms of life growing in the lake. There are also wonderfully important aquatic plants growing that provide food, shelter, and fun for fish, ducks, beneficial microbes, and their prey. Some aquatic plants don't have these properties but are important as indicator species. For instance, there are types of algal pondweed that indicate an abundance of eutrophication. Although an abundance of eutrophication is not what we want to see in the lake, it is important that we see that it is occurring and where. Considering all of these species, vegetation in/over the open water represents about 30 to 40% of the lake.
Almost a decade ago, the eutrophication problem was stabilized through the installation of a municipal sewer system. In that time, the decrease of aquatic plant cover has been significant. Water clarity has also improved. Lake George is now distinguished from other lakes called George by the suffix RSD, meaning Regional Sewer District, which sounds appalling rather than appealing, but it is definitely an indication of improvement. The sewer district council continues to educate locals on private septic systems about the benefits of connecting to the municipal facility. One of their best tactics is to run a cost benefit analysis for landowners to see if it would be more economic to switch over to the municipal facility than to upkeep their current septic. However, this is a district where people who like to be off the grid are hard to convince of the positive aspects. I propose that alternative septic possibilities be explained as needed, like composting toilets, which can now be bought online, even in lovely shades of bright pink!
Invasive species are of primary non-political concern to the lake association at the moment. A map on the Cottage Associations website shows the crucial areas of concern mapped in a way that can be used to prioritize stages of remedy implementation. Eurasian water milfoil and purple loosestrife are the number one targets for extinction. Eurasian water milfoil has migrated on boats from other lakes and has quickly taken over the waterways with stalks as long as 20 feet. Purple loosestrife builds a nest that creeps into the shoreline and fills in shallow water areas, which could mean quick extinction of the fragile wetlands surrounding and engulfing this watershed. Currently, there are two solutions presented for the problem. One is an exciting example of bioneering. By introducing vegetarian and product specific bugs to the lake that are barely visible creatures, eventually, the weeds will be devoured to a tolerable rate. There are two bugs perfect for this task. The Milfoil Weevil and the Purple Loosestrife beetle eat and bother only what their names imply. The other solution being discussed is herbicides. This was decidedly the council’s choice, although, I'm not sure they're aware it does require a permit from the DEQ in order to do so legally. Directly opposed to this on a soul level, I decided to try scholarly research to appease my uneasiness of a decision from a council who is more directly related to this watershed than I am. Sadly, I found only terrible statistics in the most credible of sources. Most profound of these was the comparison of aquatic herbicides to pesticides. While the DDT insecticide yields concentration levels in aquatic insects and fish of 10-100 and 1 to 10 ppb, respectively, aquatic herbicides concentrate in fish at a rate of 1000 to 10,000,000 ppb (Brooks, 2003). Herbicides are a dangerous solution. Upon research, I found that these herbicides come in cases of 55-gallon drums. There is no product specific aquatic herbicide available on the market, and the herbicides that kill the invasive species these homeowners are concerned with also heavily pollute the water their children swim in, drink, and open their eyes under. Additionally, important species will die. Cattail, walleye, and so many other species are fragile, delightful, and so little is known about their sensitivities or importance, yet all are equally invaded upon with the emersion of aquatic pesticides. Diversity is an indicator, and may be the most important indicator, of land/water health, but pesticides will reduce an already dying carrying capacity by eliminating vital habitat as well as a vital population of many species and their food sources. Furthermore, herbicides are similar to DDT in that the "fatty storage deposits act as biological magnifiers, so that an intake of [very little]…results in an increase of one hundred-fold or more…such substances are so potent that a minute quantity can bring abut vast changes in the body," Dr. Rachel Carson continues in this paragraph of her best selling book Silent Spring to explain that the parts of us affected are our most important, like our heart muscles and liver cells.
For a state which embosses finger-paint handprints on license plates which say KIDS FIRST, this tactic of using chemicals to eradicate a problem is unusually commonplace. It’s as if a cloud of Maya (forgetfulness) has covered the peoples so that only archaic tactics are approved. Maybe they’re afraid to venture into the new splendors that are sweeping our planet with hints of abundance and integrity. Maybe they just like the old ways. Lake George must reach out of the past and accept the wonders of the new. If they would like to, but just can’t handle bugs, I have another idea, but it involves community outreach and I, humbly, suggest using the bugs also. My suggestion is to set up an economic turnaround with these invasives. Hemp used to proliferate in the area, and still, today, in areas very nearby, it is very difficult to eradicate this ditchweed. When cannabis was legal, this area used to be a thriving area of production for products using hemp. Ford built his first cars using 90% corn, cannabis hemp, and soy so that the farmers in this area could profit. The fibers of the stalks of Eurasian water milfoil millefoil and Purple Loosestrife are not very different from that of the cannabis plant, and can create wonderful crafts, such as handmade paper notebooks, biodiesle, and matte frames. Invasives may also be chopped into large slurries and spread over the agricultural fields to feed the soil vital nutrients. Harvesting the invasive in this way will boost the economy for the regions locals, who average $23,000/yr income as well as eliminate the invasive species at an astonishing rate. When Lake George runs out of this abundant product, locals may scavenge other nearby lakes (countless miles of open water and wetlands in a 20 mile radius), which will deter the invasive from returning. See section H for easier solutions.

2. Lakefront property
The vegetation cover here includes low mown grass from the street to the lakefront. Each of the 500 cottages contains approximately two tall deciduous trees beside the house on the lakefront side and two tall deciduous trees by somewhere on the road side. Some people have branched out, venturing into the additional evergreen or specialty deciduous tree. Their lawns are still mown short and show signs of mottling. Any shrubs are directly against the house and have been brought from a nursery, which means that the added NPK etc. from that potting soil leaches into the earth and, sometimes, then the lake adding to the eutrophication of the system. Popular shrubs are little leaf boxwood, acecia, and occasionally rosemary. There also are annuals planted in both flowerboxes and flowerbeds that add to the groundcover. Annuals range from geraniums and mums to roses, tulips, and daffodils. Compaction of the plot is obvious as is the mottling, and the A horizon so abundant in this region is nearly gone. In a few generations their will be bare spots evident and sand flowing. If things continue as they are, this will be covered with sod and saline will accumulate, producing frustration, and requesting fertilizers, which will only compound the problem. In these quarter-acre plots, a house covers usually 25-30% of the land with impervious surface.
Planting more trees everywhere and allowing the grass to grow higher will increase the natural uptake of Nitrogen & Phosphorous into the ground again as well as heal the salinity and mottling trapping behind the concrete lining of many cottages.

3. The garage plot
Behind the house plot runs a paved asphalt road, and behind the road is the garage plot. This consists of a concrete driveway, a two-car garage, sometimes with two floors, and vegetation. I suggest, in the future, impervious concrete be used to deter most of the storm-runoff from this pavement. Most cars are well maintained, but, invariably, one of the average six cars that use the cottage will leak something toxic into the environment, and it’s better if this does not runoff the pavement and straight into the lake, wetlands, or vegetation. Either way, these man made structures only inhabit 20% of the garage plot area. Around the drive and the garage, is more low cut grass and, occasionally evergreen shrubbery or climbing roses. Once a person is behind the garage, a new scene develops. This is the secret and forgotten jewel of the cottage owners' hoard. Here, one can see, and meditate, in a wilderness that begins to remind one of the days when a squirrel could hop the length of Indiana strictly on treetops. The grass is mown a little higher here, or, perhaps just not mown as often. The soft earth is cool and allows moles, earthworms, pillbugs, dandelions, ginseng, anise, and other tinier belly-finders. On average, the mown area behind the garages takes 30% of this plot type area, and each yard includes usually one unique find like a tire swing, a compost pile, a burn pile, a tree house, or a burrow of cottontail rabbits. Encroaching on the small curvy darkened meadow is a mess of shrubbery and old trees. Hickory, sassafras, daisies, weeping willows, tiger lilies, and oak tower over blackberry brambles, nettle, and poison ivy. Although maintained, most plots only receive a small filter of sunlight through the dense canopy. The ground often starts to roll here, in gentle hills, and, at the back of the plot, a steep gradient of 25% may suddenly rise until it reaches the level plane of a farm, and just 2 feet onto the plane, a fence separates these vacation houses from established agricultural fields. Half of the back yards concave upward into the farms, and half of the plots concave down into wetlands of thicker forest and standing swamp water, etc. In general, the vegetation cover in the backyards includes all three heights of cover fully for 60% of the land, meadow grass for 10%, compacted soil grass for another 10%, and impervious surfaces for the remaining area.

4. The wetland
This land of pitted morainal remnants and potholes with rich organic litter and rolling hills leaves all types of precious wetlands to be honored: fens, marshes, sloughs, swamps, bogs, peatland, mires, wet meadows, and possibly more. It would behoove the owners of this type of backyard to assess the area to find out what kind of wetland they're harboring, and add it to an interactive database (see section G4) that maps the treasures of the Lake George RSD watershed. Different types of exotic food, herbs, and animals grow in different types of wetlands. The vegetation cover is stable at all three heights (groundcover, shrub, and tall tree) to a degree of 90 to 95% potential in most areas, and 70 to 80% in the most disturbed of swampy places remaining except the swamps covering about an acre or more which have very little tree cover but tall shrub-length weed cover. Occasionally, loosestrife is invading, and the species diversity is dwindling. Many of the natural indicators of aging wetlands are showing, clearly, that these areas will soon be filled in. Willow takes over the fens, loosestrife the marsh, and the frogs have stopped chirping. Instead, they lay bloated bodies half glued to the road. In many areas, though, cattail and tigerlillies, raspberries, and sassafras grow tall, proud, and free even next to the side of the road, where they are less covered from harm. An occasional deserted footbridge is found on the side of the road, and only very rarely trash is found.
Wetlands fill in quickly and need proper care to alleviate their loads. Here, I suggest agro forestry as well as a gardener who would be excited to check on a wetland and nurture it once or twice a season with gentle and quiet care. First, mapping and identifying wetland types should be done to ensure proper handling, and to evenly distribute the workload. Owners of these spaces should be contacted and permission granted. I see this will be a friendly and wonderful way to connect both neighbors to each other and stakeholders to this environment.
Globally and historically, wetlands have been drained for agricultural use. I love the farmers, but policy must be implemented to prevent this from ever happening through development, farming, or buying and selling of the same residential use. It would be wonderful if farmers, themselves, would lead this campaign in the name of justice, in pride for their region, and to prevent the uncouth rising of commercial industry in their backyards. Filling in wetlands leads to an excess of 50-year flows, dropping of the water table, increased and highly polluted runoff, and shortened species diversity. Although fire is a recommended wetland technique, I specifically refute its use here. Fire raises permafrost depth, runoff levels, sediment loads, and lowers the water table. All the beneficial effects of wetlands can be accomplished by an annual or biannual team of one to five people who care for its safety, productivity, and connectivity pulling out the proper type and amount of vegetation. It is wonderful that the wetlands in this area are small and manageable enough to do this with. The intensity of roads in the area greatly affects the quality of the wetlands and the species diversity they can contain. Again, I plead with all stakeholders to replace all roads being repaired with porous limestone. Plead and request with the Department of Transportation in both states (IDOT jurisdiction includes some controls for all three interstates) to exchange the three interstates and two highways with porous cement also. One powerful influence to use is the fact that it a significantly and impressively reduces black ice, often all accumulation of any ice, therefore reduces freeze-thaw cracks and increases road safety in cold weather.

5. The farmland
Some years the fields seem quieter than others as farmers allow the land to go fallow or change their stock. In this area are corn, cattle, apples, soy, and more. 95% of this region of both Indiana and Michigan is agricultural due to the rich soils, natural organic litter, and perfect rain. Although these fields may seem non-evasive, it is important to remember some key elements about the watershed when discussing this farmland because new techniques and innovative practice can change the landscape, wealth, and water quality of this small sub-watershed. The agricultural fields within the watershed does runoff into the lake and wetlands, but with the proper biofilters, the waters will be just as clean as they should be. In fact, the people who have outreached to the corn and soy farmers for over a decade now, reshaping the regional topsoil loss percentages are now venturing to campaign about the proper reapplication of pasture manure onto nearby cropland. This is an excellent idea for these pasturelands to turn a by-product into money. I suggest, instead, making a trade with the local farmers for food. I also suggest raising organic cattle, which produce organic poo for organic farms. This will slow the eutrophication process, and possibly halt it altogether. Vegetation buffer strips, ha-has, or bio-swales should be added as filters on all pasture/crop land edge that seeps into the watershed.
The land on the farms is thick fluffy topsoil with occasional upturned till and a healthy cover of many soft grasses or healthy crops. The edges are lined with forest overhang and every so many yards is an outcropping of trees which give respite on the hot summer days to the cattle in the fields or the farmers at work. The cattle rarely number more than a couple dozen in any given plot. If rotational schemes are not in place, then they should at least be regionally examined and discussed with cattle farmers. This wetland is lucky to not have the popular hog product and should make zoning restrictions based on the fragile ecosystem and the devastating impact that pigs, specifically, cause to this type of soft soil and to the bacterial defecation of the wetland environments. In the feild, mean vegetation cover is at over 20+% potential treecover, 80% potential groundcover with 1% exposed soil, and a missing layer of shrubbery or low trees.
Livestock do lead to high concentrations of the parasites giardia and Cryptosporidium parvum, which both cause horrible intestinal illness. Although difficult to assess for the specific Cryptosporidium parasite, giardia should be monitored along with weekly monitoring in the summer for e-coli bacteria concentrations. The scare could be incredibly reduced by vegetation buffer zones off any livestock farms. Agroforestry is highly recommended to filter this runoff and make use of its fertilizers before the loosestrife and milfoil does. I should comment that these farmers seem to have some great farming techniques that reduce erosion and land stress. However, they are a long way from sustainable tactics. A wonderful technique being implemented even by the forest service in the west is called grass farming. The Quivera Coalition sponsors facilitations on how to make higher cattle profit by focusing on the health of the land. Provided in the list of books at the end, is a citation of some of their works on the subject. The weblinks can connect you with someone who may be able to help cattle farmers in the Great Lakes Basin. One of their techniques, for instance, is to leave the grass stubble above 2 or 4 inches constantly. It helps to rotate the cattle in roomy fields to achieve this goal. Moderate to conservative grazing makes the most profit. The land should look a little less than patchy when a field has reached its maximum use level. Another way to describe this capacity is that they have eaten about 35% of the food that was available. 80% of New Mexican farmers have already conformed to this technique. They also happily reduce the number of cattle by asking how many cows can 30% of my land feed and cutting that number in half. It may seem crazy, but the monetary return is higher, especially when convinced to use organic techniques and/or stop using heavy antibiotics. The cows are healthier and produce better weights with less destruction to the farm. Fewer animals in a lot have proven to yield more milk. Happy cows, happy milk? ?

6. Roads
It is, honestly, extremely difficult to assess the roads without visiting the site because I have only just finished a grading and drainage class and now have new eyes to see such things clearly with. Before now, the drainage on roads was never something I noticed. Impervious road surface is a large section of this watershed, often demarking the watershed boundaries, although it is difficult to say which direction the road surface slopes. For the purposes of this report, I will use the assumption that half of the drainage falls to each side of the road, in other words the road has a well-formed crown, so long as the topography shows a grading pattern that is compatible with this assumption. Highway and lesser roads shall assume no curb, because most roads have no curb around this watershed. Interstates assume a curb, though also, generally, a drainage point into the watershed nearly every 0.2 miles.
Along the road grow elm, willow, locust, hickory, oak, and an abundance of tall herbaceous species mixed with more berries. The cover, though, is still at 3% potential for the roads. Impervious surfaces conquer all, here, and disrupt the natural cycles of life in their inflexible amenity. Vegetation buffers should be included with careful thought to species. They should be twice as thick as the road, which will draw animals, so chain-link-fencing should be put in in 100-foot sections. Although I feel safety is important to reduce road kill, I also feel that freedom of accessibility and ability to migrate in natural/historical patterns should not be infringed upon, therefore the 100 foot sections should have a five to 20' space between them to also allow free will migration. This fencing and vegetation setup should improve biodiversity on many levels. Also of primary importance, porous concrete would increase the infiltration rate and decrease the runoff remarkably, as we will see below.

E. Geological Soil Inventory

1. Soil types - Rich and Loamy, mixed with sand and/or organics.
Rich organic material covers limestone & shale.
Soil Region loamy mixed with alluvial and outwash deposits, creating clayey loam in some areas and glacial till. Elosian sand deposits perk up under the topsoil horizons, or are exposed when the topsoil is displaced by water, like inlets and the mucky marl bottom of the lake.
The lake rests above 60’ and in one spot 82' of unconsolidated shale at it's deepest areas, but most of the lake is fairly shallow including a wade in of less than 5 feet for a large coushin and seconded by another large coushin which doesn't exceed 15 feet. The mean depth of water is 25'.

2. Soil loss and Storm Water Estimates of different plots
Storm water is a major concern for most municipalities. How to cope with the rising use of impermeable surfaces against the flooding of territories or lack of proper drainage in most regions is an extremely expensive proposition. These are some numbers I have calculated, though there are plenty more qualified than myself to do so. Every time an impermeable surface, like a driveway or a shed is built, the earth which would naturally drink in storm/hose water is covered, leaving neighboring land oversaturated. Not only is the neighboring land taxed, but the water which lands on the impervious surface runs off at accelerated speeds and heightened temperatures causing anomalies the earth was is not prepared to handle in it’s natural healthy state.
Given that the area is 1254735.082095, Length 6380.852430983, and perimeter is 12259066. The surface area is approximately 460 acres. The open lake receives 1196 cubic feet per second (cfs) in a 2 yr storm intensity for 460 acres of surface water. In a 10-year intensity that is 1771cfs. In a 100-year storm event the surface of Lake George directly drinks 2484cfs.
Agricultural fields alone contribute a sizeable amount of runoff. To avoid eutrification, this equation may help to guesstimate the benefits of impervious roads and planting more vegetation around the garages or even on the lake fronts. (Remember that tree TYPE should be either delicious tasting or natural to the habitat.) With a C factor of .61, A of 460, and 2, 10, and 100 yr I of 2.6, 3.85, and 5.4 respectively, the agricultural fields yield runoff of 729.56cfs, 1080.31cfs, and 1515.24 respectively.

The RUSLE - the best way to measure Erosion in Eco-region 56a is a formula similar to this tried and true: Soil loss/yr in tons = A = VM*SL*R*K. This includes the Vegetation Management factor (VM) taking into consideration canopy cover, groundcover, bare ground and fine roots, Slope Length factor (L) considering Jamestown silt/loam 1-2% slope, Slope Gradient factor (S) the overland flow, from where it begins to where deposition begins. Usually between 15 and 600 feet, L= (ft/72.6) to the mth degree. I m= .3 to .6 on a scale of less than 5% to more than 10%. It’s usually five. , Rainfall Erosivity (aka Intensity) Factor (R) = 110*, Soil Erodibility factor (K), K is 0.4 due to the silty loam.

Land Type One: House lot and Garage lot
Concept: Given that sustainable soil loss yields in this lake country region are two to four tons per hectare per year
Equation: Whereby A = <.188, R=110, K=. 32, SL= .13, VM=.041 Capac Loam and Silt with a 1% slope at a length of 25 ft with trees, but no appreciable low brush and an average drop fall height of 13 feet with 75% canopy cover and a surface cover of mostly broadleaf herbaceous plants or un-decayed residues or both covering 80% of the ground, yields 0.188 tons of soil loss per acre per year, under restrictions that 5 tons/acre/year is tolerable and less than 2 tons impeccable.
Conclusion: This really isn’t so bad considering it’s recreational use, constant mowing, never composting, and general clean lawn, fertilizer, insecticide paradigm.
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Land Type Two: Foraging Agroforestry fields for fun.
Concept: Given that sustainable soil loss yields are two to four tons per hectare per year:
Equation: Whereby A = 0.086, R= 110, K= 0.32, SL= 0.81, VM= 0.003
Given the same Capac Loamy silty soils with tree canopy covering only 80+% of the area, because the hills are used for berry picking, but tall grasses grow most of the year because the berries are picked by nomadic peoples who are not foraging for sustenance, but like to keep the forest cleared for tasting. The grass cover is good, above 95% and includes tall grasses. The slopes can be around 10% and coming off of agricultural fields into the lowest contours of the lakefront.
Conclusion: We have found no major soil loss problem, here, and have recovered the fertility of the earth to some significant degree!
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Land Type Three: Agricultural fields. Cows, corn, soy, and apples.
Concept: Given that sustainable soil loss yields are equal to or less than five tons per hectare per year, there is still no appreciable soil loss to worry about, even with no canopy and an excessively long slope length. Given even 3% slopes with 400 ft lengths or more, covered in mostly broadleaf low groundcover and virtually no canopy may sustain the carrying capacity of the soil at little Lake George. Even given a 10% slope, the predicted soil loss was still under a ton/acre/year & stands with integrity at 0.975 tons/acre/year with a tolerable soil loss of 5 tons per acres a year.
Equation: A = 0.22, R=110, K= .32, SL= .48, VM= 0.013
Conclusion: Even cow pastures that have only a 5-10% canopy and very little extra shrubs may sustain an acceptable erosion rate given
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Soil Loss Conclusion:
Coming from an academic research area where erosion problems are systematic, and therefore a gentle use of the land advocated, I was prepared to conclude that intense agriculture and pasturelands stop, but instead, I conclude that the entire area should concede to be more active in farming. However, I also suggest this is done through the use of poly-cropping techniques rather than the current mono-cropping which scares away the osprey, eagles, pheasant, and other endangered creatures. I also suggest that the current agro forestry happening in the area proliferate through continuing and adding to simple foraging techniques and the thoughtful distributions of tasty plants which are also very localized like mint, strawberries, peas, and melons. Sustainable soil loss is already achieved, but under improved conditions of agro forestry, we would also be adding to a green paradigm in a dark corner of draconian understanding in our country. We would be changing how local people view their natural surroundings as abundant rather than exclusive, and the use of motor oil, pesticides, and construction may ease. By shifting the way people view their surrounding homes, unmistakable leaps in NPP (ability of a land to produce consumable foods) have occurred as well as unbelievable shifts in community spirit and neighborly sentiments. For more information, one can study the effects of urban gardens in ghettos, especially from 1995 to the present; a little effort to enrich the feastable materials growing in your surroundings can generate more warm-fuzzy sentiments than imaginable!
The reason the forest - especially agro-forested plots - seems to have the best soil loss outcome is that the groundcover is that there will be larger and more abundant ground cover adding litter and dissolving compaction rates. Also, the recreational area being less than a quarter mile away somehow makes people stay closer to the lake, priming their perfect short grass lawns while allowing the forest to accumulate a little litter and ivy in even the public areas, and the wild areas are covered in thick litter and brambles.
By: Demonstrating that soil loss could ruin the lake by prematurely filling it with sediment and that tasty treats result if we use tactics that cut soil loss, people may grow more food and help contribute to the cost/externalities of transporting food. More so, the generations would all be educated on the abundance of the wild and the indigenous biodiversity of the land, which means this land will, once again, thrive. Under current conditions, the soil is stable. It seems to be very possible in this area to include cattle fields, agro forestry, vacation-residence, and recreational lake activities all within a small quarter-mile square plot, which happens frequently on this lakefront.

B. Problem
Although Soil Loss does not appear to be a problem, region-wide, the acceptable loss is being remedied further by the common acceptance of no till soil process on corn and soybean farms. Food growth is half of the land use in Indiana. For the most part, erosion is under control due to excellent soils, gently rolling contours, and thick cushion of wetlands, and to the harvest season being fairly dry with only surprising and gentle showers (We can probably thank the wetlands for the lack of tornadoes in the local Lake George RSD sub-watershed). However, human impact is tragic and all area land uses should be re-evaluated for an impact statement. Even at a personal level, a new paradigm should be implemented where we rethink our daily rituals and re-evaluate what could be done to lessen our impact on the fragile world around us.

Let us compare a permeable road with an impervious surface in the Lake George Watershed. Because road surface is as large as the lake surface.
With a C factor of .98 compared to .85 at worst for a permeable surface (although 50 to 75 is more likely).
The impervious surface generates a cfs for 2yr, 10yr, and 100yr, respectively, of over 1172, 1735, and 2434, compared to the worst kind of previous concrete cover available giving cfs results of 1016,1505, and 2114 cubic feet of runoff every second. That is over a 400 cubic feet per second difference in direct runoff from the roads sometimes and 1000 cfs saved in more likely calculations. With global warming that storm event happens much more frequently, sometimes twice a summer. Even with normal storm events, the addition of porous cement with maybe a remarkable difference in the quality of lake water, the mottling of the yards, and the pollution of the wetlands.

E. Classifications and Statistical Natural Resource Inventory
1. Problems
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish and Wildlife Lake and River Enhancement Program has recently (Dec. 2006) submitted a proposal, Description of Watershed Diagnostic Study, to assess the sub-watersheds of the state, including water quality monitoring, wetland functions, maps of indicators, land use, diversity surveys, identify possible pollution sources, and describe the current basic conditions of these areas, such as soil type. Currently this missing information makes watershed proposals and area maintenance difficult. Until this information is compiled, analysis of problems and coherent and comprehensive solutions will be difficult for local/public citizens to figure. This document is only a proposal and not yet an assurance this information will ever be available. Even if such information is compiled, the information could be hard to obtain. Although, you can drive to their office to obtain such map, there is no public access otherwise to such information. Easy access to this information is vital. Performing the surveys and having them readily available for professional and public assessment is vital for intelligent debate of crucial topics on the watershed and within its councils and associations. I suggest that everyone who cares for this area write to the DNR, whose contact information is provided in the appendix, and demand quick and professional results are readily available as soon as possible. A link to the information and a user friendly analysis should both be provided on the websites of all associations and councils concerned with this sub watershed, the Crooked Creek sub-watershed, the Snow sub watershed, and the St. Joseph River watershed in general. Another hindrance is the fact that, although there are a few sources which recognize this as a sub-watershed, many may not, and none have given it a name. Also, the only comprehensive statistical information available on the internet through DNR or other scholastically searched databases about Lake George RSD is that it is designated a recreational use, Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation, Aquatic Life Harvesting, and as an Ambient Lake for aquatic life support. It's a fishing lake designed for full-body submersion. However, all check-ups on status have either been improperly done, erased, or never uploaded into any accessible systems. This includes the gauge readings at the two gauge sites beyond the dam. Although the Lake's newsletter reports the findings of some reports, this is, on the whole, a problem.

2. US Forest Recreation Resource Value Classification System
These classifications are handy when applying for grants or loans. To be entirely accurate, an official government agent would have to come and research the area and plug in his/her own conclusion. However, since this area is quite forgotten for now, it is your luxury to apply them as you will, using educated guesses and intelligently supporting your choice.
a. Lake George, RSD should be classified as a Category 2 or 2.5. Category 2 features entailed high value fishery habitat. Category 3 features = moderate value recreational regional resource (according to the 
"Recreation Resource Value Classification System" from the US Forest Service), high value wildlife habitat and moderately stable streambeds and banks. However, it is important to consider that this can be a highest value fishery habitat (class 1) because it may support a threatened or endangered fish or amphibian species or a Regional Forester designated sensitive fish species and/or a State-designated fish species of special concern. The list of endangered etc. species is updated frequently, but the species in the lake is also changing - not always for the better. There are 17 endangered or special concern mussels listed currently in Indiana, and the kidneyshell mussel happens to have proliferated in Lake George RSD, although it is more difficult to find now than it has been in recent decades.
b. Lake George, RSD riparian potential class is also 2.5. Class 2 features include moderate vigor of key herbaceous and woody species reproducing, soil productivity not reduced by more than 10% macrospore potential space, and stream bank stability is at 70 to 89% or more. Class 3 features associated with the Lake George RSD have to do with key species indicators. Key woody species in the riparian complex are present, but, intermingled with, and being replaced by, secondary woody species. Potential key herbaceous species are present and reproducing. Herbaceous cover may be high, but that of key species is only 45 to 69 percent of estimated potential.
c. Wildlife Habitat will certainly be Highest if we can still find a threatened/endangered species in the area. There is every indication that the potential for endangered/threatened species is high in this region, but the claiming of such has not recently been done. We need avid watchers in the area who are keen to research and stalk with their camera diligently, especially in the late fall, winter, and early spring to pinpoint the habits of these creatures. Also, it would be extremely beneficial to reintroduce some species in this area, once the road-kill potential has been somehow reduced.
Without proof of an endangered/threatened species, the wildlife habitat label is High, which means this area contributes to excellent horizontal diversity. I would have to disagree, though. If we have lost these valuable indigenous species, I would say this is an indication that we no longer have excellent horizontal diversity. Now, Lake George, Regional Sewer District, is probably moderate, in this classification, which means the area contributes fair to good vertical/horizontal diversity. Clearly, the current rate of vanishment will soon leave it poor. I don't think the people in this area can handle being fair to good at anything. Always up for a challenge in the realm of perfection, I challenge the new Lake George Watershed council to increase the indigenous diversity of the area while simultaneously reducing road kill.
d. The Aquatic Habitat Condition is Excellent to Good; fishing is at 90% potential, although, there are restocking programs. Bacroinvertebrate biotic condition index (BCI) is around 80% (This is a guess. True tests should be done), with sediment and organic taxa present, but the most sensitive taxa are at depressed levels, and in many areas absent. Streambank stability is at least 90% of the estimated potential, though some beaver/otter would be wonderful for cleaning out the wetlands of invasive species, and bringing back the sacred. When the white and native populations lived here in peace, the beaver was held sacred by both, especially for helping to raise the portage.
e. The IEH, or Soil Erodibility Index and Topographic Hazard class rating is moderately low, as it is sufficiently resistant to erosion so that small patches of exposed soil do not present much problem. This is aided by the fact that the plots rarely have very large sections of grass in one space, and bare soil is typically an eyesore that the residents are quickly embarrassed about. Also, construction is done quickly and the plot also quickly landscaped.

F. Area Rate of Growth and Sprawl
Given that in the top one third of Indiana there are 500 lakes, most of them much larger than this one, and given that this lake has a high retail value, and given that this lake is much further than others from any town center where people would want to use this as vacation homes or a place to commute from, the sprawl here has been kept in check. People only know about this lake and drive the entire way here if their families or very close friends have a house here. However, although sprawl is unseen, the rate of growth is deceptive. Since the 1800s, people have been building cottages on this lake. By the 1920s there was even a small type of zoo. This animal farm held buffalo, deer, elk, and other species of interest. Sometimes the gates wouldn't hold and people would see buffalo running free from their encampment! Dogfish, Bass, 40" garfish, pike, sunfish, crappie, bluegill, and even eels were prized catches from this lake. In the 1950s the US population had enough time and money to buy extra things, and many people built cottages rapidly on this exciting lake at that time for summer cabins. Population grew in the 60s and 70s slowly, but construction slowed to a crawl in the early 1980s. Slowly, each family had children and their children had children, and they all had a dog. Now, the average number of cars which may inhabit a house is 8, and the average number of people who may all share the cottage is 20, although, rarely are there more than 10 or 12 at once, and often, 2 to 6 is normal. Luckily, not all the cottages are used at any one time. Maybe one in three or four cottages are in use most of the summer, and one or two in three on the major holidays. There is an average of four boats docked at each pier. As an average, this means some households have a taste for more. Construction tactics are neighborly and fit the environmental regulation codes, or else they will have neighbors who nag on through the generations. Some of the councils have recently fought against a huge truckstop joining the watershed, as well as multi-family housing in the form of condominiums, which they felt was not at all classy, and cramped their style. Somehow, after much ruckus, the policy makers decided that the condominiums would not be put up, out of righteousness, but the 50+-acre truckstop would go in as planned. Luckily, a private organization sprung from this turmoil and outbid the truckstop for the land. There are still 500 houses, no longer filled with five people each, but now filled with 20 and 6 dogs, which is 10,000 people and 3000 dogs rather than 2500 people and 300 dogs. Also, instead of 500 cars, there are 4,000. A truckstop would have been happy here, nestled with all that bustle and the three interstate junctions between four states, Detroit, Chicago, 2 Great Lakes, highways, County Roads, and far away from many zoning restrictions.
Times are changing faster than any area realizes, and the cottage owners don’t seem to care to get involved in the local politics of the area. However, zoning is a necessity that has been overlooked as something that is only needed in cities, or as a restrictive force against their livelihoods. I propose that this thought-pattern change quickly, and that the watershed council that forms prioritize their actions quickly, rethinking the importance of beauty, integrity, and stability. This means that in order to protect the beauty of their land, which is the reason that they come and the reason the animals and fauna come, they must protect the stability of their land with regulations against sprawl and pollution, big businesses that will take over local business, and possibly genetically modified products in agricultural fields. “Integrity,” which means they must do it in a way that they will feel good about when their children ask why they made the decisions they did. Is this exclusive? Will it gentrify the area? What happened to the farmers? Why is there no more general store? Didn't there used to be cows here? I loved the cows in the morning. Why are there only rich people? Where are all the locals? Integrity means thinking as a community and not as an individual. It means inviting EVERYONE to ALL meetings and having fun, intelligent conversation about what the goals are for the area. It means setting dates and prioritizing, and it means keeping your word. Integrity, beauty, and stability mean you want those things for your watershed/community as much as you want them to shine from within you as you make those decisions. Zoning is not an easy or a linear process. It could take years. However, it could be one of the most important and rewarding things you'll ever do if it's done properly, in joy, integrity, stability, and beauty. And once you’ve found this angelic/bodhisattvic center, just remember the words of the great ecologist Aldo Leopold as decisions are being made, "The combined evidence of history and ecology seem to support one general deduction, the less violent the man-made changes, the greater the probability of successful readjustment.” He is asking if the land will adjust itself to the new order. Can the desired alterations be accomplished with less violence? And then you think, "What do I really want? What does the lake really need? Why? What are all the solutions, and which one would the watershed, whose purpose is to be Mother to all of her creatures, choose?” The answer is usually simple when you always ask the question this way. Simply remember to include all of those creatures in the analysis, including all forms of people, plants, animals, lightning, the previous waters of stream and ecosystems of the lake, sweet moments, and storms.
Zoning may sound like a cuss-word to some people, but proper planning is essential in a world so very crowded. Let's use the simple idea of a new general store. Thank goodness the only convenience store was locally owned and in a more residential area. This strategic accident kept the trash-load down. However, although a general store is a wonderful amenity to a community, its implementation should not be half-hazard. For instance, a 7-11 produces more trash than the area would no how to handle. Corporate headquarters in some huge metropolis in another state regulates the types of products sold. It is imperative that a new general store owner carefully debate which products s/he is selling. In Holland, for instance, a producer of goods is responsible for the entire life of the product. Children are attracted to a general store because they can walk and choose the products they love. The litter potential of young customers is huge, though. Also, the phosphates and chemicals in the supplies sold can be eliminated by a single sustainable formula like Dr. Bronners and, even, simple green. Biodiesle may be also be a powerful heritage revival method. Although I don’t recommend biodiesle be used on global levels, enough gasoline may be produced for the small engines in the boats which run on the lake from the pulled invasives. Some seaweeds are 80 to 90% oil! Water testing and science kits for kids including turbidity and nitrate tests would generate excitement in monitoring the surrounding waters for all ages. Fliers from various environmental watch groups or government environmental agencies may compliment these kits with local knowledge.

G. What needs done and how to do it
1. Problem ID
This watershed has an incredible propensity for the natural forces to proliferate abundance in the land health. The problems in this watershed are completely anthropomorphic.

People and Paradigms
The land seems impeccable, the PNC [the natural biotic community which would arise in the area if there was no human interference] incredible, the diversity of wetland types in this small area is remarkable, and beauty immeasurable. There are three main problems we have not delved into yet, and the first one I'd like to address lies within the people, as wonderful as I know them to be, there are certain habits they will need to change in order to save all of the inspiring qualities of this region from disappearing. Primarily, the use of detergents enriched potting soils, and chemical solvents as well as herbicides, pesticides, and driving too fast. Trimming the grass too low is deterring the wildlife and compacting the soil surface, causing mottling indications. This is also an indication that the cement walls built so carefully around the lake to keep it from flooding are impeding an important process, which may lead to the degradation of the very foundation the houses are standing on that the cottage-owners are trying to save.

2. Analysis
Luckily, the solution to all of the problems in the wetlands is also the people. With their unique talents for networking, intelligence, coordination, their ability to learn from people who have researched, and the experience of generations of both residents (most experience) and cottage owners in this region, this community can make a powerful team.

3. Paradigm shift
I have no doubt that this new team will set precedents and open the eyes of all the lakes in the area with their stunning ability to turn their lake from a sickly, eutrophied, forgotten ditch to a pristine, crystal clear, thriving ecosystem, worthy of being the experimental watershed in the area. Worthy of being monitored and having results published/publicized, worthy of being looked up to as a possibility for all surrounding lakes to begin to idolize for their knowledge. There is no reason why Lake George RSD cottage owners and residents can not be excited and proud to drink their own water and spend hours exploring the aquatic habitats in their own shallow waters (or in the deep!), because all the potential is there, and only a few simple techniques are missing from the current practices to fully realize that potential.

4. Teamwork, activity, and its measurable milestones
a). Begin to come together. In New Mexico we have begun to bring associations working on similar projects together with an umbrella association called Albuquerque Interfaith. Although it sounds religious it is not, but many different types of churches are involved because they care for and create community. What Albuquerque Interfaith does is network between the various groups interested in a certain topic and facilities meetings around that topic, inviting all parties who may want to know, give, or teach (hopefully all parties participate fully). This is easier than it sounds for two very good reasons. Firstly, the umbrella organization is already formed and just has to step up to the plate. It can be one of several associations who care about Lake George, its properties, its people, its diversity, its history, and its future. Secondly, facilitation between all interested parties is easy because I have already compiled a list of interested parties whereupon calling each of these associations and simply saying, "Hello, I'm such and such with so and so. We are having a meeting about this and that and would love if you would come to learn and teach. There are X# of similar associations being invited and we thought it would be a great idea to compile our informations.”
b.) One of these (or several) organizations should compile a comprehensive database where all information on Lake George RSD may be uploaded and downloaded, reanalyzed, and recompiled. Already existing informative websites may contribute the vital information on their site, including links. This database is vital, as mentioned previously in this proposal. The sharing of information will also contribute to the education of the children and to the outreach of the importance of any programs that are held priority in the area. This website should have an open community forum including topics to discuss and community response to pending decisions. Website submitted remarks will be regarded in meetings as if the people are attending and will not be ignored. Be sure to back this database up in case of a system failure!
c.) Invite all interested individuals. Reach out to local residents, stakeholders, cottage-owners, churches, teachers, website readers, the nearest schools, politicians, and to everyone who may be interested and reachable. Meet often and flyer each of the 500 cottage mailboxes twice a summer about meeting times and topics.
d.) Get the children’s summer adventure-investigation working. This is the future of your society. They can also do most of the monitoring and analysis to upload into the database. Parents should donate vehicles or volunteer time, but it would be beneficial to the community to offer the job of exciting and teaching the children to a qualified and excited local resident whose household makes under $50,000/yr as the first preference. See section I on funding for a more detailed overview.
e.) Network with the people who have the monitoring equipment. In the list of interested organizations, Steuben County SWCD's contact Mark Diehm will LEND the equipment, whereby the volunteer will then take the downloadable and easy to use, even with a beer, Indiana Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program Expanded Monitoring Handbook and the equipment over to a couple sites before 10AM every once in a while, and upload it to their website and to the newly formed and exciting Lake George Council watershed website. It seems that there have been 11 years of water monitoring, and that this year 3 locations were monitored for oxygen, nitrates, pH, turbidity, and phosphates. However, this information is not always accurate, easily marred, and not widely available. I encourage many people to explore the techniques of water monitoring, and to post their results widely, if possible with reasons why your results may not be accurate.
f.) Begin to reanalyze the current intelligence on the status, figures, topography, temperature, delineations, etc. on the Lake George RSD watershed. Is this current information intelligent? If not, it is time to form a more current intelligence currently and intelligently so that our future intelligence may be more current and intelligent, and so that we can more intelligently discuss our current intelligent discussions and make intelligent decisions on time and properly. Where is the information located? Why is their no comprehensive database of statistical information on this lake available for stakeholders on the Internet? Fishing for facts shouldn't be a sport that may or may not bring results. Facts should be formatted in a way that we can all discuss intelligently the possible solutions and problems.

CHEMICALS, TOXINS, POLLUTANTS
We have discussed the use of chemicals, and the use of toxic substances as a few generations of buildup. However, there are scientific levels of materials in the watershed that much be watched for. This monitoring process must then be put in that user-friendly database.
Phosphorus is a natural process of organic material weathering. Weathering is high in this region for three reasons. 1. Abundance of organic material to weather readily. 2. Abundance of rain, the quickest weathering process. 3. Industry has left The Indiana Michigan border with heavy acid rain, which increases weathering. Contrary to expectations about debris, the more forest in the area, the less Phosphorus concentration (Brooks, Table 11.4). This is probably due to the infiltration potential of a forest compared to a heavily used and compacted flat lawn with little canopy cover and which drains quickly into the lake. In the 1970s, this area of the Great Lakes Region (between Lakes Michigan and Eerie) became notorious for pollution and investigations were performed before a land ethic was yet commonplace. Due to these studies, Lake George became one of the first areas of the country to put controls on the types of products that could be used. For instance, detergents and fertilizers with phosphorus were banned. There is also a heavy campaign to keep organic “debris” out of the lake, which, ridiculously, only salvages 0.005 mg/L while monitoring agriculture, using intelligent wetland flushing techniques, and agro forestry tools could lead to an extremely high reduction of 0.095 mg/L. A campaign like that is a great tool to generate awareness and because even a little bit of phosphorus present boosts the health of nitrogen, it is an important step in the right direction. Begging for the composting of leaves as a salvation to the phosphorus problem generates the wrong idea about the true source of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.
The true problem is far greater, and a much touchier subject for the area. Normal Phosphorus levels for this areas indigenous species are 0.014 mg/L due to the dense forests that used to preside here. "Acceptable" national standards are currently 1.0 mg/L, and this year Chris Bickel found Lake George RSD levels to be at 0.07 mg/L. What really raises the phosphorus levels is animal waste. Even the humans. We have solved the human sewage problem. Techniques should be implemented immediately to curb the Phosphorus levels from the agriculture that raises the P levels. The current level of phosphorus would not be so shocking if this region wasn’t naturally low in phosphorus rates. However, given the plethora of growth that occurs here and the sensitive nature of the types of creatures which should live here, these phosphorus ratings are too high and taxing the biotic diversity.
Farmers should also be monitored for or monitoring fertilizer use on their crops, and rewarded for using techniques like natural fertilizer. At the same time, farmers must be recognized and exonerated as a necessary and wonderful benefit to both people and the abundance of the region. Planting more trees along the lake and especially between the roads and house could lower P levels 0.005 to 0.02 mg/L. Curbing the agricultural mistakes could reduce P to acceptable levels. Although it may never return to the indigenous 0.014 mg/L, a celebratory goal could be 0.040 mg/L. With a campaign sign like the United Way uses, the property products sold in the local convenience store, and the proper PR, levels could come way down. Although forest debris should be left there, debris from the house lots could be raked, packaged, and picked up by the local farmers to use as compost on their fields. Naturally higher in local Phosphorus and nitrates, this could eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers, especially if eggshells are thrown in with it, too, because the soil is extremely acidic and industrial rain has left the soil calcium deficient. Accelerated calcium levels will not affect the fish. Also, limestone porous cement mediates the acid in the rainfall runoff.
Contrarily, the new municipal sewer plant is working wonders on the PNK concentrations and eutrophication is already reversing. A few more beautiful steps toward sustainability and this lake will be beautifully healthy. E-Coli levels this year were outstanding at 12 mg/L considering the national standard for swimmable waters is 235.Magnesium levels should stay below 14 mg/L once the lake is cleansed of overabundance of N/P. If the level of Mg is higher than 100, the fish could be severely effected. Some Mg is to be expected, though, from the decaying glacial till. Potassium should also be monitored for a while. Lake George should have a concentration beneath seven mg/L. The actual rate may be alarming, but it should be known that 400 and over kills fish. If the levels are over 700 mg/L, it is toxic to even invertebrates.
Many dissolved nutrients that enter a wetland can be taken up by wetland plants resulting in lower nutrient loads leaving a watershed than entered. It is this 'cleansing' function that is often seen as a valuable benefit of wetlands on a watershed. Whether this is true depends on the water quality constituents and the type of wetland. -- (Brooks, 2003)
With properly functioning anaerobic conditions, nitrogen is dentrified and eaten by plants. If phosphorus is really still a large problem, the wetland will have a carrying capacity for it and eventually send excess in soluble form back out, and over the land. Porous cement can alleviate some of this runoff.


Concrete Lining
Most cottages and houses built on the waterfront have a huge concrete lining “protecting” their land from the powerful forces of the water. Reflections on Lake George gives a more accurate description of the start of this trend, but from memory, it seems that the Cottage Association decided on September 21st 1927 that their should be a wall built so that in the coldest months of the winter the water at a specific mark the water would be very deep, and from early spring through summer, the water would be lower, and two years later the dam was suggested to monitor the levels. However, in all recent literature from the past 15 years, it has been proven that this damming/lining process is detrimental. Here are some important thoughts and reasons the linings should slowly be removed as they crumble rather than repaired:
1. Makes any flood peak higher, but there is a dam to keep floods in check.
2. Lining raises the frost-line.
3. Lining keeps much of the infiltrated nitrates and agricultural cattle runoff from flowing into the lake for dilution before reentering the soil as cleaner water resulting in mottling.
4. Lining keeps the banks stable as they are holding houses on at a setback of only twenty
feet.
5. Global warming experts agree that the Great Lakes region will only become wetter. Lake
6. George is squished a short distance between Lake Eerie and Lake Michigan, and not far from others. The water will rise, and with concrete walls, the flood will be worse than with gabion filter walls, boulders, or a lovely natural slope of thick healthy forest.

Remedies:
1. Gabion baskets 2 thick & supported with wire spikes should replace them as the old walls crumble. They are sturdier than the larger boulder walls set up occasionally now, and will filter the exchanging water better.
2. To test the worthiness of replacing concrete lining, check the mottling on sites near plots with no wall in comparison with areas completely lined in concrete. Mottling is the patches in a lawn that appear rather than a uniform green, as if the lawn has gone pale in areas. This is caused by waterlogged soil. Sinkholes may form from soil integrity loss causing cottage foundations to crack and severe lines to break.
3. If there is fear of releasing this concrete lining, or fear of releasing the need for a dam, some current (1990s and beyond) research is imperative. However, in the in the moment, there are some techniques for reducing the hazards of the lining.
4. Proper landscaping techniques can reduce the hazards of the lining. For instance, to minimize runoff and increase infiltration, consider landscaping the yards from the flat and sparsely vegetated plane they create now, to a rolling and forested area with thick comparatively vegetation and taller grass growth.
5. Porous limestone cement siding walls may be used as a last resort and never never touch normal concrete again.

H. Recommendations for Implementation
Before anything can be resolved in a rural area where there is little or no legal monitoring (except a few boat cops), each person must wonder not what their watershed can do for them, but what they can do for their watershed. Pretend for a moment that this watershed is your mother, who has nurtured you, comforted you, and taught you to swim. She gave you solace from the city, and a nice place to pet fish between your toes, and swim with your dog even though you’d just eaten lunch. Just ponder that for a minute. Ponder all the beauty she has given you. Although that beauty will continue to shine, and her integrity be strong, she can only continue to do so as long as she is stable. Humans stretched her carrying capacity to the limits. It's time to give back to your mother or she will falter, her beauty wane, her stability shatter, and her integrity, finally, give out. We are at a crucial point in the history of this watershed. It can begin to grow old at an exponential rate of decay, or we can begin to nourish it. Like a woman at 60, she must decide to take care of herself and become more beautiful, rich, and able than ever before, or to fall into the entropy of time quickened by anthropomorphic stress and die. A watershed can die. A lake can die. It happens often that lakes fill in, and the rate is exponential, which hits before you know it. Studies can be done to monitor the rate of decay or growth to see what can be expected. But I suggest, before you write her will, that you do a little yoga for her. Find joy and integrity within yourself that you've learned while riding your bikes around her beautiful round concentric development. Find the intelligence you've learned from the natural system of concentric planning she entails. Find the stability and strength within yourself to donate a couple hours every weekend to diving into these plans. Because without the work of every kind of stakeholder, this land cannot heal to it’s full potential.
1. Paradigms shifts need education, PR, model programs, and vigor.
2. Community input and respect: all ages, all incomes, all educations, all professions, all diversities, and all spiritualities, all concerned.
3. Tools required for implementation of any major changes.
For instance, changes in the structures of the retaining walls or dam. Any tools should first be requested from the powerful pool of bold networking capabilities, explained earlier, before a job is contracted.
4. There will be a cost-benefit analysis for every decision based on the model I use here for my decisions. However, before this model is inserted, let's remember some more words about economics. Aldo Leopold wrote these words, as he watched his natural lands turn to suburbs, "Finally, there is Draba, beside whom even Linaria is tall and ample. I have never met an economist who knows Draba, but if I were one I should do all my economic pondering lying prone on the sand, with Draba at nose length.” He is speaking of the smallest of flowers. Since he wrote those words in 1948, the world has changed dramatically. As we watch the degradation of our environment crumble all around us, and notice a different species missing from the world every day, we have figured some things out about those tiny things we failed to notice as we crushed them underfoot. Scientists now know the importance of these unnoticed species, and have finally convinced some economists that they are important. Now, there is proof in many governmental grants that the integrity of our species diversity directly relates to our abundance and the ability to sustain ourselves, even, as a species.
Municipal COST : NONE
Wetland Benefits of protection: Every acre of wetland is worth close to $9,000 in this region. Why? Wetlands filter toxins, which are proven high in this area. Wetland buffer weather. This is tornado country, but as long as there are proper lands that give and take properly, there is less severe weather. This is why tornado footage of severe structural damage is always of large lots of areas that have been raped until there isn't even topsoil left, in most instances. Wetlands give the endangered species habitat. In a zoo, a habitat, or a 'special restriction' den, the keepers would have to pay thousands for their care.
Vegetation buffers between houses (20% of the house lot) would cost relatively little because tree saplings are often free, especially on Arbor Day. However, specialty trees could cost the owner $50 to $150/each, and only four would be needed, more so, though, I recommend shrubbery and groundcover, but especially swales and hills. As this is not a sweeping project, recommending that some outside body generate the money for everyone's lawn, but rather a general recommendation of goodwill, every family would decide what they enjoy best. My prediction is that, at best, one in ten families will hire a landscape architect to design their places ecologically friendly. This is 50 houses with projects totaling $2500. $2500 may be about what they would pay for flood insurance in 25 years, but it also covers insuring their pipes don’t freeze, their water table remains high, and the A horizon regenerates in their lawn, protecting their pleasure, creating a private nook even with nearby neighbors, and protecting the very foundations of their cottages. A foundation cracked from severe mottling costs well over $20,000, and then they’d also want to rebuild the house. Aside from this, they’ll feel good about contributing to the watershed, and be able to sell their eco-friendly design for an added price value to the house of no less than $20,000, especially if there are fruit trees involved in the cove. Some financial return statements quote up to a 32% increase in the house. Best of all, lawn mowing is kept to a minimum, which homeowners will love, and so will Earth for all the oil spills saved. In addition, even the public works department has touted buffer zones effective remedies for shoreline erosion and drainage complaints. Schueler, in 1995, figured that every mile will protect at least a dozen acres of wildlife habitat. Given that this is a wooded wetlandish area, most of the waterfowl and amphibians will find great respite there during the noisy hours of speedboats on the lake. My guess is, that given the general excitement to regenerate lawns and the fervor of creating buffers with CORRECT SPECIES DIVERSITY AND TYPE, aggregate home values will rise by a few million dollars.
Although Wood-Land-and-Lakes (Below) would better be able to assess the cost of putting in previous concrete against the benefits, the storm water runoff cost for the municipality is incredible given what they have to do to clean the water. Imagine what that means for the lake. The estimate is that for every parking space removed, a thousand dollars is saved immediately, with up to $10,000 in a lifetime. So, if we just use the low estimate of immediate returns, it is easy to see that 500 houses of six parking spaces returns $30,000 immediately. Added to that the countless acres of hot asphalt currently affecting the small watershed simply as road, and every acre of this asphalt costs at least $8000 to repot it. What are we swimming in? What is it worth to clean the lake to pristine quality, where ospreys and bobcats have been seen, flying squirrels and giant fish! This watershed's people pay enough taxes and fees annually to upkeep pristine roads. This time, it would be worth the small upgrade in price in the beginning for the giant upgrade in returns. For exact price, please see the phone number below for Land-Lakes-& Woods who have networked with porous concrete (aka previous concrete) contractors and educators.
Children's program. What does it cost to take care of a bunch of children for a summer? For only half the day, and never take them farther than two miles from their guardians? It may cost $15,000.00/yr. And if we fed them hearty vegetarian meals and gave them fancy monitoring equipment to make theirs eyes grow wide and their attitudes chill, it may even cost $20,000.00 every summer. If an average of two children came in every 4,000 vehicles possible, and each child came only once a summer (though many will attend at least 6 days a summer) @ 10.00/child (Scholarships are awarded to all who request), then this is $80,000 generated in one summer. Imagine the benefits! That could pay the extra cost on the cement. The next project it could create the perfect orchards of fruit, nut, sassafras, mint, melons, cattails, tiger lilies, and cottontail habitat, with enough room for a beautiful fort made of canvass tarps, which rolls back into a tiny ball and hides in a waterproof snug when the journey is over. The children’s program benefits do not stop there, though, they go far beyond this. As the children's minds are awakened to the world around them, arrogance and selfishness slip from their minds. Their minds open to life, to patterns, to science, to knowledge, and in respect, they grow beautiful with integrity. This stability creates amazing adults with minds of steel and hearts of compassion, who owe it all to the Lake George Watershed, where they have roots still. The possibilities are endless.
In all, raising community spirit through direct action and attention to healing something outside of oneself creates benefits that are immeasurable. Sustainability means it will last forever. Educating youth is of primary importance in all sustainable plans. Like we tithe our church, our parents, our children, and our angelic miraculous acquaintances in different ways, so, too, will we give generously to a watershed that opened our minds. The benefits of an open soul are boundless, and if you are still worried about the financial cost-benefit, I think I have more than proven it is lucrative. Further readings can be found in section K.
5. Policy control: All policies can and should be monitored by public outcry and intelligent research. Other important tools include careful documentation, political networking skills and ties, and the use of an intelligent cost-benefit analysis in the right place at the right time. In order to ensure that the public is heard, a public forum should be immediately added to all websites discussing the issue.
Policies that may need to be rectified will be through the DNR, Steuben County, Indiana Supreme Court, Indiana Department of Transportation, Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan Supreme court, Branch County, Kalamazoo Region, The Great Lakes Watershed Council, the St. Joseph River Watershed Council, the Crooked Creek Watershed Council, and the Snow Watershed Council.
6. Networking: Who are the engineers, landscape architects, planners, teachers, geologists, hydrologists, field surveyors, lawyers, and grant writers? This list can be much larger. If everyone who comes to the meetings or browses the database online could contribute their information and the information of the people in their close networks who would be willing to volunteer, trades favors with, or contribute at cost their expertise, the phone number, contact name, and field of expertise should be catalogued for future reference. There are ethics involved with this list, though, which must be considered, and it may take an intelligent web-designer to find a solution so that not more than four people may access this document. A specific privacy policy is up to the people of the lake to decide upon, as it is their community.

I. Funding
1. Contributions and Taxes - Money is NOT a question for most homeowners who would gladly pay a few hundred more in taxes, tax-deductible contributions for to a fundraising cause which directly protects or enhances the value of their investments, to resolve problems they are causing to their neighbors environment, or to enhance the experience of their children’s vacation/education
2. Grants are available from a number of sources looking for sustainable solutions to problems concerning endangered species, Clean Water Act, and involving children.
Grants are available from a number of sources looking for sustainable solutions to problems concerning endangered species, Clean Water Act, and involving children. Addresses and telephone numbers are available in section K with a small annotation of their programs.
3. Prestige & Favors - The people on this lake have a large group of people they rub elbows with and trade favors with. Anything they need resolved can be accomplished simply by networking and volunteering to do trade favors, or by calling those favors owed forward. The kind of people involved in their networks range from contractors, to plumbers, to natural resource specialists and key political figures.
4. Loans can be taken when the cost-benefit analysis shows the money will soon be reimbursed. In the 1990s, a large loan was taken out and reimbursed for the implementation of better water and wastewater treatment, except for one dollar. With that outstanding debt, they were eligible to receive a grant larger than the multi-million dollar loan a year later.
5. Most of these proposals generate a profit directly. Excess profit generated by locals who gross less than $50,000 should be kept by those locals. All other profits should be regenerated to a fund specifically organized for the priorities of this watershed, which are intelligently discussed and decided upon by whichever watershed council is decided upon by the stakeholders, residents, and other interested parties in a fair manner of voting. I recommend consensus council under proper facilitation. However, given the nature of this group, a democratic vote of over 76% of all members of the watershed council who can prove they are well versed in all possibilities may be adequate for prioritizing.
6. Membership fees. - Most associations and conservation councils associated with this sub watershed have annual (etc.) fees. While I find this a bit exclusive, it does generate a profit large enough to invite professionals to discuss aspects of the watershed in more detail than already known as well as to pay for beer, wine, pretzels, coffee, and donuts at the meetings. In order to allow more people to join, I propose a sliding scale application process upon request. Because fees are generally between $15 and $40/yr, only people who really have need will ask, and all who fill out the form will be allowed to join for free. Although I oppose the recommendation that those who enter for free should have to volunteer time (because these are the people who have less time, generally), I have no qualms with recommending that all members must serve as a volunteer a respectable amount of time annually: maybe ten hours. This can include taking up monitoring tasks, arranging speakers for presentations, networking for the prioritized needs, raking Eurasian milfoil from the lake, picking up children for the morning adventure-investigation group, or any number of other important duties.

J. Summary of the most important of these proposals
1. Community Involvement and Excitement
2. Children’s activities
3. Reassessment of this watershed through monitoring
4. Database accessible by everyone
6. Previous concrete or other porous cement/asphalt
7. Bioneer the solutions, herbicides can kill everything!!
8. This area is historically diverse and includes rare forms of life. Currently, the wetland types are still diverse and rare. Without this diversity, the lake and wetlands will quickly fill in and die.
9. Involve all agencies interested in the area.
10. Check out the new ideas!! They work well!!
11. Bring beer/refreshments to all meetings
12. Use & sell only eco-friendly products in this sensitive system.
13. Boost the local economy through as many decisions as possible.
14. Always remember you are stronger together than apart, and each of you is amazing!!
15. Much of the current information on this area is wrong, outdated, or otherwise messed up and should be redone.
16. Agroforestry. Plant more historic trees, and less/no more pine.
17. Continue to invest in your investments and use your innate tools.
18. The PNC or potential for extreme beauty and biotic diversity, including clean water and thriving soils is very possible in this area. Biodiversity will increase with more resources (wetlands, fodder…), more energy (water & climate), and less restraint (road kill, fear of going near water or having no safe place to sleep, pesticides, herbicides, toxins).
19. Comprehensive list of all agencies remotely juristic, interested, or working on the compiling of information of the watershed and its components.





K: NETWORKING: GET TO KNOW THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTO THE SAME STUFF! YOU ALL HAVE INFORMATION FOR EACH OTHER AND TOOLS AND JOKES!!

Lake George Cottage-Owners Ass.
Lake-George.org
Beer can races, legal dam issues, weed control, best start for a web database yet, though the interactive part is still in the works.

Lake George Council
Frances Ort 420 Lane 201A
Freemont, IN 46737
260-833-0917
As per my recommendation, they do rally people in with booze and take due note of the money and prestige in their collateral. They need exciting speakers, topics and events.

Lake George Conservancy
Environmental Director: Linda Hagerman 517-238-8635
Land Use Director: Bill Brenneke 517-238-4583
$25 annual membership “in addition to annual giving.” Monitoring water and ecosystem, inform the public of their activities. Buy land from being ruined. They outbid a huge truckstop from ruining the watershed. However, they also planted 600 pines as an interstate buffer in an area that should be oak, hickory, apples, and cherries. They can be taught if networked with the other organizations on the list.

Sewer Systems Superintendent:
Jim Humbarger
Meetings 2nd Tue/month @ 6:30 across the state line on 27 @ old Popeye’s shop.
Performs e-coli tests.

Steuben County Lakes Council
Sue Myers 260-665-1730
“I’ll Answer your questions quickly!!!” $50 buys annual membership which meets @ a church and gives $ to a scholarship for a small town college student studying environmental engineering. They also have a great newsletter and enjoy outreach.

Sheriffs Dept.
Steuben Co. 260-668-1000 ext 5000
Branch Co. 517-278-2325

Wood-Land-Lakes Resource Conservation & Development!!!!! ****
Kathy Latz
260-665-3211, ext. 5`
www.wood-Land-Lakes.org
Porous concrete outreach, friendly vibe outreach, networking, and more
NE IN farmland protection. Sponsoring Lake George Water Quality Monitoring. They know how to get people EXCITED, may give a class on hosting events that really rally the community.

Steuben Co. Soil & Water Conservation District
Peachtree Plaza 200 1220 N 200 W Angola, IN 46703
260-665-3211, ext. 3 Fax 260-665-2400
22 years of child outreach. Created in 1948 by the people to ensure sustained community natural resources as an autonomous collective. Technical, financial, educational help liaison between officials and the people. Conservation Easements where everyone is happy.

DEQ Env. Assist. Center - Michigan
Office of Geological Survey
Oil & Gas, Mineral Wells, and Mining programs
Kalamazoo District Office 7953 Adobe Rd.,
Kalamazoo, MI 49009-5026
269-567-3500 Fax 269-567-9440

DEQ Environmental Assistance Center 1800-662-9278 Fax 517-241-0673
deq-ead-env-assist@state.mi.us
DEQ Pollution Emergencies 1800-292-4706 www.michigan.gov/deqogs
For sudden spills, large or small.

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Remediation and Redevelopment Division Kalamazoo District Office
David O’Donnel, Supervisor
7953 Adobe Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
269-567-3500 Fax 269-567-9440
To find out about brownfield/superfunds/USTs
To get to the heart of a matter, cont: Ron Smedley smedley@michigan.gov

Pheasant Habitat Development Program
www.steubenswcd.org/index.htm
$$ Increasing the pheasant population with cost sharing program for proper habitat development through landscape design & mgt. Steuben Co.

Nature Conservancy
Fish Creek Wetlands Reserve Program
260-665-9141
13 yrs in this watershed, and now there is $$$$$ for reforestation and landowners in Fish Creek to preserve the wetlands.
Friends of St Joe River Ass, Inc.

NRCS Field Office
387 N. Willowbrook Rd. Suite F, Coldwater, MI 49036
Phone: (517) 278-2725
They have soil surveys available on CD-ROM

Al Smith
PO BOX 345
Athens, MI 49011
269-729-5174
www.fotsjr.org and Fotsjr01@sbcgloball.net
Networking communities in St Joseph River watershed.

Hoosier Riverwatch
Lyn Creighton
Ft. Harrison State Park-NREC
5785 Glenn Road
Indianapolis, IN 46216-1066
317-541-0617
www.riverwatch.in.gov and Riverwatch@dnr.IN.gov
Free stream monitor training. Equipment grants,

Petty Trust
Petty Trust
18570 Framingham
Southfield MI
PettyEstates@aol.com
$ for restoration/conservation.

ILMS Mini-Grants
AndI Pierce
ILMS Grants Coordinator
ILMS Small Grants Program
PO BOX 724
Brownsburg, IN 46112
317-852-4122
Apierce@indy.rr.com

Conservation Security Program
NRCS District Conservation
Richard Neff
260-665-3211 ext3
If your watershed is announced in October as nationally selected, there will be grant money available for the best qualified applicants $$$.
Match ¼ of $5000 project. Grant winners will have an EPA 319 standard project including education, monitoring, stabilization, habitat improvement, or storm/sewage management for areas lacking. No nasty invasive practices allowed to enter. $$$ available for a couple years at least, deadlines Feb, May, and July first annually. Write above for application

Water Watcher of Indiana
John Rouch
10464 North Grove Rd
Milford, IN 46542
219-658-9108
Jrouch@npcc.net
Water monitoring training.

Wetlands Conservation Ass.
Allan Puplis
PO BOX 133
Stevensville, MI 49127-0133
616-429-1862
Wetlands. Children. Endangered Species. MDEQ Wetland permit watch.

St Joseph River Basin Commission
Karen Mackowiak
227 W. Jefferson Blvd #1120
County-City Building
South Bend, IN 46601-1830
219-287-1829 Fax: 574-287-1840
www.sjrbc.com/ and sjrbcplanr@aol.com
Monitor the entire river basin, especially water quality and litter. They also answer questions.

St Joseph River
Larry Clemens
1220 N 200 W Peachtree Plz Ste G
Angola, IN 46703
219-665-9141
Tncfish@bright.net
Wetland demos, State Windbreak program, Lg. No-till drilling, Forestry field days, Clear Lake monitor, monitor pesticides & e-coli @ 15 sites.

Indiana Lakes Management Society
Everett Lienhart
22541 Lakeshore Dr.
Elkhart, IN 46514
219-264-2883
www.indianalakes.org
IN Lake/Reservoir management. Information. Networking for watershed management and protection. Fishing. Toxins. Proposal in place for policy.

L. Other Incentives $$$$$$$$ not listed above. Dig deeper into available funds so you don’t have to dig deeper into your own.
33 US.C. 1289 Clean Water Act of 1977. - This money goes to rural landowners who use the Best Management Practices outlined there to control nonpoint solutions. Easy enough!
Indiana River Friendly Farmer program
Agricultural Preservation Fund
Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program
Farmland and Open Space Preservation program
CRP - Conservation Reserve Program - 10-15 yr homestead.
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) $$ to fix up your private wetland.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program- Help improve agriculture problems in all natural, sustainable, kind practice.
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program - Improve wildlife on private land. 10-yr cost-share
Grassland Reserve Program: Grass Farming techniques!! Boost your cattle productivity $$$ by working and worrying less

Other important areas w/ easily found addresses:
Steuben County Compost
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Transportation
Purdue University
Indiana University
IPFW
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

M. Don't make any decisions without purchasing this Reading list:
Many are freely downloadable from the internet.

Brooks, Kenneth N., et al. Hydrology and the Management of Watersheds. Iowa State. 3rd ed. 2003.

Center for Watershed Protection. 2001. Economics of watershed protection (#30).

DNR. 2006 Wildlife Diversity Report. www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/e...yReport-web.pdf

Herring Lakes. Herring Lake Aquatic Management Plan. Benzie County. 10/05.

Indiana Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program: Expanded Monitoring Handbook. 04/01. Volunteers, IDEM, IU SPEA. 2001.

Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County Almanac: with Essays on Conservation From Round River. Oxford. 1966.

Michigan's Special Animals. web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/data...nimals.cfm

Melchi, Jean et al. Reflections on Lake George. 1994.

Salmon, Glen. Wildlife Diversity Repot. 2006. Indiana Conservation Action Plan. 2006.

White, Courtney. The Working Wilderness. Western Perspective Insight and Analysis. Headwaters News. 01/04/06. www.headwatersnews.org/WhiteW...06.htm. 04/19/06.
Grass Farmer. Western Perspective Insight and Analysis. Headwaters News. 04/01/04. www.headwatersnes.org/p.whiteMo...0104.html. 04/19/06.
The Working Wilderness: A Call for a Land Health Movement.







Thank you for enjoying this information with an open mind. I hope you read it again and again. I hope you add to its knowledge and find something to refute with your monitoring techniques. Go out and make this unique area the pristine and beautiful place you want to be. Your castle is built, you just have to feel like kings and queens, princes and princesses… and stewards for the environment.

Star Light
Soc 280-005
5/8/7 ::1 Eagle/1 Moon
Final Research Proposal

Case Studies of the Network Strength within the Rainbow Family of Living Light: Strong Enough for Sovereignty?

I am proposing a Case Study of the ability of one “tribe” to govern & care for itself using both desk and field research, emic and etic review, qualitative and quantitative properties, as well as both network analysis surveys and interviews. As a member of the Rainbow Family of Living Light (RF) for over a decade, I have attended their gatherings all over the nation of all sizes, from conception to end, and been an integral part of the co-creation process. Upon approval of this proposal, I will be able to conduct some non-biased research as an insider which could contribute to the RFs evolution as a community by allowing them to intelligently discuss, assess, and re-evaluate any shortcomings they may have in relation to their sovereign strength and abilities, including any co-dependence they still foster on other systems of governance or forms of infrastructure and basic need development. To reveal their trade network (TN) strength, previous research will enhance my methodologically scholarly and important research. The survey questions are simple and answers will reflect the self-efficiency of the Rainbow Family by listing trade categories that are fulfilled or lacking. I hypothesize this research will evolve the current conversations on the RF and its possible evolution or contributions, especially for sociologists.
Although notorious and with over a million members, many people do not know who the RF are, and those who do often have misconceptions. They have roots both in Vietnam Veterans and in indigenous prophecies. They have been called a family, a tribe, a nation, an organization, but the consensus of their council will only agree on “family.” The indigenous prophecies attributed to this group come from around the globe. Several tribal elders had the same prophecy while seeing the destruction of Earth and their peoples. Certain vision seekers from each tribe also saw a collective of diverse individuals who found joy and strength, and created a new paradigm to overturn this force of greed, hate, and destruction into an inspiring wealth of joy, intelligence, respect, and love. These people seen in the visions also amazed the destructive forces with their ability to regenerate the Earth. Each prophet, individually, named these people the Rainbow. Among others, the Hopi, Lakota, Cree, and Aborigines have all, upon witnessing this family in action, expressed that the RF is, indeed, this Rainbow nation. RF gathers many times throughout the year, often on public lands, exercising their freedom of assembly. They use the public lands for several reasons, most importantly because there are so many of them and because respect for nature is their core value. Spirits are high and excitement, laughter, song, music, play, and hugs, and healing/prayer are everywhere at these events, which range from 12 to 30,000+ attendees. RF is incredibly diverse, including genres from gutterpunks to full Krishna camps, from childbirths to deaths, and from poverty to wealth. When they gather, the major theme is Welcome Home, which is such a powerful statement that it often brings tears and joy simultaneously. The RF’s basic infrastructures, ethics, and gatherings are well documented. The aims of this research are to add to the current literature and discussions a review of the network strength of its trade network system in order to encourage more intelligent dialogue about their abilities and weaknesses, including the possibility of sovereignty and the deconstruction of the discrimination profiling with which they have been targeted. It is my belief that with simple analysis of contemporary literature on key concepts and the addition of a trade network analysis, we could dissolve the stigmas and oppression against the RF, which impedes their process of regenerating beauty.
I am testing a theory that they are strong enough to declare sovereignty, not only as individuals, but as a nation based on already documented evidence of unique, strong, and impressive culture, tradition, and intelligence and contrary to the continuous slander of branches of the federal government, who, in nearly every documented case has had to eat their words in apology during a directly related epiphany. Among the Rainbow Family of Living Light is constant and internally controversial dialogue and debate on sovereignty, yet outside RF is gossip about their weakness.
To better understand why TN strength analysis is vital and comprehensive research at this moment, it is important to peek at the previous research of some crucial concepts. Scholarly literature on RF mostly stems from the USDA & Forest Service, which describes general ethics, nature, entity, their legal review, and their manifest effect on the environment specifically where they hold our annual (and occasionally where they hold our regional) events. These reviews do not discuss RF power, latent effect, influence, relation, or inherent cause. The "undocumented" portions are clearly seen by members and documented well in underground passages. The social power of the rainbow has been underrepresented and remains nearly a subconscious phenomenon, but is easily studied and assessed.
A simple solution and logical follow-up to this claim of many government branches that the RF need their services based on the “inability” of RF to cope without them is to analyze the RF’s occupational ability and their functioning strength. This means analyzing their trade network strength, which analyses the connectivity between work groups, professions, abilities, and their extensions to the people who need those resources. Sociological reports are a mainstay in this research. Andrew Abbot clearly discovered incredible gaps in TN sociological and economic research. This case study will cover at least twenty of his reported gaps. Blum and Dudley’s TN analysis of Weber shows that the RF will expand. Peterson and Anand show amazing conclusions that can prove the RF is not a subculture, but a genuine culture in their analysis of trade networks. Many scholars have proven the depth of conceptual conclusions possible through TN analysis.
Let us also review the historic research on sovereignty. Sovereignty is currently being fought for on many fronts, including the secession of the entire state of Hawaii and the notoriously dangerous and uncouth posse comitatus. The generic definition of sovereignty is to be free from dependence and control of foreign power subjugation and the freedom to be the self-sufficient source of political power. Though a peaceful request, analyzing the violently rowdy history of their sovereign movements clearly unveils some reasons they are oppressed by militant forces and, often, the local public. However, it also clearly proves why these ridiculous tactics of profiling are ludicrous, unnecessary, unfair, and infringing on their constitutional rights to gather and to be diverse (Le Billion, Bearce & Fisher, US Senate, Anti-Defamation). Also, USA gives over $300,000 annually to monitor the RF (Le Billon). TN analysis combined with historical research on sovereignty and their diversity and commitment to integrity and compassion will show, clearly, their peaceful movement toward sovereignty (Le Billon).
Sovereignty is mentioned in this proposal not as a major aim of research, but to express one of the reasons why this research is vital. RF discusses sovereignty because they are oppressed. They gather to be together. As RF is spread throughout the world, each person usually on missions to bring intelligence and peace to the confusing oxymoronically tyrannical global society, this joining as family reminds them to be strong in their efforts. There is much prayer and goodwill. However, there is another force which also gathers. A force who documents, degrades, and disgusts the RF, although they still show it's individual enforcers compassion and welcome them. For over 20 years, the forest service has documented their gatherings, frustrated by the impact they initially appear to be having on their lands. Every time, they have publicly retracted their statements of disgust, claiming awe-struck surprise at the abundance they actually left behind, but it is always too little too late. Also attracted to these gatherings are SWAT teams, National Guard, police, undercover agents, and locals who want them eliminated. Despite their presence, the Rainbow Family of Living Light sing, dance, pray, and offer them food and healing generated with compassion. However, not all is peaceful. Although RF protocol does not allow guns beyond the gatherings borders, this external force carries weapons openly. Every member of RF has a story to tell of their children, brothers, sisters, or selves having these weapons pointing at them, even on obviously pregnant women and children. The brutality is too overwhelming to describe, but I will mention pregnant women tied to trees for asking questions, and families separated as hordes of RF members were rounded up and taken away in cattle-cars. It is difficult to explain to the children, who witness, why they allow such atrocities at their gatherings of peace, and why they are oppressed in their moments of greatest happiness. It is for this reason that they discuss, as a family, sovereignty. Literature on sovereignty, militia groups, and Rainbow history will be studied in order to disprove popular theories about their “need” to be patrolled - especially during their family gatherings & during sacred ceremony - but, hopefully, it will also cap the intense profiling that also occurs outside of these gatherings. The preservation of a truly beautiful enriching culture is at stake.
Are they strong enough to step back from the entire nation of the US? Are they more capable than the rumors that lead to their oppression tout? If they are, they may not need to step away from the USA, but simply to publish the findings of their intelligence, capacity, stewardship, environmental/economic impact statements, and incredibly able trade network strength in order to develop a strong case against oppressive forces and ignorance that leads to incredible friction within their society. This can all be done through previous research analysis and an analysis of RF TN. RF were the first people in the aftermath of Katrina to chainsaw through to the ninth ward and begin to feed people, as well as administer medicine, laughter, music, and hope. The Rainbow family fed state police, firemen, sherrif officials, and other federal or state officials as well as residents. They could do this because they are capable, well versed in emergency, well educated in working without electricity and on necessities. They could do this because they are anarchist and did not wait for a permit from a government clearly trying to repress the people of the ninth ward. They could do this because they have compassion for all humanity and are strong in their ways. The hypothesis I will test is that their networks are stronger than they believed, and that their needs can be met entirely by each other. Furthermore, the results of these findings will lead to respect from the communities that oppress them due to their ignorance of their intelligence, capability, and collective impact. Distinct quantitative data will catalyze the conversation on the issue of sovereignty for both the RF and sociological review. Through this catalyst, the Rainbow Family culture could evolve from better understanding its need.
The methodology is concerned in three phases. Phase one is qualitative deskwork of previous research on Marx, TNs, sovereignty, and the current state of before/after impact analysis. I will be looking for explanatory patterns and linking data collection, analysis, and theory. Phase one is expected to take two months. Phase two is for fieldwork, which will take exactly one year. Thirteen sites will be chosen for sample surveys and interviews. A simple stratified sample based on regional typology will choose twelve regional gatherings of 12-600 members. The largest gathering of 25,000-60,000 people, which happens once a year on July 4th, will also be surveyed. Including many sites resolves the discrepancies between those who cannot or will not attend national gatherings or certain state gatherings due to health, safety, or political concerns, and yet allows for the comprehensive sample at the largest gathering of the year. In addition, to allow for those who are not attending gatherings in the studied year (which may involve unseen variables like policy implementations etc.) surveys will be sent to key locations that have proven to be impeccable networking nodes for Rainbows across the nation. These non-gathering surveys will be volunteer-biased and collected by appointees to be delivered to me at the national gathering in July. Most likely, these will be few. Probability sampling is often not an option administering surveys to RF, but care will be taken to obtain accurate results, and at all times, priority will be to obtain a large sample size. Gatherings of fewer than 100 people, or where I attend before more than 100 people show up, will be surveyed as census, because this is ideal and possible. Site sampling difference does not skew my data because I am not seeking percentages, but, rather, I will be developing a comprehensive list, including only rough magnitude and frequency analysis of services provided as a collective within the RF in order to distinguish network strength. The population to be evaluated is the RF members over the age of 15 and therefore able to cognitively decide on roles to play in their society and actively take part in those activities. There are affiliate RFs in other nations, but to simplify the survey, they will only be covering the they Rainbow, as they are the largest and most experienced, and because, unlike other populations in the they, with family abroad or indigenous family, the US RF is distinctly American (from the USA) in origin. Moreover, I am unaware of the extent of conversation on sovereignty or to what extent their TNs have developed.
Due to the extreme diversity of this population, cross-population generalizability will be controlled for in several ways. The problem of an uncountable and never before tallied populous (probably well over a million people) means that certain statistical formulas and better methods of probability sampling will not be able to be used exclusively. This will not be a problem, as the methods are, nonetheless, thorough. Non-probability sampling will be large due to the population being difficult to locate, extremely mobile, and rarely standing in line in aggregates, but the methods will also be cared for in regards to respecting the accuracy of probability sampling as much as possible. For instance, although the main driver will be purposive sampling at the gatherings and respondent-driven sampling at the networking nodes, as well as allowing for half-hazard sampling as I discuss my intentions with those around me, I will use the strategy of simple stratified sampling to collect information from many different sub-sets and systematic sampling techniques when there are lines forming, people waiting, to sample the tents between theme camps, or gaps in the info-gathering from other types of sampling to be sure to include as many people from all types as possible. As this is not an opinion survey, a very large sample size is needed to adequately portray the wealth of services available through the Rainbow network. Cross-population generalizability will have to account for the extreme diversity of populous. Luckily, at the national gathering, and to some degrees at regionals, many of these factions are delighted to slightly separate themselves by the setting up of “theme camps” which serve as nodes of interest. It is completely feasible to visit each so distinguished camp and ask questions to those who appear to have a trade/task using the method of purposive non-probability sampling, with tests for saturation and completeness.
Phase three returns to deskwork in analysis of the research results, especially in relation to formulas already laid out by previous researchers, thereby broadening the current literature on Work/Occupation in several ways beyond the simply intriguing nature of the group being analyzed, whose dynamics are far different from any commune analyzed and much more like a small country whose socialist tendencies are run by consensus council made by anyone who will show up and respect the procedures, other attendees, any miraculous “signs” and Earth as sacred. Andrew Abbots work details which TN topics need addressed sociologically and which are overrun with review. Blum and Dudley’s work on re-analyzing Weber’s work ethic compared with trade network tactics is extremely revealing. The RF holds both ethics and networks, as did the Protestants. These authors also provide a combination of uses for the Cobb-Douglas and Heckthorne formula which analysis the reward/penalty balance for cooperation or defect in a society, which will be fascinating to use; it also describes why the RF system works without money. Peterson’s Six Facet Model can analyze the RF’s indigenous culture, and can combine with the economic Production Perspective to show evolution, decline, and uniqueness. To analyze the results on macro and micro levels, Johansson and Westin’s Affinities and Frictions of Trade Networks will provide formulas and I will use their concept definitions of organizational evolution, structural adjustments, and internal/external couplings.
Most important to this study’s methodology, ethics must be carefully considered. Until now, all published peer-reviewed scholarly literature is published by the government, with Forest Service publishing most of the direct research literature. Forest Service bias is based on job stability, outdated techniques (White and Zeedyk & Jansens), and grant funding. This generates easily upset RF subjects with a strong potential for the Hawthorne effect with etic research done by outsiders. As a member, I can ensure that what is published is based on fact, and not the probing of people who do not understand the culture they are researching, yielding slander. Careful identity procedures will be used, including optional anonymity and confidential reporting. This survey has been reviewed and consented to by RF council. In all fairness, council and RF Information will be the first to review and enjoy the analysis. Due to the extreme consistent nature of purposeful and tactile oppression, in certain circumstances, items of specific sensitivity will be omitted from general public knowledge, and yet spread as word to the Family, first at council.
Finally, there are three major outcome directly related to the aims of the research. Firstly, it will evolve the conversation of sovereignty, oppression, nature, latent effect, manifest effect, power, intelligence, diligence, and ability of this family, including, but not limited to, the quality of the trade components and extent/effect of the missing components. Secondly, this research will evolve the conversation about the integrity of this notorious group. Thirdly, although this research is not comprehensive, it will add to the current economic, social, and political literature and knowledge. Although the research aims are designed to encourage conversation about RF, this research also fills some vital gaps in sociological research (Abbott) as externalities, such as the peaceful side of the sovereign citizen movement, the question of tribal relations evolving within newly formed subsets of our population, the network strength of career clusters and other groups/organizations. Also, RF may benefit from formal recognition of coherent strength which could lead to reduced police brutality, illegal raids, terrorists listings, profiling, unnecessary infiltration, and other unfair and yet common treatments. This research could, in fact, lead to stronger and more respectable ties with agencies and people in the general public which may increase the hypothesized results in future studies on the same topic. Furthermore, this will add to the current dialogue concerning the large and ever-increasing, mass of people the they who are unhappy with the current governmental decisions and/or “Time is Money” paradigmed culture of the they and its individualistic American Dream concept.
Hopefully, I have adequately described how freedom of a unique peoples and the filling of many sociological gaps is only a couple vital research projects from certain evolution. One of these research projects is outlined here; this project could have a major impact on budget policy, police profiling policies, lacking sociological research, and a group of people who have been prophesized about from around the globe. This is done simply by evaluating relevant current literature and by evaluating the strength of the RF TN system. Is the TN system of the RF strong enough for sovereignty? My hypothesis is that it is, and if so, the aim is to fight the current forces oppressing the RF with this knowledge added as the missing link to current research in order to obtain their freedom from these forces by proving their intelligence, integrity, and ability with this research. The methods are simple and intelligent, yet the results can have major economic and policy implications as well as release the stigma branded on this valuable culture. Most importantly, this research is important to evolve their conversations of sovereignty. Though controversial on every level, it is an unavoidable question. These are a people who resolve their questions through consensus council, based on intelligent information. Currently, they have only hypothesis as to how strong they may be “as a nation," which stifles the debate.















Bibliography

Abbott, Andrew. The Sociology of Work and Occupations. Annual Review of Sociology, Vol 19. 1993. 187-209.

Anti-Defamation League. Sovereign Citizen Movement - Extremism in America. Enforcement Newsletter. www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/SCM.asp. 4/20/07.

Arjay, et al. Civil Liberties Emergency. 03/98. blog on www.welcomehere.org.
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Ocala Defense Volunteers: Busts at Dixie Gathering. 03/98. Blog on www.welcomehere.org

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Chalfin, Brenda. Working the Border in Ghana: Technologies of Sovereignty and its Others. Unpublished University of Florida School of Social Science Thursday Seminar Paper No. 16. 11/03.

Champagne, Duane. Native-Directed Social Change in Canada and the United States. Am. Behav. Scientist Vol 50 No. 4. 12/06. 428-449.

Clark, Greg. Cleanup & Rehabilitation Efforts: Reply to 2300. Big Piney National Forest Service. 7/29/1994.

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Fahys, Judy. Rainbow Earn Praise for Cleanup. The Salt Lake Tribune. UTAH, just after.

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Frapore, D. et al. Public Health Aspects of the Rainbow Family of Living Light Annual Gathering---Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania, 1999. USDA. 1999.

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House of Representatives. 103rd Cong. 1st Sess. and speakers Akaka et al. 100th Anniversary of the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. 139 Cong Rec S 14477. Congressional Record. Vol 139 No. 147. 10/27/93.

Hudson, Emanuel. Cleanup & Rehabilitation: Reply to 2300/2600/7700/6700. Shoal Creek National Forest Service. 8/3/93.

Imhof, John D. Cleanup Testimonial. www.welcomehere.org. One year after PA national.

Johansson, Borje and Westin, Lars. Affinities and Frictions of Trade Networks. The Annals of Regional Science, Vol 28. 1994. 243-261.

Korczynski, Marek and Ott, Ursala. The Menu in Society: Mediating Structures of Power and Enchanting Myths of Individual Sovereignty. Sociology Vol 40 No. 5. 10/06. 911-928.

Le Billon, Phillippe. The Political Ecology of War: Natural Resources and Armed Conflicts. Political Geography 20. 2001. pp. 561-584.

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Meeks, Clarence I. Illegal Law Enforcement: Aiding Civil Authorities in Violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. HeinOnline.

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