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I suggest every metro Indiana resident review the Clear Choices Clean Water Program on the White River Alliance website. Not only is sediment from construction and agriculture being carried into Geist Reservoir, so are nutrients from grass clippings, unneeded lawn treatments and animal waste from homes. We are all contributing is some way to nutrient load in our waters. Let’s avoid toxic conditions like those affecting drinking water in Toledo, Ohio and Grand Lake of St. Mary’s.
Mary. What do you think about all those boats tied together for hours at a time. The boats don’t have restrooms, people just jump into the water and relieve themselves. It’s not just fish fouling the water. More restrooms would be a solution.
Well, Mary B, I have a suggestion for you – when you’re trying to direct people somewhere, it’s been my experience it’s a little easier for them to to that if you take the time to give them the link, they only have to click on it. So I did it for you: https://thewhiteriveralliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/CCCW_Flipsnack_Guidance-Document.pdf
Geist residents are largely to blame for the algae growth. Lawns are heavily fertilized and many properties slope toward the water. They missed a great opportunity 5 or 6 years ago when during the drought exposed many of the inlet floors where many are quite shallow and should have been dug deeper. Algae harvesting machines have been used for several years on the downtown canal and on the canal along Broad Ripple, have been successful, but one has to keep at it for the long run. Since Geist is an important water supply for Indianapolis, the water company should chip in to clear this stuff out before it poisons the water. Look at northern Ohio, where Lake Erie, (which has a an average depth of 210 feet, closer to the shore, one can walk 50 feet out into the water before you are submerged. The algae has ruined their lake experience and generally becomes a health problem at some point in the summer. Putting a tax on residents is fine, but will all of the revenue go to solving this problem.
Lawn chemicals have major impacts on lakes. Toronto and all of Ontario have banned all lawn chemicals which has improved water quality.
Geist is approaching 80 years in age. Perhaps I’m one of the few that still remembers that land was condemned and taken from property owners to provide drinking water to Indianapolis. Part of the agreements when the land was taken by eminent domain was the land around the reservoir would remain undeveloped and the property of the Indianapolis Water Company. I find it amazing people, lawyers, and corporations can find a way to steal land from farmers for the most part, then profit from that theft only to later argue against taxes. Typical of folks that live in expensive developments, they want it all, but don’t want to pay for it.
When the land was taken by the Water Company for the city it was eminent domain. When Thomas Moses gave control of the reservoir to the city, it was probably a tax write off and a political favor by Beurt SerVaas and the current mayor (Lugar?). The city would be much better off owning all of our utilities outright. The lack of coordination & long term planning are a detriment to our city.
I’d like to add that it was the foresight and courage of Dr SerVaas, Thomas Moses, and the mayor at the time that we enjoy a plentiful water supply today. Indianapolis is again facing a similar problem today, will we have enough water for our population growth? The 5 mile tunnel bored under the south side north to Fall cCreek might or could be a solution. Control the flow of water and filter it for human use, or make another reservoir around the Fall Creek/Meridian Street area. That particular area is generally low and would look nicer if the water level was raised to ten or fifteen feet below the current barrier walls. A dam could be constructed south of the zoo area and offer potable water and water recreation. In hindsight, their actions of our leaders may seem self serving; but it wasn’t. We are all benefiting.
It is foolish to think this only benefits those directly on the water and here are some reasons why:
Halo effect: There are many who live in the “Geist Area” which add a premium to their property vs. a cornfield somewhere. There is a natural benefit we all enjoy whether we put a toe into Geist or not. If it weren’t for Geist, would Fishers have developed as it has?
Neighborhoods and surrounding area depend on Geist as a drainage area for their runoff. This includes fertilizers, dirt/silt, agricultural waste/manure, etc. Every retention pond in Fishers basically finds its way into Geist. Your silt and goose droppings also help add to the mess. Do you think home values near Geist will hold up if it is declared some sort of EPA site?
We all benefit from a cleaner, safer Geist and we all share in the responsibility to help make this happen. This is one reason I am against the Conservation district–because it limits who is responsible. While it may be politically unpopular for Fadness to have the cost shared over the 80k+ people living in Fishers, it is the right thing to do in the same way it is the right thing to have high quality schools. It is a community problem, not just because the community benefits from this great resource, but because the Water company and the offshoots that were created allows them to care about but one thing, and that is the ability to use Geist as a repository for water to convert to safe drinking water. The irony though is, by their organizations willfully turning a blind eye to Geist issues, their storage system is filling with silt and sludge, making less room for water. Their near sighted view that taking care of Geist is not their problem–even a little– is extremely short sighted.
Jason there’s definitely an imbalance going on here. About 2,500 of us in the borders don’t have any access to the water. The proponents claim we benefit from proximity but as you note above any proximity benefit would likely extend much much further than the borders cover now. Senator Zay said all of Central Indiana benefits from Geist. Certainly it’s a mainstay for Fishers and NE Marion Cty. If they want to tax me in a nearby neighborhood because my property value is tied to the lakes health then they’re missing several thousand homes.
Good evening, I’m actually the director for the Geist Reservoir Tax Opposition Alliance. Would love for the author to reach about a number of inaccuracies posted in this story. For one, the listed amounts of $130 on a $350,000 Home are not accurate. It would be closer to $300. I can provide backing if needed. Also, the Coalition likely has around 32% signatures considering the issues we’ve identified and the number of people who have signed to remove their names from the original petition. In addition, the % of signatures from those off the water is not 75%. I’ve looked through all of them. Sure there are a good number of off water homes but those homes who signed also have deeded docks and access to Geist and would also greatly benefit from better coves and inlets for their boats. We worked with Senator Spartz and Messmer to put those amendments in on caps and eminent domain. This whole thing is being driven in large part by Fishers and Mayor Fadness (who lives on Geist). This group of wealthy homeowners known as the Geist Conservancy Steering Committee have not only bullied area residents but have utilized fear tactics and lies to get what they want. Would love to give you the actual truth. Reach out. info@grtoalliance.org. Thanks.
I know you can’t see or smell the lake, but would you support a ban on lawn fertilizer in the Geist water shed, with a lower tax to support more drainage swales to slow run off.
Just because you can’t see the mess does not mean people like you, living out of sight don’t have some responsibilities. It is what economist call externalities, where the cost of someone else’s actions are passed on to someone else, in this case lush green lawns that cause heavy runoff laden with fertilizer cause algae blooms in the lake.
If you can find a house on the water “in the $300,000 range”, please let me know because I will buy it.