NEWS

Lake Freeman continues to drain while Senate considers revising Endangers Species Act

Ron Wilkins
Lafayette Journal & Courier

MONTICELLO, Ind. — Lake Freeman's falling water levels were mentioned Wednesday during a U.S. Senate Environmental and Public Works committee hearing on revising the Endangered Species Act.

U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican, used the unilateral order mandated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services during a question to Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordan.

The mandate is being blamed for draining Lake Freeman about a foot a week and causing havoc to Monticello's seasonal economy.

During the hearing, Braun asked if Gordon thought cooperation between local and federal officials might avoid a federal mandate causing harm to a local economy.

“I do believe this (proposed) act provides better access by engaging local citizens and local governments earlier in the process to be able to find a solution that can best balance the needs of both the species and the economic interests that are there," Gordon said in response to Braun's question. “The best place for that solution to be found is at the local level."

The drought during the summer of 2012 revealed an endangered species of mussels in the Tippecanoe River south of the Oakdale Dam, where Lake Freeman drains.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services ordered the dam to release a prescribed amount of water from the dam, which is now slowly draining the lake because of a lack of rain in the area.

Shafer Freeman Lakes Environmental Conservation Corp. has an Oct. 5 hearing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Washington, D.C., District, John Koppelmann said. 

Koppelman, a real estate broker in Monticello, also serves as the chairman for the lakes' conservation corporation's water level committee.

He said the group has three studies it plans to present Oct. 5 that indicate the U.S. Fish and Wild Service overestimated how much water must be released from Lake  Freeman to protect the endangered mussels.

Court rulings take time, so the lake's water levels most likely will continue to fall.

On Sept. 3, the Journal & Courier interviewed Susan Wagner, owner of Susan's Freeman Bay, a lakeside convenience store and gas station for boaters.

On that day, the lake level was three feet below normal. Two weeks later, Wagner, who regularly measured the receding water levels, reported the lake was five feet below normal. On Thursday, she said the lake is seven feet below and continues to fall.

Residents have been unable to get their boats off their lifts and into the water, and the ramps for launching boats have been closed for more than a month.

That cuts into Wagner's business.

“We will be here no matter what because there’s end-of-season stuff we have to do,” she said of her plans for October. “It’s kind of a bummer.”

A dock sits above the water line and a sand beach is formed as water levels continue to fall on the Tippecanoe River at Lake Freeman, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020 in Monticello.

With no boaters on the lake, there's no need for Wagner's gasoline. Some have placed online orders for her Lake Freeman souvenirs, and she delivers those items to her customers.

“People have been trying to support us every way they can,” she said. “People reaching out to help us. That’s a bright spot.

“We need a bright spot with lots of rain,” she quipped.

A rally is planned for noon Oct. 3 at the White County Courthouse in Monticello as a way to show support and inform the public about the Oct. 5 hearing.

The highest profile attraction on Lake Freeman is the Madam Carroll, a 300-ton boat that in normal conditions cruises the lake as a floating entertainment venue and bar.

It's been docked for more than two weeks, and owner Chris Peters continues to nudge the Madam Carroll into deeper water.

“We’re prepared to take it out to the middle of the channel to continue operations,” Peters said Thursday. 

Every time he moves the boat six feet, it cost $700 to move the electrical lines out farther, and that doesn't account the cost for moving the water and sewage lines.

“We’re not going to quit operating,” Peters said.

Once the Madam Carroll is in the channel and there are no more deeper waters to move to, Peters said he will begin diving under the boat to remove rocks and obstacles that might damage the hull if the boat is grounded.

Meanwhile, the Madam Carroll continues to promote its shows, parties and venue, minus the lake cruises.

Randy Mitchell, president of the White County Economic Development Corp., said it's difficult to quantify the economic damage caused to the area.

“It’s hard to place a dollar amount on it," Mitchell said.

Draining Lake Freeman economically impacts businesses, such as Peters' and Wagner's and many others. It also takes a toll on lake-side residents who face damaged sea walls and other hardships because there is not enough water in the lake,  Mitchell said.

“You have a lake there that you can’t enjoy because of the (water) level,” he said.

Mitchell suggested the Oct. 3 rally might draw the attention of state officials, as well as U.S. Rep. Jim Baird and U.S. Sens. Todd Young and Braun.

“They could see firsthand what the impact is on the lower lake levels,” Mitchell said.

State Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, said he's kept Gov. Eric Holcomb aware of the plight of Monticello residents and Lake Freeman.

“They can’t control the dam, but they’re concerned about the economic issue,” Alting said about Holcomb and his chief of staff's reaction.

“They’re all working on it,” Alting said. “Obviously, the (Oct.) 5th (hearing) is going to be an important meeting.”

Echoing Braun's question in the Senate hearing on Wednesday, Alting said he believes there is middle ground that will protect the endangered species of mussels and keep  Lake Freeman's water levels up.

“They’re not going to budge,” Alting said of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “They’re playing major hardball.”

Alting said he also keeps Baird, Young and Braun apprised of  Lake Freeman developments.

Baird has toured the lake and seen the damaged to the lake, the residents' homes and business and the seasonally economy, Alting said. 

Reach Ron Wilkins at 765-420-5231 or at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.