We welcome Mr. Scott Namestnik, senior botanist from Orbis Environmental
Consulting to the IKES on Wednesday, October 19th.

Mr. Namestnik will discuss the pre-settlement plant communities that were found in present day St. Joseph County and what remains of those today. St. Joseph County was covered with various types of forests, wetlands and prairies prior to being largely drained, cleared, farmed and developed. Scott has spent the last 2 decades conducting vascular plant surveys and mapping invasive and rare species. He also conducts plant ID workshops. Our Izaak Walton grounds offer some of the last remaining pre-settlement communities so his program will be very related to the IKES!

This program should not be missed! Scott’s discussion is one example of how we can understand what we have around us and what we can do to make improvements! Do not miss this one! Remember, November 16th is the Feather Party. Look for your tickets in the mail in a few weeks. It’s our only fund-raiser of the year and your chance to win a Turkey!

Dinner starts at 6:30 P.M. Program starts at 7:30 P.M.
Menu: Roast Beef with the trimmings
Cost: $9 for adults, $6 for 12 and under, and free hot dogs for the little ones!

Call in your reservations by Tuesday October, 18th by 10 A.M. at 272-3660 See you there!

The Holiday 450 tournament has been held for the better part of 25 years. It attracts some of the best shooters from a 5 state area. Door prizes are awarded to each individual that competes.

This year it'll be held at the Izaak Walton clubhouse on: Saturday and Sunday 17th & 18th, 2016. Two lines each day from 11AM & 3PM

If you have questions or would like to compete, contact Joe Kapp: 574-222-0202 or email @ joe.kapp@att.net.

Download the flyer by clicking here

On Sunday 9-11-16, a volunteer work party sprayed the Phragmite reeds that have infested the 3rd Pond at the Saint Joseph County Chapter, Izaak Walton facility in South Bend, Indiana.  

The Phragmite reeds are a fast-growing, non-native, invasive aquatic plant that can reach heights of 12-feet and that form thickets so dense that they prevent the growth of virtually any other vegetation. Left unchecked, the Phragmite reed infestation has the potentially to quickly spread across most of the area of the 3rd pond.  In addition to displacing native vegetation, the Phragmite thickets provide poor-to-no value as a food source or habitat for native wildlife, and they block access to the pond for fishing. 

The reeds were selectively sprayed with "Shore-Klear Plus", a recommended Glyphosate herbicide specially formulated for use on aquatic plants such as Phragmites and that is safe for fish.  Taking advantage of the low water level in the pond, it was possible to reach much of the reed areas by walking and wading.  In other areas, a canoe was used to access the reeds for spraying.  Most areas of the reeds were sprayed around the perimeter of the pond, although in some of the very dense areas of the reed infestation, it was impossible to reach all the reeds for spraying (follow-up spraying likely will be needed next year).

It is expected the seed fronds will be burned later in the winter, followed by a second round of spraying and burning next year.