Indiana University Professor, School of Public & Environmental Affairs, Bill Jones, will be the guest speaker for the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation's annual meeting. Jones will speak at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.The annual meeting will be held at the WACF Education Center, 11586 N. SR 13, Syracuse. A continental breakfast will be served at 8 a.m. with music by Mike Struwin. The event will be held at the Ruddell Pavilion.Jones is a nationally known scientist and a powerful and passionate speaker for protecting the lakes.Following Jones' presentation there will be the annual update on WACF projects and grants from the DNR Lake and River Enhancement, on the invasive weed Starry Stonewort, canoe trips, water quality and presentation of the annual Cattail Award.

Clinical Professor

Jones has been affiliated with IU's school of public and environmental affairs since November 1977 where he conducts applied research on lakes, streams and watersheds along with identifying water quality patterns and trends. He also works on developing management plans to address problems identified.Professionally he is interested in lake and watershed management, especially diagnosing lake and watershed water quality problems, preparing management plans to address problems identified and stream ecology.He is director of Indiana Clean Lakes Program, in cooperation with Indiana Department of Environmental Management, a statewide lake assessment, monitoring and public education/outreach program. He is also an invited member of the Nutrient Technical Advisory Group to help IDEM develop nutrient criteria for Indiana water bodies as required by the Federal Clean Water Act.Jones was appointed by the governor to the Indiana Lakes Management Work Group.He was a founding member in 1980 of the North American Lake Management Society and has been involved with NALMS since. He served on that board of directors from 1995-96 and was its president in 1990. He has been the editor of the NALMS quarterly magazine LakeLine since 2000 and an associate editor of a peer-reviewed journal, Lake and Reservoir Management.He teaches such courses as limnology, stream ecology, lake and watershed management and environmental science. His specialties include aquatic ecology, lake and watershed management, professional editing and SCUBA.Jones received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His bachelor's degree is in zoology and the master's degree is in water resource management.Jones has received numerous awards, honors and certifications such as: undergraduate teaching award in 2011; certified lake manager, 2002 to present; advance open water scuba certification and Nitrox certification; SPEA Teaching award, graduate instruction in the MSES Program in 2006; trustee teaching award in 2004; Secchi Disk Award from North American Lake Management Society for outstanding service in 2000; teaching excellence recognition award, 1998; and SPEA Adjunct teaching award for teaching excellence in 1995.He has also had numerous articles and data published in magazines and publications related to his specialty.

Updates

Among the updates to be presented will be such information as the conservancy has now acquired 35 wetland properties totaling approximately 750 acres and rendering approximately 53,000 feet or 10 miles of protected shoreline.The latest purchase by WACF was 4.5 acres upstream of Martin Creek in Leeland addition to control sediment.Attendees will also hear about the latest grants and programs such as receipt of a $33,000 grant for sediment control in Ritter Branch at Hindman Lake, or the planting of 7,000 trees in a former agricultural field for the Conservation Reserve Program on the WACF Bayshore property and ponds created through LARE in 2006.Hear about the partnership with the Elkhart River Restoration Association on a Great Lakes Commission Grant for $397,000 for sediment and erosion control of more than 40,000 tons from the Dillon and Turkey Creek subwatersheds plus more.A main highlight of the event will be the presentation of the annual Cattail Awards, presented to an individual or individuals for their efforts with or for WACF.Past cattail winners have included:2011 - Nancy Brown, Ian Rolland, Jeff Herdrich2010 - Deborah Flanagan Tobias, Kay Young and Dick Ruddell2009 - Doug and Barb Grant, George Hardie, Peter and Ginny Nicholas2008 - Dan and Marilyn Berkey, Dave Brandes2007 - Mike Kiley, Dave Tyler and Ted Rogers2006 - Vance Lopp and Jane Wilson2005 - Heather Harwood, Dick and Sandy Green2004 - Mary Lou Brewer, Jane Love, Tom Yoder2003 - Al Campbell, Harriett Inskeep, Bill McNagny2002 - Helen Alfrey and Betty Knapp2001 - Dave Culp, Cindy Brumbaugh, Bob Myers