The benefits and challenges of White River are newsworthy.

News Archive

Looking back: 2006

Construction zones

Water flowing over dam

Close up: Low head dam

Williams Creek cut-off: Work is underway to refurbish the low head dam on the Williams Creek branch of White River. The project site is just upstream of Westfield Boulevard and the Monon Trail, south of 75th Street. The Friends have engaged in a steady dialogue with Veolia Water and planning engineers about this project, which has a projected completion date of December 2006.

Broad Ripple Park boat ramp: Indy Parks has closed this boat ramp for repairs. Workers will replace and lengthen the lower end of the ramp, replace the adjacent dock and improve drainage from the parking lot.

Update: White River spill

Hydraulic fluid from a boring machine appears to be the cause. Indiana Department of Environmental Management officials will continue to investigate the event and possible outcomes. White River spill was hydraulic fluid, The Indianapolis Star, August 23, 2006.

Good deed, great reward

Volunteers at a cleanup

Dan Vallesky (in tee shirt and hat)

When Dan Vallesky brought a group of Cub Scouts to our June 2005 river cleanup, it was to do a good deed. That day, like many volunteers across the country, he entered a drawing sponsored by Tom’s of Maine — and won! Earlier this year, Dan and his wife enjoyed a five-day guided paddling and camping trip on the St. John River in Maine, one of the nation’s wildest and most natural waterways. Now you can read Paddling the St. John River.

Keep it clean

The Friends have long worked to educate the public on health risks as an important component of our fishing instruction, just as we have promoted our Catch & Release program. It has been gratifying in 2006 to see The Indianapolis Star take a strong media lead on water quality, raw sewage overflows and now, fish consumption education. Learn more from the stories on our Media page.

Thank you!

From families to college students to Scouts and more, you turned out for our spring events: Enjoy our photo albums!

Annual meeting recap

We recognized exemplary service to the White River, raised money with a silent auction, elected our 2006 board of directors and heard from state trustees for White River restoration funds at our annual meeting.