The benefits and challenges of White River are newsworthy.

Looking back: 2008

2008 in review

Despite some cancellations caused by water levels, we still had a busy year and we have photos! View a slide show of 2008 in Review.

 
 

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Busy autumn

Hundreds of eager volunteers responded to a call to clean the river’s banks at locations in Delaware, Madison, Hamilton and Marion Counties. Weather cooperated and the “take” was impressive.

We have photos! View a slide show of the fall Adopt-A-River Cleanup.

We also held our 22nd Annual Kids Fishing Invitational, which drew 25 enthusiastic youngsters to the river in downtown Indianapolis. Great fishing fun was followed by lunch! Our partners for this event were the Dirty Dozen Hunting & Fishing Club and West Side Bait & Tackle.

Check out the photos from the 2008 Kids Fishing Invitational.

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On a high note

June 2008: Friends of the White River was honored to be selected as a not-for-profit partner featured in the Village Green at the recent Jack Johnson concert. Our display allowed us to collect over 100 names of potential volunteers for future bank cleanups, as well as accept donations. We also sold reusable water bottles featuring the Friends logo, with $1 from each sale directed towards southern Indiana flood relief. In addition, Jack Johnson himself made a very generous donation to Red Cross flood relief efforts.

Thanks to those who visited us at Verizon, and a huge thank you to Jack Johnson (who also visited)!

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Smart stuff

As part of our Riverwise initiative, the Friends has published a document about safe fish consumption levels for species commonly found in White River. Our Fish for Fun handout details which fish are safest, or not, for certain population groups to eat and how often. Download the Fish for Fun Consumption Guide (PDF, 175 KB) to get your own copy. We wish you good fishing!

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RiversmARTs

During a display at the Eiteljorg Museum, the Friends unveiled its new RiversmARTS Project, identifying the many cultural attractions lining the banks of White River in Indianapolis. The program’s long-term goal is to link White River’s value as a cultural corridor with its environmental worth. In the short term, you can enjoy a RiversmARTS Map, available as a downloadable PDF with web links to each and all of the cultural attractions: RiversmARTS Map (PDF, 235 KB)

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Great job, everyone

We offer a big “thank you” to the hundreds of volunteers who came out for the 20th Annual White River Cleanup. Despite chilly morning temperatures and thick fog early in the day, we scoured the riverbank in seven different locations, from White River State Park south to Raymond Street, and removed a lot of trash!

We have photos! View a slide show of the 20th Annual White River Cleanup.

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Cleanups are picking up

More groups are getting involved with river cleanups each year. Above, Butler University students and the university’s Center for Urban Ecology worked their Adopt-A-River segment from the Town of Rocky Ripple to Michigan Road on April 12, with support from Friends volunteers. Two weeks earlier, IUPUI students from the Center for Earth & Environmental Science cleaned White River from 10th Street to White River State Park, in partnership with the park, the National Institute for Fitness & Sports and the Indiana Avengers.

More photos! View a slide show of Butler & IUPUI students at work.

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Next on the calendar

Draw a green circle around Saturday, April 26: The Friends will be at the Earth Day Indiana Festival, where we will host both our annual booth and a special activity in the Children’s Tent. Our members, including some of the Youth Advisory Council, will unveil a new Friends initiative to offer easily understood information on fish consumption advisories impacting White River. Come enjoy the day and look for us among the more than 100 environmental groups exhibiting that day.

For more information on this day of fun, food, music and learning, visit the Earth Day Indiana web site.