By Louie Stout
If you want to know more - and ask questions- about northern Indiana fisheries and the DNR’s research work, you’ll get that chance April 21 or April 22.
Those are the dates that the DNR will host two interactive webinars, during which you can log onto a site and watch and listen to biologists explain their work, stocking programs and discuss which fisheries are doing best in those regions.
In addition, you can ask questions through a chat feature included with the webinar. Links are listed later in this story.
“We want the public to take part and ask about specific lakes,” says Northern Supervisor Tom Bacula. “It’s an opportunity for the public to interact with us without having to travel to a specific location.”
Bacula said the program will last about an hour but will run longer if there are a lot of questions. Also, if you miss it, the programs will be recorded and saved to a YouTube site which will be announced later.
“No fisheries or lake questions are off limits except we will reject any hate speech or profanity,” he adds. “We want to share our info with the public and encourage questions.”
The biologist acknowledged that stocking issues and vegetation control may be hot buttons and his team is prepared to answer those questions.
There are two different webinars, one for Northwest and Central Indiana on April 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (EST) and one for northeast Indiana counties April 22 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Michiana counties included in the Northwest program to be covered include those from the state line east to LaPorte, Marshall and Fulton counties and south to Tippecanoe.
Michiana counties to be covered in the Northeast webinar run from St. Joseph east to Steuben and all counties south of there down to Tipton County.
To tap into the Northwest webinar, visit Fisheries Webinar: Northwest and Central Indiana, Virtual - State of Indiana.
To participate in the Northeast webinar, visit Fisheries Webinar: Northeast Indiana, Virtual - State of Indiana.