News Release
INDIANA — Two Kosciusko County waterways are among the recipients from grant money through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources totaling $1,090,800.
The grants were awarded by DNR Director Dan Bortner through the Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) program in the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife.
The grants will fund projects on three lakes and 19 rivers and streams in 18 counties. Projects will be completed within a two-year timeframe.
Deeds Creek and Walnut Creek were both listed on a project list. Both are in Warsaw. Deeds Creek goes into Pike Lake and Walnut Creek is on the west side of Warsaw going into or out of Carr Lake (See list below).
The majority of the projects selected address sediment and nutrient inputs into lakes and streams to improve Indiana water quality. The reduction of non-point pollution into Indiana waters helps to ensure continued viability for fish and wildlife as well as recreation opportunities.
Many projects also include habitat improvement components that benefit fish and wildlife populations. The most striking habitat improvements include streambank stabilization projects in multiple counties and low-head dam removals on Silver Creek (Clark County) and Sugar Creek (Montgomery County). Streambank stabilization projects often include the use of woody debris and native plantings that improve water quality, reduce erosion, and provide fish and wildlife habitat. Dam removals reclaim stream habitat, benefit fish and freshwater mussel populations, and make streams safer for recreational users.
“The LARE program continues to invest boater-generated revenue into conservation efforts to protect and enhance Indiana’s lakes and streams” said Amanda Wuestefeld, director of DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife. “We also can’t forget the local sponsors who will also invest in these projects to make our waters healthier, which will benefit fish and wildlife species.”
Local sponsors apply for LARE assistance and commit to sharing a portion of the total project cost. LARE grants are funded through the LARE fee paid by boat owners annually when they register their boats with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
