Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation received two Lake and River Enhancement funds, totalling $65,000 for projects in the Lake Wawasee Watershed.
The projects receiving funds are the Dillon Creek construction project and the Village Lake construction project. WACF was the only organization in Kosciusko County to receive grant funds.
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| LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM - |
RESTORATION PROJECT — This photo shows the work taking place on the Village Lake Stream restoration project in which a grant recently was received by Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation to complete the final phase of the project, creation of a wetland at the outflow of the stream. |
Dillon Creek project is a "shovel-ready" project for the conservancy and is upstream of Enchanted Hills. This work includes different types of sediment control including shoreline stabilization, two-stage ditches, J-hooks, erosion control and more. These control efforts are to slow the water down and remove sediment. "We are excited about getting a start on this large project," stated Heather Harwood, WACF executive director.
Dillon Creek project received $45,000.
The $20,000 received for the Village Lake construction or Village Lake Stream Wetland grant, will be used for the last phase of the Village Lake Stream restoration project. This project is the creation of a wetland at the outflow of the stream to help remove E-coli, sediment, nitrates and phosphorus out of the water before it enters Village Lake, then on into Wawasee.
DNR awarded more than $890,000 to organizations for the care of Indiana's water bodies. Lake and River Enhancement program is part of the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife.
LARE grant projects involve 15 counties and were submitted by organization who commit to sharing a portion of the total cost. DNR's portion comes from the Lake Enhancement fee paid annually by boat owners to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The grants allow for the completion of projects that would have been difficult for location organizations to fund on their own.
The new LARE grants involve biological and engineering projects, including design, diagnostic and engineering feasibility studies and construction.
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