With Grant, Watershed Foundation Expands Coverage
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jordan Fouts-
The organization, founded in 1997 to focus on water quality issues for the Tippecanoe River, made the change in December, according to Executive Director Lyn Crighton. The foundation recently received a 33-month Indiana Department of Environmental Management grant of close to $200,000, the result of two years of work, which allows it to expand its mission to lakes and streams from Warsaw to Merriam, Pierceton to North Webster.
“It’s a big difference from what we were doing and where we were doing it,” said Crighton. “But we’re still doing all the things we were doing.”
The grant will fund the development of a watershed management plan for the region, a 2-1/2-year process overseen by the Clean Waters Partnership. An 18-member steering committee includes representatives from the Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Center for Lakes and Streams, Zimmer Biomet and lakes associations for Center, Chapman, Pike and Winona.
The management plan will involve monitoring and assessing current water conditions, getting input from and providing education to the community, identifying problem areas in the watershed such as sources of pollution and setting goals for improvements. One of the first steps will be a series of public meetings to get input from people who live around the lakes, with dates to be announced later.
“It’s really important to get public input, to know what people see as problems,” said Theresa Sailor, Warsaw stormwater coordinator and steering committee chair. “We do want people to participate in all of this, it’s very important.”
The foundation has already completed over 95 water quality improvement projects, established an agriculturally focused Healthy Soils, Clean Water program and co-developed the internationally recognized Clear Choices, Clean Water education campaign, according to information from the organization. To learn more or become involved, visit watershedfoundation.org. [[In-content Ad]]
The organization, founded in 1997 to focus on water quality issues for the Tippecanoe River, made the change in December, according to Executive Director Lyn Crighton. The foundation recently received a 33-month Indiana Department of Environmental Management grant of close to $200,000, the result of two years of work, which allows it to expand its mission to lakes and streams from Warsaw to Merriam, Pierceton to North Webster.
“It’s a big difference from what we were doing and where we were doing it,” said Crighton. “But we’re still doing all the things we were doing.”
The grant will fund the development of a watershed management plan for the region, a 2-1/2-year process overseen by the Clean Waters Partnership. An 18-member steering committee includes representatives from the Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Center for Lakes and Streams, Zimmer Biomet and lakes associations for Center, Chapman, Pike and Winona.
The management plan will involve monitoring and assessing current water conditions, getting input from and providing education to the community, identifying problem areas in the watershed such as sources of pollution and setting goals for improvements. One of the first steps will be a series of public meetings to get input from people who live around the lakes, with dates to be announced later.
“It’s really important to get public input, to know what people see as problems,” said Theresa Sailor, Warsaw stormwater coordinator and steering committee chair. “We do want people to participate in all of this, it’s very important.”
The foundation has already completed over 95 water quality improvement projects, established an agriculturally focused Healthy Soils, Clean Water program and co-developed the internationally recognized Clear Choices, Clean Water education campaign, according to information from the organization. To learn more or become involved, visit watershedfoundation.org. [[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092