NORTH WEBSTER - It was a fitting scene as rain fell outside the North Webster Community Center, while inside a forum on flooding was held.
The area has seen flooding of lakes and streams since late 2007. Tuesday night's forum dealt with flooding, high water and water quality in the Upper Tippecanoe Watershed though residents from lakes throughout Kosciusko County were on hand.For Kosciusko County Health Department Administrator Bob Weaver, who had a booth titled "Human Health, Septic System and Wells", he spent most of the night answering questions about the Lakeland Regional Sewer District.
Weaver is a board member of the LRSD.
Jed Pearson, a biologist with the Department of Natural Resources, felt the forum was a good way for residents to get information on different laws concerning lake properties.
"There are so many issues that pertain to lakes," said Pearson.
Pearson said things like seawalls or drudges require permits and some people are unaware of that.
Nate Bosch and Eileen Boekestein, with Kosciusko Lakes and Streams, said the forum was a way to help educate residents on issues pertaining to floods.
"People want to protect their homes," said Boekestein. "Here they can come and ask questions and get facts on what can be done. We wanted people to get facts."
For Emergency Management Director Ed Rock, Tuesday night's forum was a way for him to put faces with names of people he's dealt with.
"The ones who have stopped, we have had good discussions," said Rock. "And we've talked about possible help we can give them."
Lya Creighton, executive director of the Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation, said they are still determining whether similar forums will be held in the future.
Every booth on hand Tuesday night was asked to keep track of frequently asked questions they received.
Kosciusko Lakes and Streams will be compiling that information.
To relieve a copy of that information call 574-372-5100 ext. 6446.
For more information online visit www.water.grace.edu
