WINONA LAKE - Results from a water quality study conducted this summer by Grace College targeting 30 lakes in Kosciusko County show the lakes are in good condition.
John Boal, chief advancement officer for Grace College, made the announcement during a press conference Wednesday at the Orthopedic Capital Center.
"I think the general perception has been that the quality of the water in the county's lakes has deteriorated over the years," Boal said.
"The results of this comprehensive study dispel that notion."
The project was made possible by a $250,000 grant from the Kosciusko Community Foundation and $50,000 in water-sampling testing provided by the Kosciusko County Health Department.
The grant money to fund the water study came from an anonymous donor who wanted to assess the water quality in the county's lakes, according to Suzie Light, executive director of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.
The grant also will be used to initiate a bachelor's degree program in environmental sciences at Grace, and establish an ecology-focused course for students at schools in the county.
Boal said the college hopes to work with area fourth-grade classes and advanced high school biology classes to develop a curriculum for water-quality testing.
The 30 lakes were chosen for testing based on their size, significance and location in the county.
The study, titled "100 Lakes and One River," was conducted in June, July and August to assess water quality on 30 lakes in Kosciusko County. The Tippecanoe River was not included in the testing.
The tests were conducted on the 30 lakes near the shore, over deep water and near an inlet.
The study was overseen by a four-member team consisting of Luke Hunt, Grace College biological sciences professor who served as project director; Jim Lesko, Grace College professor of mathematics, who compiled the data and was a consultant; Grace College student John Leopold; and environmental biologist Eileen Boekestein, who served as project coordinator.
Eight different tests were conducted on the water samples, including tests to detect E. coli, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll content, turbidity and water temperature.
Boal said the study found the quality of the water and overall environment spheres surrounding the lakes are good.
This year's tests will serve as a baseline, and the college hopes to conduct a similar study next year, he said.
The 2008 study will include the same 30 lakes tested this year, and might be expanded to include more lakes.
No tests were conducted during this year's study that would indicate industrial influences on the lake, Lesko said.
Boekestein said results of the study are being used to create an online database that will be accessible to the public.
"We'd like to see all of the lakes monitored regularly and the information shared with the community," Boekestein said. "It's very important to have regularly testing so that we have an idea of what's going on in our lakes and we can detect any potential problems early."
The college plans to offer a Web site in spring 2008 where the community can access information about area lakes.
The Web site would include information on the lake's water shed, water quality and links to studies that have been conducted on the lakes.
The database would be searchable by the name of the lake and and location by township.
Boal said although there are routine tests conducted on the lakes, the results are not always readily accessible to the public.
The site also would provide links to officials for residents to contact if they see a problem with a lake where they live.
