Kosciusko Leadership Academy met at the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation to learn about aquatic ecology in Kosciusko County.
Dr. Nathan Bosch, director of Kosciusko Lakes and Streams, shared there are 106 lakes of five or more acres in Kosciusko County; 114 lakes if you include those with two or more acres. Kosciusko County is home to both the largest lake in Indiana (Lake Wawasee) and the deepest lake in Indiana (Tippecanoe Lake). Ninety-seven of the lakes are named and can be found listed at water.grace.edu The lakes affect everyone in Kosciusko County and there is a need to protect these resources.
According to Kosciusko Lakes and Streams website (water.grace.edu) there are 10 things you can do to protect our lakes and streams: Identify your watershed; Keep stormwater on your property; Maintain or create a natural buffer; Implement responsible lawn and garden care practices; Compost yard waste; Prevent erosion from your property; Dispose of animal waste properly; Dispose of household hazardous waste properly; Maintain your septic system and get involved in your watershed.
Heather Harwood, executive director, Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, spoke to the KLA cadets about WACF’s role in protecting the watershed.
Land acquisitions have been made for wetlands; lake front property has been acquired; educating residents; ditch projects; and grant applications for funding are a few of the projects WACF has undertaken.
