Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A free public education workshop, "Treasures of the Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed," is scheduled for Saturday.
Sponsored by the Tippecanoe Environmental Lake and Watershed Foundation, the event will be in the North Webster American Legion Post, Ind. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"We are sponsoring the event as part of our Federal 319 Watershed Management grant. It is part of our mission to host education outreach programs for the residents of the Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed," said Jan McGee, TELWF foundation coordinator.
"We work to protect and preserve water quality in the lakes and streams of the watershed. This includes more than 50 lakes and 176,000 acres in Noble, Whitley and Kosciusko counties. Our mission is to promote the understanding and management of our lakes and watershed, fostering their preservation for today and for the future."
Holly LaSalle is the foundation's watershed coordinator.
In Kosciusko County, the watershed lakes include the Barbee chain of lakes, Webster and Tippecanoe.
Last summer in Whitley County, the Loon, Big, Crooked, Old, New and Goose lake property owners associations joined in a collaborative effort, brought together by TELWF, to apply for Indiana LARE Funds to develop water quality improvement projects. These projects will be discussed.
The foundation also seeks public comments during the workshop.
Topics include a presentation and discussion of fish and aquatic life that make the Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed a special place. Populations of endangered species will be highlighted.
The results of a fish study performed by Commonwealth Biomonitoring last summer will be reviewed.
Basic water quality education will identify factors affecting water quality in lakes and streams.
The TELWF Watershed Management Plan will be discussed.
Local environmental specialists Jill Hoffman of Williams Creek Consulting and Greg Bright of Commonwealth Biomonitoring will make presentations.
A lunch of chili and sandwiches will be served.
For more information, call McGee at 574-518-1511 or contact by e-mail at telwf@kconline.com There is no need to register.
