Indiana is directing more than $500,000 in grant money in the battle against invasive aquatic plants in state lakes, many of which are in Kosciusko County. Of the 42 projects that will benefit from the program across the state, nine of those are in Kosciusko County and benefit a total of 19 lakes, according to information supplied by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The grants, announced earlier this week, were awarded by DNR director Cameron F. Clark through the Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) program in the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife. The 42 projects involve lakes in 16 counties. Some of the projects include multiple lakes that are part of chains. The applications were submitted by local sponsors who share at least 20 percent of the total cost.? LARE grants are generated through boat registration fees paid to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The grants allow for the completion of projects that would be difficult for many local organizations to fund on their own, the state said. The grants will help control or manage aggressive non-native species, including Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed and starry stonewort, that can take over and clog lakes. “Addressing invasive plants in many of Indiana’s most popular public lakes should benefit many lake users during the summer boating season,” said Mark Reiter, director of DNR Fish & Wildlife. The grants also can provide economic benefits to lake communities by improving and increasing public access opportunities for those who fish or pleasure-boat. The state will allocate $585,000 for the projects. Kosciusko County lake groups were earmarked for close to $150,000 in assistance. Below is a list of local lakes and the dollar amount included: Backwater Lake, $1,300 Barbee Chain (Kuhn, Barbee, Little Barbee, Irish, Sawmill, Banning and Sechrist lakes), $6,700. Beaver Dam and Loon lakes, $2,030 Center Lake, $16,600 Big Chapman and Little Chapman lakes, $28,400 Dewart Lake, $5,875 Lake Tippecanoe chain (Tippecanoe, James and Oswego lakes), $34,500 Wawasee and Syracuse lakes, $18,500 Webster Lake, $36,00
