Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation honored with State recognition for improving local lakes' water quality
On Thursday, the Indiana Lakes Management Society (ILMS) announced that the Outstanding Lake/Watershed Association Award award has been presented to the Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation (TWF).
TWF serves several Whitley County lakes that are part of the Tippecanoe watershed, including Crooked Lake, Loon Lake, Goose Lake, Old Lake and nearby Big Lake in Noble County, as well as several Kosciusko County lakes.
The Award was established by ILMS to recognize those that excel in lake/watershed management to improve water quality. The Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation (TWF) has been successfully implementing water quality improvement studies and projects for 13 years.
The TWF was founded in 1997 by local residents who realized that to protect and enhance their lake for the future, a larger vision – a focus on the entire watershed – was needed. With this vision, TWF has obtained grants and raised necessary matching funds for scientific research studies and construction of more than 30 water quality improvement projects, including restoring stream banks and wetlands, creating sediment traps, installing filter strips, fencing livestock out of streams, and creating rain gardens and natural shorelines.
TWF works to stop water pollution at its source, which will in-turn, reduce the nasty effects including noxious weeds and algae blooms.
In addition to on-the-ground water quality improvement projects, the TWF has a strong education and outreach program for both youth and adults. “We encourage resident to take simple actions to improve water quality. If everyone joins their neighbors in using phosphorus-free lawn fertilizers, maintaining their septic system, and controlling invasive species – we can truly make a difference” states executive director Lyn Crighton. More than 1,000 lake and watershed residents have already joined TWF’s efforts by participating in their programs and providing financial support.
ILMS will be honoring the Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation at their annual conference on March 26, 2010, at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville, Indiana.
TWF serves several Whitley County lakes that are part of the Tippecanoe watershed, including Crooked Lake, Loon Lake, Goose Lake, Old Lake and nearby Big Lake in Noble County, as well as several Kosciusko County lakes.
The Award was established by ILMS to recognize those that excel in lake/watershed management to improve water quality. The Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation (TWF) has been successfully implementing water quality improvement studies and projects for 13 years.
The TWF was founded in 1997 by local residents who realized that to protect and enhance their lake for the future, a larger vision – a focus on the entire watershed – was needed. With this vision, TWF has obtained grants and raised necessary matching funds for scientific research studies and construction of more than 30 water quality improvement projects, including restoring stream banks and wetlands, creating sediment traps, installing filter strips, fencing livestock out of streams, and creating rain gardens and natural shorelines.
TWF works to stop water pollution at its source, which will in-turn, reduce the nasty effects including noxious weeds and algae blooms.
In addition to on-the-ground water quality improvement projects, the TWF has a strong education and outreach program for both youth and adults. “We encourage resident to take simple actions to improve water quality. If everyone joins their neighbors in using phosphorus-free lawn fertilizers, maintaining their septic system, and controlling invasive species – we can truly make a difference” states executive director Lyn Crighton. More than 1,000 lake and watershed residents have already joined TWF’s efforts by participating in their programs and providing financial support.
ILMS will be honoring the Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation at their annual conference on March 26, 2010, at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville, Indiana.