The Watershed Foundation works with many environmental partners, lake communities, business owners, and farmers to protect and preserve the health of the lakes in the watershed.

This general statement can be overwhelming, and confusing for many of our friends, so we would like to share an article recently written by one of our partners. We would like to congratulate the Crooked Lake Association for implementing this extensive project that will help keep sediment and nutrients from flowing downstream through the watershed, by stopping pollution at its source. Thank you for your dedication and partnership.

Article written by John Meier for the Crooked Lake Association, September 3, 2015- 

“The residents of Spear Road have dealt with sediment-laden water pouring into Crooked Lake for several years, especially after significant amounts of rainfall. The source of the erosion was traced to a significant sized land parcel South of Spear Road determined by a study, which was funded a few years ago.

The Lake Association Board of Directors discussed the problem, options were proposed and a project was born. The study by TWF soil and water and drainage experts called for very specific procedures to be employed to properly take care of the problem. Bids were solicited for the project, and a time line set. The awarded bid was for the sum of $24,746.00. The Association was successful in securing a grant from the LARE Program (Lake and River Enhancement) through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

This grant would provide for 80 percent of the cost of the project. Also, TWF, of which Crooked Lake belongs to, contributed $2,500, and ULTRA (Upper Lakes of the Tippecanoe River Association – a working committee of TWF) put in $500 as well. Finishing up will entail seeding of grass throughout the area. In the future, we will keep the drains clear of debris, manage the vegetation, and monitor the effectiveness of the project in minimizing the sediment-laden water that used to cloud this area of the lake.”