04/12/13 More than $693,000 in grant money from the Department of Natural Resources will be used to fund the battle against invasive aquatic vegetation in Indiana lakes. The DNR’s portion comes from the LARE (Lake and River Enhancement) fee paid annually by boat owners to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The grants were recently awarded to 37 projects involving 53 lakes in 14 counties.
The projects that were awarded grants provide economic benefits to the associated lake communities by offering increased opportunities for those who fish and pleasure boat. Lake users will benefit from efforts to control or manage non-native invasive species such as Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, and starry stonewort.
In Marshall County the four-lakes area including Mill Pond, Kreighbaum, Cook and Holm Lakes will receive $22,800 for aquatic vegetation management with surveys, plans and treatment. Lake of the Woods also received a $36,000 grant for aquatic vegetation management.
Other lakes in the area include Nyona and South Mud Lakes in Fulton County. They received a grant in the amount of $12,160. Bruce Lake, also in Fulton County received $5,000 for aquatic vegetation management treatment.
Bass Lake in Starke County received $5,000 for vegetation management treatment and Koontz Lake was awarded $13,000 for vegetation management, a survey, plan and treatment.
