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By Louie Stout
If you want to know more - and ask questions- about northern Indiana fisheries and the DNR’s research work, you’ll get that chance April 21 or April 22.
Those are the dates that the DNR will host two interactive webinars, during which you can log onto a site and watch and listen to biologists explain their work, stocking programs and discuss which fisheries are doing best in those regions.
In addition, you can ask questions through a chat feature included with the webinar. Links are listed later in this story.
“We want the public to take part and ask about specific lakes,” says Northern Supervisor Tom Bacula. “It’s an opportunity for the public to interact with us without having to travel to a specific location.”
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IDNR Report
The Indiana DNR has placed boating restrictions on watercraft on the Indian Lakes Chain.
The emergency order places an idle speed restriction on motorized watercraft on Indian Lakes Chain, which consists of Witmer, Westler, Dallas, Hackenberg and Messick lakes in LaGrange County due to high-water levels.
A boating restriction is put into effect when surface water conditions are likely to enter dwelling structures as a result of a wake.
For information on Indiana boating advisories, please visit on.IN.gov/boatadvisory.
To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.
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IDNR Report
The Indiana DNR has placed boating restrictions on watercraft on the Barbee and Tippecanoe Lakes Chain and Lake Wawasee.
The emergency order restricts the operation of motorized watercraft on the Barbee Lakes Chain, which consists of Kuhn, Big Barbee, Little Barbee, Irish, Sechrist, Sawmill, and Banning Lakes in Kosciusko County due to high-water levels. T
he DNR also placed an idle speed restriction on motorized watercraft on Tippecanoe Lake Chain, which consists of Lake Tippecanoe, Oswego, and James Lakes and Lake Wawasee.
A boating restriction is put into effect when surface water conditions are likely to enter dwelling structures as a result of a wake.
For information on Indiana boating advisories, please visit on.IN.gov/boatadvisory.
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IDNR Report
The Indiana DNR has placed boating restrictions on watercraft on the West Lakes Chain, Smalley Lake, and Sylvan Lake.
The emergency order restricts the operation of motorized watercraft on the West Lakes Chain, which consists of Waldron, Steinbarger, Tamarack, and Jones lakes and Smalley Lake in Noble County due to high-water levels.
The DNR also placed an idle speed restriction on motorized watercraft on Sylvan Lake.
A boating restriction is put into effect when surface water conditions are likely to enter dwelling structures as a result of a wake.
For information on Indiana boating advisories, please visit on.IN.gov/boatadvisory.
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IDNR Report
Governor Mike Braun and the Indiana DNR announced organizations in 17 Indiana counties will receive $1,484,960 in grants to fund 48 lake and stream projects through the Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) program.
“Indiana’s lakes and streams are vital natural resources, supporting strong communities, wildlife habitat, and recreation,” said Governor Mike Braun.
“Thanks to support from those getting out and enjoying Indiana’s scenic waterways, we’re proud to make sure that our Hoosier lakes and streams are well maintained for continued enjoyment now and for future generations.”
Grants totaling $1,040,900 will support 15 sediment and logjam removal projects in 11 counties, which are Benton, Daviess, Hamilton, Johnson, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Marshall, Noble, Steuben, Sullivan, and Vanderburgh counties. Another $444,060 will be used to support projects combating aquatic invasive plants in 33 waterbodies across 11 counties, which are Fulton, Gibson, Kosciusko, LaGrange, LaPorte, Marshall, Noble, Porter, Starke, Steuben, and White.
The grants are funded through the LARE fee paid annually by boat owners when they register their crafts with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
This user-funded program benefits boaters all over the state by allowing for the completion of lake and stream projects that would be difficult for local organizations to fund on their own. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis, and local sponsors share at least 20% of the cost. Funded projects for the planning and removal of sediment and logjams help improve recreational access by removing nutrient-rich sediment and woody debris near inlets or navigational channels, helping prevent bank erosion and the formation of new channels. These types of projects receive the highest priority for LARE funding, and they are only funded for projects focused on large-quantity debris removal. Aquatic invasive plant control grants help control or manage aggressive non-native species that can outcompete native species and dominate plant communities. The grants can also provide economic benefits to lake communities by improving lake conditions for those who fish or boat.
A list of grant recipients and sediment and logjam removal projects by body of water, county, project type and grant award can be found at lare.dnr.IN.gov and clicking on project awards at the top of the page. Reports on all past LARE-funded projects can be found at larereports.dnr.IN.gov.