Dearborn County, IN — The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says 23 Indiana counties will receive $864,610 in grants to fund 34 lake and stream projects through the Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) program.
In Southeastern Indiana, Dearborn County was awarded $100,000 to remove sediment from Tanners Creek.
“Indiana’s lakes and streams are a cherished natural resource for all Hoosiers, providing outstanding recreational and fishing opportunities across our state,” said DNR Director Dan Bortner. “Through Indiana’s LARE program, Hoosiers who get out on the water continue to make a splash in conserving and protecting these waterways, funding more than $20 million in dredging, logjam, and aquatic vegetation management projects for Indiana’s lakes and streams over the last two decades. This creates a lasting impact for our state now and for generations to come.”
The grants are funded through the LARE fee paid annually by boat owners when they register their crafts with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and allow 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 in 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.
