KOSCIUSKO — The perimeters of lakes are up against a number of elements, from increased boating activity, to weather wear & tear, and concrete seawalls. These threats decrease a shoreline’s natural ability to evade erosion, dampen waves that cause the resuspension of bottom materials and provide habitat for wildlife.

A Healthy Shorelines informational workshop will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.  Thursday, May 17, at the Winona Lake Community Center at 1590 Park Ave., to showcase projects that improve water quality and shoreline habitat, while reducing erosion and decreasing runoff. All lakeside property owners are welcome to join this free program.

In addition to providing information, the Winona Lake Preservation Association in partnership with The Watershed Foundation will provide grant assistance of up to $1,000 to homeowners on Winona Lake.

What are healthy shorelines?

The accepted norm on many of our lakes is to have a mowed lawn up to the edge of a concrete seawall.  Concrete seawalls are not natural or healthy for our lakes. In fact, they disrupt the critical ribbon of life on lake shorelines, create added wave action and stir up the bottom sediments. Sedimentation is the suspension of nutrients and material in our lakes, which is one of the main reasons for algae growth, green muck and fish scarcity in our lakes.

Healthy shorelines (and adjacent lawns) have an abundance of plants both on the land and in the water. Glacial stone (or rock) seawalls are an improvement over concrete because they help slow wave action. Natural shorelines can also be incredibly beautiful and easy to maintain without interfering with recreation. 

Examples of potential projects under the TWF Healthy Shorelines Initiative:

• stone re-facing of concrete seawalls
• bioengineered seawalls
• glacial stone seawalls

Winona Lake residents who attend the workshop will receive priority in grant funding. In order to be eligible, the project site must be located on Winona Lake, and the applicant must pay at least 25 percent of the total cost of the project. Payments will be made as a reimbursement.

To register for the workshop contact The Watershed Foundation at [email protected] or (574) 834-3242. For more information about how Healthy Shorelines and how TWF takes action for healthy lakes visit www.WatershedFoundation.org and click “Take Action.”