There are many ways to create a shoreline that not only protects your property investment, but also reduces or eliminates pollution from entering the water, including the use of native plants and natural stone. Learn more about options for your waterfront June 1 at the Healthy Shorelines Workshop in the Winona Lake Senior Center. Photo provided by The Watershed Foundation.

News Release

NORTH WEBSTER — Lakefront property is valuable and you want to retain every inch of it. You also want to keep your shore on shore and your soil out of the water to help preserve water quality and clarity.

These are important concepts, but do you really know what to do?

Find out how to transform your lawn and lakeshore into a healthy shoreline by attending The Watershed Foundation’s Healthy Shorelines Workshop from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 1, at the Winona Lake Senior Center.

During this free workshop, you will learn about healthy shoreline best practices. This workshop is ideal for anyone at any lake — regardless where the lake is located.

“Our award-winning Healthy Shorelines initiative educates homeowners on shoreline projects that reduce erosion, decrease runoff and improve water quality and habitat,” said Lyn Crighton, executive director of The Watershed Foundation.

“Transforming your lakeshore into a healthy shoreline might mean refacing existing concrete seawalls, installing new bioengineered or glacial stone seawalls, planting lake-friendly landscaping and more.”

“During our workshop, you’ll learn what steps you need to take to preserve your shoreline while also benefiting water quality,” Crighton added.

Crighton said 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 sediments on the bottom of the lake. The resuspension of nutrients and material in our lakes is a major cause of nasty algae growth.

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.

Residents of Winona Lake are eligible for up to $1,000 in grant funding through a partnership between TWF and the Winona Lake Preservation Association. Those who attend the workshop will receive top priority. To be eligible, the project site must be located on Winona Lake and the applicant must pay at least 25% of the total cost of the project.

Door prizes will be awarded during the workshop, including a one-year membership to the Indiana Lakes Management Society and free registration to next year’s ILMS annual conference March 21-22, 2024, at Pokagon State Park.

For additional information about the workshop or to register, email [email protected] or call The Watershed Foundation at (574) 834-3242.