NORTHERN INDIANA — Department of Natural Resources grants totaling more than $586,000 will be used to fight invasive aquatic vegetation in Indiana’s lakes.

The grants were awarded by DNR Director Cameron Clark through the Lake and River Enhancement program in the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife.

The 42 projects involve lakes in 15 counties, including three projects in Marshall County, 10 projects in Kosciusko County, and one project in Noble County. They were selected from applications submitted by local sponsors who share at least 20 percent of the total cost.

Grants were received for Mill Pond, Kreighbaum, Cook, Holem and Koontz lake, as well as the Lake of the Woods in Marshall County; Backwater, Barbee, Little Barbee, Irish, Sawmill, Banning, Sechrist, Beaver Dam, Loon, Center, Big Chapman, Little Chapman, Dewart, Tippecanoe, James, Oswego, Wawasee, Syracuse, and Webster lakes in Kosciusko; Sylvan lake in Noble County.

Marshall County lakes, grant funds and projects are: Mill Pond, Kreighbaum, Cook and Holem lakes received $15,200. Koontz Lake received $20,000 and Lake of the Woods received $23,000.

Kosciusko County lakes, grant funds and projects are: Backwater Lake received $2,500. Barbee, Little Barbee, Irish, Sawmill Banning and Sechrist lakes received $6,750. Beaver Dam and Loon lakes received $2,030. Center lake received $16,600. BIg Chapman and Little Chapman lakes received $24,400. Dewart lake received $6,625. Tippecanoe, James and Oswego lakes received $32,000. Wawasee and Syracuse lakes received $17,500, and Wawasee received an additional $15,800 to deal with starry stonewort. Webster lake received $41,500.

Sylvan lake, in Noble County, received $5,000.

LARE grants are funded through the Lake and River Enhancement fee paid by boat owners annually when they register their boats with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. This “user-funded” program benefits boaters all over the state. The grants allow for the completion of projects that would be difficult for many local organizations to fund on their own.

“These LARE grants further our goals of improving aquatic habitat while enhancing recreational opportunities for fishing and boating,” said Mark Reiter, director of DNR Fish & Wildlife. “Addressing invasive plants in many of our most popular public lakes will benefit many Hoosiers during the summer boating season.”

The grants will help control or manage aggressive non-native species, including Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed and starry stonewort that can take over and clog lakes. A study on the effectiveness of starry stonewort control on Lake Wawasee will be conducted by the Center for Lakes and Streams at Grace College. The grants can provide economic benefits to lake communities by improving public access for those who fish or pleasure-boat.