INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will grant $1.32 million to organizations in 12 counties for 18 lake, river, and watershed land treatment projects through the Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) program.

Projects will take place in LaGrange, Montgomery, Kosciusko, Owen, Marion, Elkhart, Starke, DeKalb, Randolph, Fountain, Jennings, and Gibson counties.

The grants are funded by the annual LARE fee paid by boat owners at registration. The user-funded program supports projects difficult for local organizations to fund alone. Grants are awarded competitively, with local sponsors covering at least 20% of costs.

This round will benefit eight lakes and 11 rivers and streams, with some projects overlapping. Two land-based watershed projects were also funded in coordination with Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Many projects aim to improve water quality by reducing sediment and nutrient inputs, benefiting fish, wildlife, and recreation.

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