News Release
WARSAW — The Watershed Foundation is hosting two workshops in the coming weeks that are free and open to the public.
Below are recaps of both:
Native Plants, Lawn Conversion June 5
The Watershed Foundation will offer a free workshop designed to help landowners convert traditional lawns into native prairies to save money, support wildlife, and protect water quality.
The event will be held Thursday, June 5 from 5-7 p.m. at Nye Youth Cabin in Warsaw.
Workshop participants will learn how to replace traditional turf grass with native plants, which require less water, fertilizer, and maintenance and help reduce flooding, erosion, and pollution in local waterways. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with experts, ask questions, and receive guidance on their own native plant projects.
The event will also cover funding available through TWF’s new Beyond Lawns Initiative, which provides technical and grant assistance for lawn conversion projects of 3 or more acres.
The Beyond Lawns Initiative has already seen success with projects like the Native Prairie and Basin Project, which transformed 15 acres of Zimmer Biomet property by replacing mowed areas with prairie flowers and grasses and enhancing storm water basins with wetland species. Other recent successes include partnering with Warsaw Community Schools to install native prairies under solar panels at Harrison, Eisenhower, and Leesburg Elementary. Both projects will cut maintenance costs, provide support for wildlife and pollinators, protect water quality, and create outdoor spaces for employees
and students to enjoy.
The Beyond Lawns workshop is free and open to the public. Pizza and drinks will be provided. Please register by June 3 at /tinyurl.com/Beyond-Lawns-25
For more information about the event, or to discuss project possibilities on your property, contact Caitlin Yoder, Watershed & Special Projects Coordinator, at caitlin@watershedfoundation.org or (574) 834-3242.
Beyond Lawns grant applications, information, and other resources can be found at
watershedfoundation.org/our-work/implement/beyond-lawns/
Healthy Shoreline Practices, Grant Funding June 12
The Watershed Foundation (TWF) and Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will offer a free workshop about healthy shorelines on Thursday, June 12 from 5:30-7pm at the Winona Lake Senior Center.
This workshop will introduce lake property owners to shoreline restoration practices that reduce erosion and runoff, improve habitat, and protect water quality without sacrificing natural beauty or recreational access. Participants will learn about alternatives to concrete seawalls, including glacial stone and native plants, as well as shoreline zoning, IDNR permitting requirements, and grant funding available for eligible shoreline projects.
Speakers include:
- Lyn Crighton, The Watershed Foundation
- Madison Johnson, IDNR Division of Fish & Wildlife
- Jordan Smithers, IDNR Division of Water
- Nate Thomas, IDNR Lake & River Enhancement
An optional tour of the Healthy Shoreline Project at Winona Lake Limitless Park will follow.
The event is free and open to the public. Learn more and register here.
What Are Healthy Shorelines?
While traditional mowed lawns and concrete seawalls have long been the accepted norm, they aren’t natural or healthy for our lakes. They decrease plant life and animal habitat along the shoreline, create added wave action, and contribute to erosion, algae growth, muck, and waning fish populations – among other problems.
Healthy shorelines combine rock seawalls and native plants both on the land and in the water. Bioengineered and glacial stone seawalls help slow wave action, stabilize the shoreline, promote aquatic plant growth, and provide habitat for aquatic creatures. Lake-friendly landscaping includes native plants that slow runoff, filter pollutants, and reduce erosion – among other benefits. With proper planning, natural shorelines can be beautiful and low-maintenance, and they don’t interfere with recreation.
Grants Available
Through its Healthy Shorelines Initiative, TWF provides grant assistance of up to $1,200 to
homeowners for shoreline projects that reduce runoff and erosion and improve water quality and habitat. Healthy Shorelines projects have included stone re-facing of concrete seawalls, bioengineered seawalls, glacial stone seawalls, and more.
In order to be eligible, the project site must be located on a lake located in the Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed, and the applicant must contribute at least 25% of the total project cost. Grant applications are due by Aug. 1.
Healthy Shorelines grant applications, information, and other resources can be found at
watershedfoundation.org/our-work/implement/healthy-shorelines/
For more information or to find out if your project is eligible, contact The Watershed Foundation at office@watershedfoundation.org or (574) 834-3242.
