Lake & River Enhancement

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The goal of the Division of Fish & Wildlife's Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) Program is to protect and enhance aquatic habitat for fish and wildlife, and to ensure the continued viability of Indiana's publicly accessible lakes and streams for multiple uses, including recreational opportunities. This is accomplished through measures that reduce non-point sediment and nutrient pollution of surface waters to a level that meets or surpasses state water quality standards.

To accomplish this goal, the LARE Program provides technical and financial assistance for qualifying projects. Approved grant funding may be used for one or more of the following purposes:

1. Investigations to determine what problems are affecting a lake/lakes or a stream segment.
2. Evaluation of identified problems and effective action recommendations to resolve those problems.
3. Cost-sharing with land users in a watershed upstream from a project lake or stream for installation or application of sediment and nutrient-reducing practices on their land.
4. Matching federal funds for qualifying projects.
5. Feasibility studies to define appropriate lake and stream remediation measures.
6. Engineering designs and construction of remedial measures.
7. Water quality monitoring of public lakes.
8. Management of invasive aquatic vegetation
9. Sediment removal from qualifying lakes.
10. Logjam removal from qualifying rivers.

Message from the Division of Fish & Wildlife

The LARE program strives to operate as a scientifically-effective program in a cost-efficient manner to protect and enhance aquatic habitat for fish and wildlife; and to ensure the continued viability of Indiana's publicly accessible lakes and streams for multiple uses, including recreational opportunities. This is accomplished through grants for projects that reduce non-point sediment and nutrient pollution of surface waters to a level that meets or surpasses state water quality standards. LARE grant funds are intended for those projects demonstrating not only a need but a local commitment to getting the task accomplished in a timely manner at a reasonable cost.

Grant applications normally greatly exceed the amount of funds available. The LARE program staff works to maximize the effectiveness of the limited amount of dollars available to as many projects as possible.

LARE applications are due by Jan. 15 of the year grants are awarded.

Application forms are available in the LARE program manual in “Applying to the LARE Program.” They can be completed and submitted electronically.

Thank you for your continuing interest in and support of the DNR’s Lake and River Enhancement Program.