Dr. Nate Bosch, professor Grace College with Center for Lakes and Streams explains data used in one of the studies. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation’s first Lake Talks and Eats Saturday focused on three areas concerning lakes, two of which pertained to Syracuse and Wawasee lakes. Ecology of the lake and how a lake operates, and an economic study of a lake’s affect on a county and a current study on the variations causing fluctuating lake levels were the topics.

The program was presented by Dr. Nate Bosch, professor at Grace College with the Center for Lakes and Streams, at the Levinson-LaBrosse Lakes and Wetlands Education Center, SR 13 South, Syracuse.

Bosch presented information on a lake’s food chain, its affect on each area and the affects of seasonal mixing of lake waters. He also pointed out the relation between nutrients, phytoplankton, zooplankton, planktivorious fish and piscovorous fish. The seasonal mixing presentation explained how in each season the mixing of the lake has different results.

Bosch presented details of an economic study on Kosciusko County because of its abundance of lakes, noting what information was used and the means to develop the study’s budget. The study looked at income generated from the top 10 lakes in the county and showed 25 percent of the county’s tax base was provided from income of residences around these lakes. The information has been shared with Kosciusko County Economic Development Commission, Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce and each of the county commissioners.

“It hasn’t gotten the attention I thought it would,” stated Bosch. The study showed what would happen to the county’s revenue should lake quality decline. “I will continue to present these results and advocate one-fourth of the tax revenue comes from the lakes and the need to support lake efforts (protecting the lakes) even more.”

He noted lake property generates $15 million in property taxes for the county with property valued at over $3 billion, with a majority of those taxes coming from secondary homes. “The water quality can change these number,” he stated, noting based on information from other lakes where the water quality of recreational lakes declined, property values could decrease to $1.2 billion.

The final presentation was on the study of lake levels, which may be completed in August. The water cycle was reviewed and explanation of information used for the study including inflowing and outflowing streams, quantifying what’s coming in and going out, historical information on lake levels from 1940 through 2002 and the latest information.

The information will be used to see if anything can be done to eliminate what happened in 2012 when levels went 18 inches below normal.

Bosch noted there are four aspects affecting lake levels which will never be controlled: precipitation, streams, ground water and evaporation. Stream flow and irrigation are the only two areas which can be controlled. The study will be completed when information on water usage records from major water withdrawal facilities are available in August.

Bosch additionally presented information on educational programs and other studies underway. More information on studies is available at lakes.grace.edu.

Questions were asked by those attending regarding the lakes pH level, if there is oxygen in the spring water coming into the lake, effects of sewers vs. septic systems to water quality, invasive species.

Programs are offered the first Saturday in June through August. Diana Castell, ecology and educational chairman, noted the programs are aimed to educate and encourage individuals to become interested in taking care of the lakes and its importance.

The Lake Talks and Eats is held at the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation Educational Center from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The next program will be Saturday, July 5, and will feature a bug catch. More details are available at www.wacf.com.

See the videos for more details