Agencies working to remove sediment and logjams in Kosciusko County lakes and rivers have received a total of $80,000 to fix those issue from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Kosciusko was one of five counties receiving the grants, which are part of the Lake and River Enhancement program through the DNR’s Division of Fish & Wildlife. A total of $320,000 was given to the five counties and 11 projects.

County entities received funds for sediment removal in Chapman Lakes, $15,200; Silver Lake, $7,500; and Tippecanoe Lake, $35,000. A grant for $22,500 was received for logjam removal in Kosciusko County’s portion of the Tippecanoe River.

The sediment removal grants will increase public access to lakes through dredging of areas heavily used by boaters and lake inlets that are a sediment source to lakes.

The logjam removal projects should reduce erosion caused by  streams diverted by logjams. The removal also will improve access for boats, kayaks and canoes.

Recipient agencies were selected in a competitive process from among applications submitted. The grantees must share at least 20 percent of the cost.

LARE grants are”user-funded/user-benefiting” generated through the LARE fee paid by boat owners annually when they register their boats with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. These grants allow for the completion of projects that would be difficult for local organizations to fund on their own.

“We look to projects such as these to enhance public accessibility to selected Indiana waterways and lakes, thus increasing recreation potentials for boaters, anglers, paddlers and others who enjoy Indiana’s lakes and rivers,” said Mark Reiter, director of DNR Fish & WIldlife.