Department of Natural Resources grants totaling more than $693,000 will be used to fund the battle against invasive aquatic vegetation in Indiana’s lakes.

Of the $693,000 allotted, a total of $127,020 will be used for lakes within Kosciusko County. Lakes to receive aide against invasive aquatic vegetation include Kuhn, Big Barbee, Little Barbee, Irish, Sawmill, Banning and Sechrist lakes; Beaver Dam Lake, Loon Lake, Center Lake, Big Chapman and Little Chapman lakes, Lake Tippecanoe, Lake James, Oswego Lake, Lake Wawasee, Syracuse Lake and Webster Lake.

The new grants were awarded by DNR director Rob Carter and are provided through the Lake and River Enhancement program in the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The 37 projects involve 53 lakes in 14 counties. They were selected from a number of applications submitted by local sponsors who commit to sharing a portion of the total cost. DNR’s portion comes from the L.A.R.E. fee paid annually by boat owners to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The grants allow for the completion of projects that would be difficult for local organizations to fund on their own.

“We are pleased to partner with local sponsors in supporting these projects to improve aquatic habitat and enhance recreational opportunities for boating and fishing,” said Mark Reiter, director of DNR Fish and Wildlife.

The projects also provide economic benefits to the associated lake communities by offering increased opportunities for those who fish or pleasure-boat. L.A.R.E. is a user-funded program in which those who boat help support the efforts to improve and enhance the lakes. Lake users will benefit from efforts to control or manage non-native invasive species such as Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed and starry stonewort

The list of projects by water body, county, project type and grant award: