INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Lakes Management Work Group has submitted its final report, headed by retiring member and chairman, Rep. Dick Dodge, R-Pleasant Lake, and it recommends that a similar group be created to continue working on behalf of water resources.
The report comes after 12 years of work on issues relating to Indiana’s inland, fresh water lakes.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to have served as a member of the Lakes Management Work Group this past year. I feel that we have made great strides over the years and have made headway on issues addressing Indiana’s freshwater lakes,” said Dodge.
The final report issued by the group runs 479 pages. It recommends that a subcommittee on lakes be formed and that the economic impact of lakes needs to be better communicated with the legislative and executive branches of government.
“There is still a need for the existence of an organization or entity that is tasked with the responsibility for education and advocacy on lakes-related issues at the state level, with the legislative support to accomplish viable results,” said final recommendations of the group that were signed by Dodge. “Potentially, this could be addressed through the creation of a permanent subcommittee on lake issues reporting to the Natural Resources Study Committee in the Indiana General Assembly.”
The report also stressed that lakes are a vital part of Indiana’s economy.
“Without recognition of the actual benefits and intrinsic values brought to the state’s economy from the presence of healthy lakes, the need to fund solutions to lakes issues will face tough competition in an era of shrinking governmental funds. The importance of showing that money is not spent, but invested on solving lake issues will be the prime challenge to those who carry on with the discussion on the issues highlighted in this report,” the report said.
The Lakes Management Work Group grew out of a series of meetings to address lakes issues that were held in 1996 at Tri-State University in Angola. The meetings were spearheaded by Sen. Robert Meeks, R-LaGrange, who became the first chairman of the group. Meeks has since retired from the Senate but continued to serve on the Work Group, as did retired Trine University professor Pete Hippensteel, Lake James, who is technical vice president to the Steuben County Lakes Council.
The group was originally formed in 1999 following legislation authored by Meeks, then was reauthorized by subsequent legislation.
In its 12 years, the group has made an immense amount of progress in addressing many areas as a result of the efforts of citizens, staff, as well as state and county agencies, Dodge said. The Lakes Management Work Group has issued a list of 48 recommendations over the span of the group’s history, some of which have been reflected in legislation or administrative code that has been enacted.
“This issue has been a major passion of mine over the years. I am grateful to everyone who has supported our group in addition to all of the group members, attendees, and organizations that who have worked to better our Indiana lakes,” Dodge said.
The Lake Management Work Group has provided a forum for members of the General Assembly, staff professionals from federal and state agencies with responsibilities that impacted lake management, and a variety of nongovernmental organizations, associations, and industries that had an interest or impacts on Indiana’s lakes.
In one of the initial meeting held in Angola, Meeks stressed that many voices from many advocacy groups, from sportsmen to lake property associaitons and beyond, should be heard to make the group effective.
“The support for addressing the issues related to lakes is dependent on a strong and passionate advocacy for Hoosier lakes. Who will be that strong and passionate advocate is the question that no one can answer as the Lake Management Work Group hereby concludes its legislative mandate,” the final report said.
In total the Lake Management Work Group has held 35 meetings from 2000-2012. To review the report in full, visit http://in.gov/legislative/igareports/agency/reports/LMWG10.pdf.
© 2024 KPC Media Group, Inc.