Wednesday, June 23, 2021
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Vol. 50, No. 52
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
Lilly Center helps keep
beaches, waterways safe in summer %\ 3+2(%( 087+$57 $VVRFLDWH (GLWRU Known as the “Land of the Lakes,” Kosciusko County is home to over 100 lakes. While enjoying the local lakes and waterways this summer, it is important that those bodies of water remain safe for everyone. The Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams helps keep beaches and other bodies of water safe in the summer. This summer, it is asking the public to also help keep local lakes safe. “Our entire community can keep the lakes safe,” said Abby Logan, public relations specialist of The Lilly Center. The Lilly Center recommends lake-focused best practices, based on thorough research, and helps local families adopt them. These include: native plants, proper disposal of waste, washing cars in the car wash, picking up after pets and careful boating, just to name a few. “We model some of those actions on our own property,” said Logan. “Native landscaping is an example.” The Lilly Center is located at the Dr. Dane A. Miller Science Complex in Winona Lake on the Grace College campus. “We also use ecopavers and a green roof,” Logan said of the complex’s exterior. Throughout the year, the center hosts workshops, webinars and nature hikes, too. Every summer, the center’s research team samples 14 lakes, including 12 all-sport lakes and Pike and Center lakes, seven beaches and 12 streams. “This summer, we are offering weekly emails that help families know how much, if any, microcystin is present in the lakes and at the beaches,” Logan said. Microcystin is a toxin produced by blue-green algae, said Dr. Nate Bosch, director of the Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams at Grace College. Exposure to microcystin can result in something as simple as irritated skin or as complicated as liver problems, he noted. For pets, it can be even more dangerous. “That’s why we highly recommend staying away from water that has a visible blue-green algae bloom,” said
Logan. “Although not all blooms produce microcystin, it’s impossible to know if the toxin is present until the water is tested.” Meanwhile, in the center’s lab, the algae team is identifying and counting algae and other microorganisms brought 7RS /$.( :$7(5 “ back in water To make sure there is no samples. residue that might dilute the “They catasample, Eli Kitt, a research log what they team member, rinses a find and cresample bottle before fllling ate microscope it with lake water. Photo slides for fuprovided by The Lilly Centure use,” Loter for Lakes and Streams. gan said. 5LJKW &/($1 $1' Aside from +($/7+< “ Research that, the eduteam members use the YSI cation team to measure the temperais rapidly deture, dissolved oxygen conveloping a tent and other parameters. new suite of Starting at the surface, they programs for take measurements at evkindergarten ery meter until they reach to 12th grade the bottom of the lake. Picstudents. tured are Jodi Glickert, left, “By the fall, and Claire Mathias. Photo we’ll be able provided by The Lilly Cento run a wide ter for Lakes and Streams. variety of out%RWWRP 7(67,1* door, indoor 6$03/(6 “ Jed Harvey, and virtual lesthe Lilly Center÷s research sons for classtechnician, runs water rooms throughsamples through the ELISA out the county,” system. This is the equipLogan said. ment used to test samples The center for microcystin every week has summer during the summer. Photo programming provided by The Lilly Cenavailable, too, ter for Lakes and Streams. like “Critter Encounters,” a field trip for children. The public can also help keep lakes and streams healthy in other ways. Observe your lake and get to know your neighbors. “Often, the best thing you can do for your lake is simply to learn more about it so you and those around you can appreciate it at a deeper level,” Logan noted. Logan said to boat responsibly. Use parts of the lake that are at least 10 feet deep for any boating activities that create wake and may stir up Continued on page 2
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580