LAKE ENHANCEMENT APPLICATION

INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF SOIL CONSERVATION
LAKE AND RIVER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

Application for Traditional Program Assistance

I. Applicant Information

A. Project sponsor (applicant):

Name Hamilton Lake Association
Address P.O. Box 116
City, State, Zip Code Hamilton, IN 46742

B. Contact person for the sponsor organization:

Name Jeff Bireley
Title President
Address P.O. Box 116
City, State, Zip Code Hamilton, IN 46742
Telephone (Day) (260) 488-2169 (Evening) (260) 488-2582
FAX (260) 488-2927 E-Mail bireley1 (at) mchsi (dot) com

C. Briefly describe the past and present activities of the sponsor organization.

The Hamilton Lake Association (HLA) is committed to improving water quality and aesthetics of Hamilton Lake. They hold periodic meetings and sponsor a number of fundraisers to assist in these activities. Previous improvement efforts are shown below in III.C. The ultimate goal of HLA in this project is to control non-point source pollution entering Hamilton Lake through Black Creek (Figures 1 and 2).

D. Describe the legal status of the sponsor organization, i.e., indicate what the sponsor has done to acquire official standing. State when the organization was established. List current officers’/officials’ names.

HLA is a non-profit organization that was organized into a united group to promote and to protect Hamilton Lake and its residents. HLA was formed in 1975. The president of HLA is Jeff Bireley; the Vice-President is Rex Clinton; the Treasurer is Jack Thompson; and the Secretary is Linda Skelly. A list of the remaining Board of Directors includes: Ro Pape, Georjean Bush, Bill Dillon, Tony Hile, Jerry Orr, Tom Blood, Glenn Burton, David Skeens, Mike Roop, and Martha Zuber.

E. If the sponsor organization is a “property owners” or “lake” association, what percentage of the affected lake’s residents are members of the group?

Approximately 80%.

F. Are there other organizations also representing residents of the affected lake? What relationship do those organizations have with the sponsor/applicant on matters related to this application?

Town of Hamilton – Supports project and HLA
Hamilton Lake Conservancy District- Supports project and HLA

G. Briefly describe the financial resources available to the sponsor organization (e.g. dues, contributions, fund drives, taxes, etc.).

HLA obtains their money for improvements from grants, dues, contributions, and fundraisers.

II. Lake/Watershed Information

A. Lake(s) name(s) Hamilton Lake

B. County(ies) Steuben

C. Lake size (acres) 802 acres

D. Watershed (drainage basin) size (acres), if known approximately 10,600 acres, inclusive of Hamilton Lake

E. Describe how the general public can gain access to the lake(s) (i.e., the number and types of access sites, their location, ownership, and any fees charged).

Public access to Hamilton Lake is available via a property at the north-east side of the lake. Facilities include a concrete boat ramp and parking lot. An additional boat launching ramp is available for a fee at the Clark’s Landing Marina at the north end of the lake. A public beach is located at the Mill Pond section in the town of Hamilton immediately next to the spillway. Additionally, the Clark’s Landing Co-op has a swimming beach for its members and their guests.

III. Project Information

A. Which phase of Lake and River Enhancement is the sponsor considering?

Preliminary investigation? Diagnostic study? Watershed Diagnostic Study? Engineering feasibility study? X Design study? Construction project? Strategic management plan? Post-construction monitoring? Other?

B. Describe the need for the project.

The residents of Hamilton have experienced degraded water quality for decades. It is the goal of the citizens of Hamilton, and in particular HLA, to provide improved water quality for the enjoyment of the users of Hamilton Lake.

Hamilton Lake is on the 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies as maintained by IDEM. Hamilton Lake is designated by the State for recreational use (including whole-body contact recreation) and support of warm water aquatic life, and must meet the water quality standards to support these. There are many recreation uses, with fishing and boating being common activities. There is a public boat ramp on the north-east shore of the lake. Hamilton Lake is the centerpiece of the Town of Hamilton, with frequent out-of-town and out-of-state visitors for aesthetic, recreational, and casual enjoyment.

Hamilton Lake has been identified in the 2004 Indiana Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report as having an eutrophic trophic status. A Lake Enhancement Feasibility Study, funded by LARE, was performed in 1989 (Harza Engineering Company, 1989). This study examined water quality problems and recommended solutions to improve water quality. In particular, it identified Black Creek as the most significant non-point source pollution source in the Hamilton Lake watershed.

Harza Engineering Company (1989) in their Lake Enhancement Feasibility Study funded by LARE presented the following information:

Black Creek drains about 5,600 acres of the total watershed,
Black Creek contains about 56% of the highly erodible soils in the total watershed,
75% of Black Creek drainage area’s highly erodible land (HEL) is used for row crop production,
Black Creek contributes significant concentrations of sediment, nutrients, and bacteria to Hamilton Lake during storm events, and
Water quality modeling suggested that the Black Creek Watershed contributes about two-thirds of the annual phosphorus loadings to Hamilton Lake.

C. List any previous studies or restoration measures that have been completed for the lake/watershed.

A few studies and restoration measures have been performed for the lake and its watershed. These activities include:

Aquatic plant surveys and weed control the last several years,
Construction of a watershed sediment trap funded by LARE in 2000,
Design of a watershed sediment trap funded by LARE in 1999, and
Diagnostic feasibility study for watershed non-point source pollution control funded by LARE in 1989.

D. Describe here or on an attached sheet the activities for which funding is requested (Include drawings or other support materials, as applicable.)

Funding will be used to hire a consulting engineering company to perform an engineering feasibility study to determine restoration measures to improve the water quality that discharges from Black Creek into Hamilton Lake. Historical studies and present observations indicate that Black Creek is a large nutrient and sediment source that is negatively impacting the water quality of Hamilton Lake. Observations to support this include the presence of sediment plumes during storm events, the presence of sediment deltas at the mouth of Black Creek’s discharge into Hamilton Lake (See Photos), the need for lake residents to extend docks near Black Creek to support continued boat access, and the loss of trees and streambanks to erosion along Black Creek (See Photos).

E. What is the total estimated cost of the project?$25,000

Anticipated cost-share to be contributed by sponsor ($ or %).

10%

What was the basis for the estimate (e.g., diagnostic or feasibility study, preliminary estimate by consultant, formal bidding, etc.)?

Preliminary estimate by consultant.

F. If a LARE grant were awarded for the project, when would the work realistically be expected to begin?

As soon as grant funds are awarded, feasibility study activities can begin.

G. If LARE funds are being sought for a design study or construction project that would involve the use, lease, or purchase of land, indicate what the sponsor has done to secure permission to use the land. If necessary access/use rights have not been secured, indicate what will be done in that regard.

This will be addressed as part of this engineering feasibility study.

H. If funds are being sought for a construction project, indicate how the sponsor will administer the contract, supervise and inspect construction, and monitor the effectiveness of the constructed measure after it is completed. (Initial post-construction monitoring and construction inspection can be cost-shared as part of a construction grant.)

Not applicable to this grant request.

I. If a construction project is being considered, describe how the sponsor will pay for and carry out the activities necessary to operate and maintain the constructed measure.

Not applicable to this grant request.

This application for Lake and River Enhancement program assistance is hereby submitted as authorized by the sponsoring organization.

Sponsor organization Hamilton Lake Association

Printed name of representative Jeff Bireley


Signature of Representative__________________________Date___________________


Submit completed pre-application to:

Chief, Land & Water Conservation
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Division of Soil Conservation Room W265
402 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2739
Telephone 317/233-3870

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JANUARY 31 EACH YEAR

Awards are made in July of the same year, with funds available upon award.