The Indiana Lakes Management Society will offer up to two full scholarships to attend the 2027 Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy (IWLA).  The academy helps build an individual’s capacity for successful watershed management.  It is designed for anyone with watershed management responsibilities or interests. Participants have the chance to:

• Engage in basic and advanced level watershed topics covering leadership principles, watershed science, organization and communication, technology and GIS, stakeholder involvement techniques, and policy skills.
• Meet, learn from, and engage with others who work in watershed management.
• Interact with topic experts.
• Gain strategies, skills, and resources for successful watershed management.
• Earn a Professional Certificate in Watershed Management.

ILMS is committed to helping lake associations, watershed groups, and watershed professionals attend the academy because we recognize the value of the network and education needed by volunteers and professionals alike. Previous scholarship award winners have enjoyed their experience at IWLA where they were able to learn about watershed planning and how to access and use beneficial online platforms related to watersheds and watershed management. Learn more about the Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy here.

Eligibility:

• Preference will be given to applicants who are currently in and are planning to stay in Indiana and continue working in a field related to lake or watershed management.
• Applicants must explain how the experience gained in IWLA will benefit their current role/assist their Lake Association or watershed group in achieving their goals.
• Applicants must commit to providing a presentation, newsletter article, or workshop in exchange for receiving a scholarship.
• Although students are eligible to receive the IWLA scholarship, preference will be given to professionals working in related fields.
• Scholarship winners my not receive more than one ILMS scholarship per year.

Apply by September 25, 2026 for the ILMS scholarship by filling out this application.  Recipients will be announced by October 5, 2026.

The Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy (IWLA) is a program offered through Purdue University.  Individuals interested in attending the 2027 Academy will need to register separately through Purdue (link provided above).  The IWLA application deadline is Friday, October 16, 2026.

The registration fee is $1,500, or less, for select individuals and covers all workshop materials as well as food and single-room lodging for the in-person workshops.  Purdue University also offers a limited number of scholarships.  For more information about the Purdue scholarships, contact Sara Peel, IWLA Coordinator [(765) 337-9100; speel@purdue.edu].  For more information about the IWLA program, contact Jane Frankenberger, IWLA Director and Purdue University Professor and Extension Specialist [(765) 494-1194; frankenb@purdue.edu] or IWLA Coordinator Sara Peel.

The Indiana Lakes Management Society is pleased to announce that financial assistance is available through the ILMS Scholarship Donation and Silent Auction Fund to help meet the college tuition needs for applicants for the 2026-2027 academic year.  At least three (3) $500 scholarships will be available to qualified students.

Who is eligible?

1. Students who are currently enrolled (or planning to enroll) in Environmental Science, Aquatic Ecosystem or Watershed Management, or related undergraduate or graduate college-level classes.
2. Students who are permanent residents of Indiana or have pursued a minimum of one year’s course work at an Indiana college or university and are currently enrolled at an Indiana college or university.
3. Scholarship funds will be awarded preferentially to those applicants who are planning to take classes related to aquatic ecosystems, but other classes may also qualify, especially if they are core classes of an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s Degree program in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Fisheries, or Aquatic Resource Management.
4. Scholarship funds will be awarded preferentially to those applicants who are planning to stay in Indiana after graduation and continue working in a field related to lake and watershed management.
5. Scholarship winners may not receive more than one ILMS scholarship per year.

How to apply:

Fill out the application and upload your resume, unofficial transcript (optional), and brief letter of interest containing at a minimum the following:

1. Personal contact information including address and daytime telephone number.
2. College name, major (intended or declared), and semester status.
3. Current G.P.A.
4. Scholastic honors or merit awards obtained (e.g., Dean’s List).
5. Course work for which scholarship funds are requested.
6. Career objectives, experience in aquatic-related natural resource management employment or volunteerism, and community service.
7. A description of how this course work relates to the ILMS purpose and objectives.

Where to apply: Application can be found at this link.

Timeline: Application and letters must be received no later than October 9, 2026.

Applications will be evaluated based on the letter of interest and GPA.  Scholarship Funds will be distributed in time to meet tuition needs for the Spring 2027 Semester.  Students will also be granted an ILMS membership and registration fee, travel, and lodging stipend for the 2027 ILMS Annual Conference (March 24-25, 2027 at Potawatomi Inn at Pokagon State Park in Angola, IN).  For more information, visit the ILMS website at www.indianalakes.org

ILMS Purpose: “...promote and encourage the understanding and comprehensive management of lakes and reservoirs and their watershed ecosystems.”

ILMS Objectives:

▪    Promote and provide a forum for the sharing of information and experience on scientific, legal, administrative, and financial aspects of lake and watershed management.

▪    Foster and assist in the development of local lake restoration and protection programs in accordance with appropriate management strategies and techniques.

▪    Encourage the cooperation and interaction of organizations, agencies, units of government, and individuals concerned with lake and watershed management and protection.

▪    Encourage, support, and assist in the development of local, state, and national programs, policies, and legislation promoting lake and watershed management.

▪    Encourage development and enforcement of laws and legislation designed to protect vital water resources and their environments.

ILMS is excited to announce that the webinar The Problem with Boat Wakes that was presented in July 2026 by Melissa DeSimone, the Executive Director of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association, will now be available for viewing to the public regardless of if you are an ILMS member or not. 

The Indiana Lakes Management Society strives to continue providing webinars to our members and the public on important lake management topics. By becoming an ILMS member, you can attend all of our webinars for free and have access to recordings of past webinars. Not a member yet or need to renew? Visit our membership page at indianalakes.org/Join/Members-Only. Individual memberships are only $25.

NALMS International Symposium Scholarship for ILMS Members

The Indiana Lakes Management Society (ILMS) Board is excited to announce a new scholarship opportunity for ILMS members; the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) International Symposium Scholarship.

ILMS has set aside $1,500 for a registered ILMS member to use for travel reimbursement to this year's NALMS International Symposium in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada from November 3 - 6, 2026.  This year's theme is "Swimming Upstream:  Tackling Environmental Challenges Through Partnership, Innovation & Science."  The scholarship can be used for hotel and travel expenses as well as conference registration.

Applicants must commit to attending the entire symposium and paying for their own costs above and beyond what is covered by the scholarship.

Applications are due August 21, 2026.  The recipient will be notified by September 4th as early bird registration rates end September 11th. Apply for the NALMS Scholarship by filling out our form. 

July is Lakes Appreciation Month in Indiana!  All life needs water; let’s not take it for granted! Lakes Appreciation Month is a time to enjoy our lakes and reservoirs, spread the news of how important they are and how we can keep them special. Here are some ways that you can celebrate Lakes Appreciation Month with us!

• Pursue media coverage for your local Lakes Appreciation events.
• Utilize the NALMS fun, kid-friendly BINGO sheet (partnership with Earth Science Laboratories)! A perfect teaching tool that can be used year-round.
• Utilize the NALMS media toolkit for your events, social media, and local marketing.
• Share your stories, events, photos, videos, etc. on social media! Be sure to use the hashtag #LakesAppreciation and tag ILMS! 

Find other ways to celebrate Lakes Appreciation Month on the NALMS website here.

July is Lakes Appreciation Month! The Indiana Lakes Management Society (ILMS) wants to help you celebrate. Lakes Appreciation Month is an international effort by the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) to highlight the value and importance of lakes and reservoirs. The goal is to encourage people to appreciate and protect these vital resources.

ILMS is providing funds for events intended to educate or celebrate our valuable water resources. The Lakes Appreciation Event Sponsorship is intended to reduce the cost of holding educational events in or around Lakes Appreciation Month, July.  ILMS will also provide support in the form of event promotion through our network (newsletter, social media, email blast, etc.)

A limited number of sponsorships will be awarded to lake organizations and watershed groups that organize an educational event in June, July, or August 2025.     

Funds can be used to cover materials, speaker fees, space rental, or event promotion.  Some example events include water quality monitoring trainings, shoreline protection workshops, aquatic plant identification workshops, field days, or educational displays at social events. Check out https://www.nalms.org/lakes-appreciation-month/ for ideas about past events. Sponsorships are anticipated to be in the range of $200-$300  

Fill out a sponsorship application by April 30th to be considered.  Awards will be announced by May 30, 2026.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our biggest annual conference in a decade!  It was great to see over 160 participants.  We are especially grateful to our 33 event sponsors! 

We are thrilled that our conference continues to grow and to bring in a variety of lake enthusiasts from around the state.  For the last few years, we have been working to increase student participation at the conference.  It was great to see students from IU, Purdue, Grace College, and Ball State all share their research this year.  Fifteen participated in our research poster contest and two presented sessions.

There were many great sessions this year.  The liveliest session award probably goes to the "Law Enforcement on Lakes" session where Conservation Officer Trevor Bolt graciously answered many questions from a very engaged audience.  Audience participation was also strong in our permitting roundtable and our lake association fundraising session.  

There were several speakers from out of state this year, including Joe Bischoff from Minnesota who gave a talk about internal phosphorus loading and also an update on the North American Lakes Management Society (NALMS).  Did you know the NALMS conference will likely be hosted in the Midwest in 2028?  Stay tuned for details - or consider attending the conference this coming fall in British Columbia.

We hope everyone had a great time and please let us know if you have suggestions for next year.  We will be gathering at Pokagon State Park March 24-25, 2027.  (Note it will be a Wednesday-Thursday conference next year.)  Please contact us anytime at indianalakes@gmail.com with ideas or questions about how to get more involved!

Thank you to everyone that attended the 37th Annual Indiana Lakes Management Conference on March 26th and 27th at the Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, IN.  One of the highlights of the conference is handing out our annual awards. 

Therese Shiffler received the Volunteer of the Year Award. Therese has led an intensive, multi-year water-quality monitoring program on Little Long Lake, collecting weekly samples across six sites and generating foundational nutrient and algal data. She also leads Clean Lakes monitoring, serves on multiple watershed boards, and fosters collaboration across state lines. Her leadership in hosting a tri-state Field Day and commitment to shoreline restoration reflect extraordinary volunteer dedication and measurable impact on regional water stewardship. Thank you, Therese! 

The Outstanding Project Award went to the 2025 Inland Lake Field Day at Little Long Lake united 51 tri-state participants to advance watershed stewardship in the Western Lake Erie Basin. Through hands-on demonstrations, expert presentations, and interactive learning, the event translated science into practical action. By connecting residents with monitoring programs and agency partners, the initiative strengthened cross-state collaboration, expanded local monitoring capacity, and modeled a replicable, community-driven approach to protecting inland lakes. Great job! 

The Lake Lemon Conservancy District received the Outstanding Lake Association Award for their efforts to reclaim over 100 acres of lake surface and removed nearly 500,000 cubic yards of sediment through strategic dredging investments. Complementing sediment management with shoreline stabilization, invasive species control, and weekly water-quality monitoring, LLCD delivers measurable ecological and recreational benefits. Its innovative plan to convert dredged material into a 17-acre engineered wetland exemplifies forward-thinking, sustainable lake stewardship. Thank you! 

INDIANA LAKES MANAGEMENT SOCIETY

                 Annual Business Meeting March 20th, 2025

This meeting was held in person at the annual conference.

MEETING MINUTES

Approval of 2024’s meeting Minutes

• 1st - Sara Peel
• 2nd - Jacob Bannister

Change of the Agenda:

Election of Officers:

1. President: Kristi Johnson
2. Vice President: Maggie Sullivan (Absent)
3. Directors:
   1. Ashlee Haviland
   2. Malena Ryan
   3. Jordan Smithers
   4. Miranda Wentz

Motion: Accept the slate as presented

Election Results:

1. President: Kristi Johnson
2. Vice President: Maggie Sullivan
3. Directors:
   1. Ashlee Haviland
   2. Malena Ryan
   3. Jordan Smithers
   4. Miranda Wentz

Report of the President

Report of the Treasurer

Conference Committee

Legislative Committee

Membership Committee

Outreach Committee

Floor:

Adjournment

Meeting Adjourned 12:53 PM

ILMS Award Nominations Open!

The Indiana Lakes Management Society wants to recognize those who excel in volunteering, lake management, and implementation of projects to improve lake quality.  Take a few minutes to nominate an individual or an association who is worthy of recognition for their achievements. Awardees will be recognized at the ILMS Annual Conference in March. You can nominate yourself or others in one or more of the following categories:

Outstanding Lake Association

This award may be bestowed annually upon an Indiana lake association that has succeeded in, or made noteworthy efforts towards, significantly improving its local lake quality.

Outstanding Implementation Project

This award may be bestowed annually upon the designer, contractor, or lake association for an outstanding implementation project for improved lake quality.

Volunteer of the Year

This award may be bestowed annually upon an ILMS member who has shown exceptional dedication and achievement in volunteer lake monitoring or other lake association or water quality efforts.

Nomination Form: ILMS Award Nomination Form

Deadline for nominations is February 6th. Awards will be announced by February 16, 2026.

Please direct any questions to Gus Reed at indianalakes@gmail.com