Steuben County Lakes Council

08/28/2026

08/28/2026

08/26/2026

Our final Volunteer Friday of the month is this week! 🤝 Meet Joe at Clear Lake Nature Preserve from 9 am - 11 am this Friday to assist in our ecological restoration efforts at our preserves by collecting native wildflower and grass seeds. No previous experience is needed to join us for this fun and important activity. Please bring gloves, water, and sunscreen.

08/26/2026

Answer Reveal

✅ C. Common Loon

Loons are incredible divers and can stay underwater for more than a minute while chasing fish. Although they're less common in Indiana than farther north, they migrate through the state each year.

08/25/2026

Water Quality Word Wednesday: FETCH

Fetch is the uninterrupted distance wind can travel across the surface of a lake.

The farther wind travels across open water, the more opportunity it has to transfer energy to the lake.

Why it matters: Longer fetch can contribute to larger waves, shoreline erosion, water-column mixing, and sediment resuspension.

💡 That's why two shorelines on the same lake can experience very different wave conditions, even during the same wind event.

08/25/2026

🌿 Plant of the Week: Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum)

Coontail is a native submerged plant with dense, bushy leaves that resemble a raccoon’s tail.

One unusual feature? It has no true roots and can grow freely in the water column.

Coontail provides:
Excellent fish cover
Habitat for aquatic insects
Food and shelter for wildlife
Structure in areas where rooted plants may be limited

It can become dense in some lakes, but it is still a native part of Indiana’s aquatic ecosystems.

08/25/2026

Thank you, Indiana Lakes Management Society for continuing to educate us on how we can best protect our waters! Check out this recent webinar hosted by ILMS to learn more about boat wake and how it affects our lakes.

The Problem With Boat Wakes: A Michigan Perspective. Melissa DeSim...

08/24/2026

Myth vs. Fact Monday
❌ MYTH:

"If I can't see fish, there aren't any."

✅ FACT:

Fish are experts at staying hidden!

Many species spend much of their time around aquatic plants, fallen trees, docks, or deeper water where they find food, shelter, and protection from predators.

🐟 Just because you don't see fish doesn't mean they aren't there.

Healthy habitat often means healthy fisheries.

What's the biggest fish you've caught in an Indiana lake?

08/20/2026

Did you know...? 🤔💡

Similar to terrestrial habitats, aquatic habitats rely on oxygen to survive! Many species require oxygen for cellular respiration to turn food into energy. Oxygen is dissolved within water to ensure that these species can live. Dissolved Oxygen is one of the many measurements taken when monitoring the water quality of Clear Lake! 💧