Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-07-08
LAKES LOWERED
IN VAIN HOPE TO
RECLAIM LAND
MANY Bodies of Water of Con
siderable Value Destroyed
by Drainage.

the immediate future AhuAdiH'
State OF the corn belt, STANDS IN Iitt-
of having some Of the prize posseS't s.
Of the commonwealth taken from nei'
,ossessions that bring annually thou
sands- Of dollars TO communities fortu-
nata anouph 10 be situated adjacent 10
LAKES This is the statement OF OIL
c3sIs NJ the state department OF con-
sa-ve+ton who. for the past year, nave
l-a,+ :, close touch with the lake and
dra7qe ditch situation in the State.
Dredqa bitches and other drainage
nroiects in northern Indiana, In adoltlOh
10 costing individuals and the state large
sums Of money, have threatened 10 lo"er
the level Of the water tables of the state.
ond IN many instances have appreciaoly
lowered the level Of many lakes so that
cc+ts GERS and inn keepers about the
Iates have appealed to the department
80 conservation to restore the water Level
IN order that the lakes may not be de-
stroyed altogether.
Tnknown to many persons, perhhps,
the level of many of lndiana's largest
Likes IS maintained through means OF
rGam. constructed at the outlet BY THIS
means. only by an overflow or water
running into the lake can the level De
changed. and it is impossible for the level
to be reduced.
idea among farmers in the lake region
that if thev could reduce some of the
lakes to a lower level. through drainage
projects. much valuable land could be
reclaimed Accordingly many drainage
projects were carried out, and the level
of many of the States most beautiful
lakes was reduced greatly.
The farmers however. were due for a
great awakening. And they got it After
their land had been reclaimed, they
found it was practically worthless, as
far as raising crops on it was concerned.
They simply had much barren ground,
most Of it sand, on which it was i'm
possible to raise any sort Of produce.
Now, the land is either over grown with
cat-taiI flag, is swampy or lies barren.
Many appeals have been made TO de-
partment of conservation officials to have
dams constructed ut the outlet of many
of the lakes that have been so drained,
thus restoring the water to its old level.
Some Of the lakes that have been low
cred, and for which appeals have been
made to the department are: WinOna and
Lake James. in KOsc iuSkO County; Silver
Lake in Steuben County, and Dewart
Lake, in KOsciuskO County.
The department Of conservation is more
than willing that dams be constructed at
these lakes, but the department is unable
TO do the work. It is unable for two
reasons. First. because 1t has no money;
second. the statutes do not give the de-
apartment authority for such work.
When this had been explained, many
persons have said they would favor local
financing Of the damming project and
then have the lakes turned over to the
exclusive care of the department in order
that the water levels may be protected
The financing Of the building OF a dam
would have 10 be borne by the township
In which the lake is situated. or by the
county. through the county commission
ers. according to the department While
the department now has control over
waters in the State. to a certain extent.
the statutes do not define clearly TO what
extent this control reaches. Therefore il
IS pOwerless to act.
The value OF the construction Of these
dams IS infinite. There are many rea-
sons why they should be constructed in
cases where the water level of a lake is
threatened with reduction First. the
beauty of the lake itself must be con-
si6ered To have q beautiful lake sur
rounded with large strips OF barren des
ert land. or with swampy lang that
makes approach to the water unsightly.
If not impossible, would be deploraole
condition.
Then. there IS the pecuniary value in
the lake Towns that are fortunate
enough 10 be situated near large body
Of water have a bonanza that they do
not care to see removed from their grasp.
Il is the means OF thousands OF dollars
annually being spent in the community.
Many persons, in recent years, more than
ever before, have constructed cottages,
which they rent to outing parties from
Hundreds OF tourists. annually. visit the
lake regions Of Indiana, bringhing with
them new capital.
In addition to the monetary value,
Nhere is the value Of the water as a
place Of resort TO vacatiOnists and fisher
men. The lakes Of Indiana abound IN
food and game fishes.
The following statement, taken from
an official Of the bureau Of biological
survey Of the United States Department
OF Agriculture, sets forth the value of
the holding OF the lakes:
Under proper conditions water farm
Ing OF many lakes and ponds and of
swamp or marsh areas will yield a dis
tinctly larger return than would the same
area drained and used for agriculture.
Under intelligent management these areas
VIII yield abundant and varied returns to
the community, as indicated in the fol-
lowing brief summary of their produc-
tiveness:
al Food and game fishes.
go. Wild fowl 10 be shot for sport and
food.
'3. Furs. from such furbearing animals
as the muskrats, skunks and raccons,
which frequent their borders.
'4. A natural ice supply.
50. a definite and invaluable help in
maintaining the underground water level
in various parts OF the State and in help
ing hold back the run-off OF rainfall to
prevent excessive erosion and other dam
age.
"a Opportunities for helthful and in
teresting recreation for the citizens OF
the State.
-. Where such water areas are in
cluded in State parks or reservations they
= lend themselves TO educational uses, and
hep interest the people in out-of- door
life and in the natural resources Of the
State in the form OF plant and animal
life. which are such important elements
in supplying useful commodities
Some lakes in Indiana that have been
lowered By drainage afford excellent ex-
amples OF the fallacy of dredge ditching.
Round Lake. in Starke County, accord
ing TO officials of the conservation de-
rartment. has been lowered to one-fourth
OF its natural level and area.
Some lakes that have bad their outlets
damned IN order 70 maintain their areas