History

The Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation (WACF) was founded in 1991 at the suggestion of the Wawasee Property Owners Association (WPOA). WPOA deals with Lake Wawasee issues such as water safety, fire hydrants and special events and are membership funded. Two directors from WPOA first started WACF, which quickly grew to eighteen directors elected for staggered three-year terms. It did not take long for the initial core group of WACF volunteers to understand that it is not just the lake, but also the entire watershed area that affects water quality. WACF’s mission covers the area’s complete watershed ecosystem including 26 lakes (including Wawasee, Syracuse, Papakeechie and Bonar lakes) and is funded by individual, corporate and government gifts and grants.

WACF was originally created to preserve and improve the lakes by:

* determining problems by performing periodic environmental testing and scientific analysis on the Lakes and the surrounding ecosystem
* solving those problems by developing systems for the protection of the water and ecosystem of the Lakes from environmental pollution and deterioration by, among other methods, acquiring, by gift or purchase, ecologically significant parcels of land
* educating the public by disseminating information to the general public and state of Indiana

In 1995, WACF engaged environmental engineers to study the watershed and determine problems in maintaining the ecology of the lakes. The study has served the basis of dozens of projects conducted. As of 2001, WACF has acquired 362 acres of wetlands and buffer ground including 11,350 feet of wetland shoreline now protected by WACF ownership.

Since the inception of WACF, funding for projects to improve water quality has reached over $1,250,000 in grants and contributions. WACF is supported by FRIENDS who donate their time, money, expertise, and / or land. The organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity.

What Is WACF

The Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation (WACF) is a local public not-for-profit foundation dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the Wawasee area watershed for present and future generations.

The Wawasee Watershed covers 23,618 acres including Wawasee, Syracuse, Bonar and Papakeechie lakes as well as ten lakes in the upper Turkey Creek sub watershed.

The Foundation was formed in 1991 to anticipate, search out, and solve threats to the Wawasee Area Watershed and to its water quality. The Foundation is dedicated to enhancement of the watershed and works hand-in-hand with property owner groups, the State Department of Natural Resources and other governmental and civic organizations that share its concerns. The Foundation was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) corporation, thus enabling it to provide tax advantages for gifts and grants.

Directors

Officers and Directors

Deborah Flanagan – Chairman
John Holdeman - Vice Chairman

Donn Baird – Treasurer
Heather Harwood – Executive Director

 

Daniel Berkey

David Brandes

Diana Castell

Robert Fanning

Jan Hackleman

William P. Johnson

Max Kendall

Betty Knapp

Rebecca Kubacki

Sam Leman

Robert F. Myers

Nancy Pickett

Jerry Riffle

Betsy Roby

Dick Ruddell

Nick Stanger

Holly Tuttle

Thomas Yoder

 

Directors Emeritus

Helen Alfrey

James K. Allerdice

Russell Anderson

Jim Brumbaugh

Al Campbell

Jack Carr

Anita Cast

David Culp

Irwin Deister, Jr.

Bill Dixon

Gus Duehmig

David Eckrich

Richard Freeland

Sherman Goldenberg

Douglas Grant

Richard Green

Tom Hughes

Needham Hurst

Harriett Inskeep

Tina Kocher

Eli (Ted) Lilly

Vance Lopp

William McNagny

Gordon Moore

John Naab

Bing Pratt

Edwin F. Rogers

Ian Rolland

Dean Schwalm

 

Acomplishments

• Protected over 460 acres of land including valuable wetlands
• Protected 10 miles of shoreline
• Inspired over 600 families to join us in our cause by anual gift giving and capital campaigns
• Partnered with government, landowners, and developers to help understand the delicate balance between nature and people
• Created a continuous water-quality monitoring program in all Lakes in our watershed
• Developed a long range program for the future protection of the lakes
• Helped sponsor and construct pollution control devices (check dams, dewatering basins, sediment traps, shoreline erosion control) to prevent silt and pollutants from entering the lakes.