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.