A More Natural Shoreline Contributes to a Healthy Lake
WACF has a vision of restoring and improving our natural shoreline to preserve and enhance our water quality, prevent erosion, and provide healthier and safer habitat for the native creatures and lake life found near our shorelines. Our vision to preserve our lakes and shorelines also includes better lakes for recreational activities such as boating and fishing. Natural shorelines, as opposed to bulkheads or concrete seawalls, reduce erosion near our shorelines and provide calmer water and less wave activity. Natural methods to improve and restore our shorelines include the use of glacial rock, native vegetation, and native species. As you take a look at each option, consider what you can do to help promote natural shorelines.
The Healthy Shoreline Committee conducted an informal survey of the entire Lake Wawasee shoreline in the Summer of 2014. The purpose of the shoreline survey was to inventory how many properties had existing cement seawalls and/or glacial stone facing, and identify any natural areas and beaches. To see the results of the survey and to take a look at more detailed results from the Healthy Shoreline Committee’s survey, please see our Survey Page.
Resurfacing with Glacial Rock
Landscape waterfront property with native species
Please take a look at our list of contractors, below, for your project. For a printable copy of these contractors, please click here.
Do-It-Yourself
Knepp Sand & Stone
70765 C.R. 23
New Paris, IN 46553
Phone: (574) 831-4949
Local Glacial Stone Seawall Contractors
Beezley Property Maintenance
Phone: (574) 377-6066
Web: beyondlandscaping.com
Email: beyondlandscaping1@gmail.com
Phone: (574) 527-7973
Web: myerslandscapenursery.com
Email: myersland@centurylink.net
Phone: (574) 457-5354
Web: naturalrockseawalls.com
Email: fultzexcavating@yahoo.com
Phone: (574) 518-0341
Phone: 574-527-4225
15504 CR 42 GOSHEN, IN 46528
Phone: (574) 536-5835
Web: vividscenery.com
Email: scott@vividscenery.com
Phone: (574) 453-430
Native Plant Nurseries
Contact: Tom Estrem
Email: tom.estrem@cardno.com
Phone: (574) 586-3400
Contact: Eric Ummel Web: earthsourceinc.net
Email: ericummel@gmail.com
Phone: (260) 489-8511
Contact: Martha Ferguson Web: RiverviewNativeNursery.com
Email: Riverview.flowers@gmail.com
Phone: (260) 704-5092
Contact: Kevin Tungesvick Web: spencenursery.com
Email: Kevin@spencenursery.com
Phone: (260) 704-5092
Local Landscape Architects
Contact: Tom Estrem
Email: tom.estrem@cardno.com
Phone: (574) 586-3400
Contact: Eric Ummel Web: earthsourceinc.net
Email: ericummel@gmail.com
Phone: (260) 489-8511
Contact: Heather Harwood
Email: HeatherHHarwood@aol.com
Phone: (574) 457-4454
Contact: Mark Myers
Web: myerslandscapenursery.com
Email: myersland@centurylink.net
Phone: (574) 457-5354
Contact: Wayne Stanger
Email: wstanger@slenvirogroup.com
Phone: (574) 536-9879
Other Resources
Web: www.kosciuskoswcd.org
Phone: (574) 267-7445
The Kosciusko County Soil & Water Conservation District offers yearly sales on seedlings.
Web: inpaws.org
Has a wealth of information on native shrubs, grasses, and flowers.
Arbor Day Foundation
Has information on appropriate trees for this area and instructions on placing the right tree in the right place. It also has a tree benefit calculator, which can give the homeowner an understanding of the environmental and economic value of a tree on an annual basis.