Page 75 - Valparaiso, IN SR 49 Corridor Plan

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economy. The program focuses on areas that have experienced National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and National Oceanic standards.
or are under threat of serious structural damage to the underlying and Atmospheric Administration. It awards competitive grants for
economic base. on-the-ground habitat restoration and enhancement throughout To accomplish this goal, the LARE Program provides technical and
the Great Lakes basin. Funding priority is given to projects that financial assistance for qualifying projects. Approved grant funding
Recreation Programs improve the quality and connectivity of stream, wetland and coastal may be used for one or more of the following purposes:
habitats. Sustain Our Great Lakes helps support implementation • investigations to determine what problems are affecting a lake/
National Park Service Land & Water Conservation Fund of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, an outcomes-focused lakes or a stream segment
The LWCF Program provides matching grants to states and initiative designed to protect, maintain and restore the chemical, • evaluation of identified problems and effective action
local governments for the acquisition and development of public biological and physical integrity of the Great Lakes ecosystem. recommendations to resolve those problems
outdoor recreation areas and facilities (as well as funding for
shared federal land acquisition and conservation strategies). The IDNR Lake Michigan Coastal Program • cost-sharing with land users in a watershed above upstream
program is intended to create and maintain a nationwide legacy The Lake Michigan Coastal Program (LMCP) supports coordination from a project lake or stream for installation or application of
of high quality recreation areas and facilities and to stimulate and partnerships among local, state, and federal agencies and local sediment and nutrient-reducing practices on their land
non-federal investments in the protection and maintenance of organizations for the protection and sustainable use of natural and • matching federal funds for qualifying projects
recreation resources across the United States. Indiana Department cultural resources in the Lake Michigan region. Through the LMCP, • watershed management plan development
of Natural Resources’ Division of Outdoor Recreation administers Indiana participates in the Coastal Zone Management Program
the program in Indiana. with 33 other coastal states and territories to protect, restore, and • feasibility studies to define appropriate lake and stream
remediation measures
responsibly develop Indiana’s coastal area.
Federal Highway Administration Recreational Trails Program • engineering designs and construction of remedial measures
Development of the LMCP will make more than $1 million available
The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides funds to the States annually to implement the LMCP and for grants to communities in • water quality monitoring of public lakes
to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities northwest Indiana. Examples of how these funds might be used • management of invasive aquatic vegetation
for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. The include: • sediment removal from qualifying lakes
RTP is an assistance program of the Department of Transportation’s
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Federal transportation • Protection and restoration of significant natural and cultural IDNR Community Forestry Grant Programs
funds benefit recreation including hiking, bicycling, in-line skating, resources. Cities, towns and non-profit organizations can receive funding to
equestrian use, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, off-road • Programs to prevent the loss of life and property in coastal enhance urban trees and forests. The Indiana DNR, Division of
motorcycling, all-terrain vehicle riding, four-wheel driving, or using hazard areas. Forestry offers four grant programs that help improve, protect,
other off-road motorized vehicles. The RTP funds come from the maintain and increase the number of trees in Indiana communities.
Federal Highway Trust Fund, and represent a portion of the motor • Improved public access for recreational purposes. This federal and state funding is provided on an annual basis by
fuel excise tax collected from non-highway recreational fuel use: • Revitalized urban waterfronts and ports. the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the USDA.
fuel used for off-highway recreation by snowmobiles, all-terrain • Improved coordination among government agencies in policy Forest Service Grantees must match the grant with an in-kind and/
vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and off-highway light trucks. and decision-making processes. or monetary match.
The Governor of Indiana has designated the Indiana Department
of Natural Resources through its Division of Outdoor Recreation to • Pollution prevention initiatives, including non-point source
administer the program. pollution into coastal waters.
IDNR Lake and River Enhancement Program
Environment/Green Infrastructure
The goal of the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Lake and River
U.S. EPA Sustain Our Great Lakes Program Enhancement (LARE) Program is to protect and enhance aquatic
habitat for fish and wildlife to ensure the continued viability of
Sustain Our Great Lakes (formerly broken into two programs:
Stewardship Grants and Community Grants) is a public–private Indiana’s publicly accessible lakes and streams for multiple uses,
partnership among ArcelorMittal, U.S. Environmental Protection including recreational opportunities. This is accomplished through
Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, measures that reduce nonpoint sediment and nutrient pollution of
surface waters to a level that meets or surpasses state water quality

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