Webster Lake Conservation Association
Membership
Double Rainbow
over Webster Lake
Membership and involvement of residents is essential to the future well-being of Webster Lake and its tributaries. We rely on the financial and personal commitment of all lake area residents, property owners, and businesses to improve and maintain the environment we all enjoy. The future of our lake depends on each one of us! Residents, property owners, and businesses in the vicinity of Webster Lake will be contacted annually and encouraged to become participating members of the WLCA. Membership dues are $100 annually and are used for supporting weed control and safety efforts, communication expenses, and the operational expenses of the WLCA. If you are a summer or year-round lake resident, and not currently a member of the WLCA, please join us in protecting our lake. Join today!
Why be a member of the WLCA?
End of Kneeboard Run
Your membership in WLCA in important because your dues and contributions to the weed fund help keep Webster Lake and its channels open to boat traffic and enjoyable for boaters, skiers, swimmers, and fishermen alike. Proper weed control and better property values go hand-in-hand. Weed treatment costs must be paid by the residents. No branch of government pays for weed control, although LARE Grants may be applied for through the IndianaDepartment of Natural Resources. However, most grants require matching funds from the entity applying for the grant. It is most efficient to handle weed treatment and payment through one body, the WLCA. Also, weed treatment must be coordinated with a licensed contractor. WLCA gets bids on this work annually.
The extent of any weed treatment is strictly governed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (INDR). The IDNR tells WLCA what type of weed can be killed and what weeds can only be "knocked down," meaning that those weeds will sink down, but will rise again in several weeks. When WLCA is given permission to treat and told the extent to which it can treat, it is up to WLCA to come up with the funds to pay the bill. These funds come from our membership dues and special designated contributions from our members to our weed fund. The permission to treat is given season by season. Once permission to treat is given, WLCA can usually treat as often as is needed during the season. However, finances dictate that WLCA can only treat as much as it can afford to do so.
If residents want more treatment, then WLCA has to have more people joining and paying, or it has to ask those that are members to contribute more in the form of extra contributions to the weed fund. WLCA uses both dues money and weed fund money to pay for weed treatments.
WLCA arranges for the annual July 4 fireworks program that is paid for strictly by special designated contributions from members and local businesses. No dues money is used to pay for fireworks. WLCA directors, officers, and volunteers coordinate the efforts of the fireworks vendor, the permit process, and the Homeland Security authorization process for conducting the fireworks show. WLCA then cleans up the area after the show.
No officers or board members are paid for their services.
If the above isn't enough to convince non-members to join WLCA, then consider that WLCA also cooperates with The Watershed Foundation (TWF) in efforts to improve land and water conditions in and surrounding the watershed. Because of TWF many of the local farmers are now using "no-till" farming practices and planting cover crops to reduce runoff into our lakes and rivers. They are keeping their livestock out of the streams. Lake associations and municipalities are being encouraged to explore the possibilities of extending sewer systems around the lakes to eliminate human waste from leach bed systems entering into our waters. Water runoff at commercial sites is being filtered through land terraces and flower beds. Information regarding how to improve conditions within the watershed is being provided by TWF to any resident with an interest in the subject.
All of the above is being done to improve the quality of our lake for boaters and fishermen alike and to help maintain and, hopefully, increase lake property values. As an extension of our efforts, we hope to be a benefit to the local community as a whole as well as to the business community of North Webster.
WLCA financial information available upon request.