Local lake stewardship
Research, restoration, education, responsible use, volunteering, and giving: the ways people help keep Winona Lake healthy for the long term.
Local organizations
These independent organizations serve different parts of the same goal: a healthier lake and watershed for the long term.
The volunteer-run local organization supporting lake protection and responsible lake use. It welcomes donations of any amount, and gifts are tax-deductible. Annual membership starts at $75, with Bronze ($100), Silver ($200), Gold ($300), Platinum ($500), and Diamond ($1,000) levels.
Protecting more than 60 lakes and streams across the Upper Tippecanoe River watershed through restoration and education.
Grace College research, monitoring, and education supporting healthy lakes throughout Kosciusko County.
WLPA membership levels: Winona Lake Preservation Association, Fall/Winter 2026 newsletter (print). Checked October 30, 2026.
Volunteer opportunities
Hands-on ways to help Winona Lake, with the sign-up for each. Dates were checked October 30, 2026.
The Watershed Foundation sends volunteers to about 100 stream and lake sites across Kosciusko, Noble, and Whitley counties to collect and analyze water samples on one afternoon. Plan on two to two and a half hours. Anyone under 18 comes with an adult.
Sign up for Snapshot Day → Year-round · Lilly CenterThe center runs seasonal, one-time, and ongoing volunteer roles, including logjam removal events on the inlet streams. Email lakes@grace.edu with your interests and availability, and send the same address a photo if you spot a suspicious algae bloom or a fish kill.
See the volunteer page → Each May · Winona Lake Preservation AssociationThe association holds its annual meeting in May at the Lilly Center, open to anyone who cares about the lake. Its website is offline as of this check, so email the association to ask about this year's date, or to join.
Email the association → Each June · free trainingA one-day citizen-science course from The Watershed Foundation that teaches the stream-monitoring methods used on Snapshot Day. The 2026 session was June 16 in North Webster. Watch the events page for the 2027 date.
See the workshop → Lakefront owners · grantsThe Watershed Foundation's Healthy Shorelines program helps pay for glacial-stone seawalls, seawall refacing, and lake-friendly plantings, and its Beyond Lawns program funds native landscaping through two tracks: Prairie for converting lawn to seeded prairie, and Seedling for native landscape beds, with site visits and planting plans from TWF's volunteer native-plant experts. Applications run on annual deadlines. This site's shoreline guide, under Your shoreline on the blog, explains the options.
See the shoreline grants → Talks and workshopsNative plant propagation and seed collecting workshops, foraging walks, lake science talks, and Music on the Lake. The calendar runs through the year and most events are free.
See upcoming events →Sources: The Watershed Foundation, Snapshot Day, Hoosier Riverwatch workshop, and Healthy Shorelines; Lilly Center, volunteer and what can I do; Times-Union, Groups work toward improved water quality and WLPA annual meeting. Checked September 11, 2026; Snapshot Day, Hoosier Riverwatch, and Healthy Shorelines rechecked October 30, 2026. Beyond Lawns tracks: The Watershed Foundation, Beyond Lawns, and for the volunteer site visits, The Watershed Foundation, Summer 2026 News Splash newsletter (print). Checked October 30, 2026.