Lake Maxinkuckee is a 1,864 acre natural glacial lake that has a recorded depth of 88′.  It is located in Marshall County, Indiana and has the Town of Culver and the Culver Academies on its shores.

Considered the most researched lake in Indiana, one early study was begun in 1899 by the (then) U. S. Fish Commission.   Many fascinating details of this 13 year study are recorded in a two volume book titled Lake Maxinkuckee, A Physical and Bilogical Survey written by Evermann and Clark and published in 1920 by the (then) Department of Conservation – State of Indiana.

In 1982, individuals from around the Lake Maxinkuckee community joined together and formed an environmental group now known as the Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Fund and Council.  Studies were completed, wetlands built, relationships developed.

Through much hard work, the LMEC and members of the community have been so successful that, today, the latest ratings of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency show that Lake Maxinkuckee contains some of the most pristine water in the State of Indiana.

The work of the LMEC is supported 100% by donations and grants.  Our mission is “working toward the preservation of an ecologically sound Lake Maxinkuckee and its surrounding watershed.”

DEDICATED FUNDS DISAPPEAR – by Pete Hippensteel

Posted 9/3/2010

In 1989 the state legislature, with the support of many citizens, established the $5 boat fee that funded the Lake Enhancement program.  This specific tax (charged annually to each boat owner, per motor boat) funded several types of lake enhancement projects such as watershed land treatment, feasibility studies, wetland construction, ditch redesign and others that helped protect the water quality in Indiana’s public freshwater lakes. 

In 2003 an expanded program was passed by the state legislature again supported by many boat owners (the ones being taxed) and many other citizens.  This increased fee was designated for specific uses.  One third of the revenue generated was to be used for the above-mentioned traditional projects.  One third was to be used in lakes for invasive aquatic plant and animal control and dredging of sediments.  The remaining third was to be put in the Conservation Officers Marine Fund for their use and also for grants to county sheriffs to help pay for local lake patrols. 

These three components are now the Lake and River Enhancement program (LARE).  Again, the Indiana code (IC 6-6-11-12.5) states that these funds are not to be reverted to the general fund.

The idea that a specific tax was to be used for specific uses was very instrumental in obtaining support of both boat owners and state legislators, for both the 1989 Lake Enhancement program, and the 2003 expanded LARE program.

The expanded boat fee from LARE has generated approximately $3,700,000 of revenue per year over the past six years.

The July 16, 2010 report by the state budget agency indicates that $2,415,121 from the Lake Enhancement fund and $1,415,530 from the Conservation Officers Marine fund was revereted to the general fund for the 2009-2010 budget year.  Also, the use of approximately $1,700,000 of this year’s LARE budget has been suspended indefinitely.

Each year there are more than twice as many requests for funding for projects that reduce environmental problems on our Indiana lakes than there are funds available.  And now because of recent action by the Governor and State Budget Agency that are misallocating and reducing the existing level of LARE funds, these valuable programs that focus on preventing water quality problems have now lost at least one year’s revenue and appears to be losing nearly another one-half year of funding if the suspension continues.

Lake residents and other citizens who use the public waters of Indiana for recreation have actively supported, both financially and with their time, these efforts to help protect the valuable public water resources of Indiana.  They need to be assured that an important element of our state’s economic engine, Good Water Quality, is not sacrificed.

Contact the governor, your state representative, and senator.  Let them know that our dedicated boat fee should only be spent for its intended purposes:  protecting the public freshwater lakes and rivers of Indiana.