Celebrate with us!
TWF Celebrates 25 Years of Protecting Our Lakes
The Watershed Foundation (TWF) has flourished over the past 25 years, and we are excited to celebrate this milestone with you! TWF began as a humble group of individuals who put their differences over a proposed sewer system aside & came together to protect the Tippecanoe Lakes by working to stop pollution from the land in the watershed from reaching their beloved haven. TWF has expanded to a sophisticated organization that takes action to address a myriad of water-related issues that are ever present in the upper Tippecanoe River watershed.
TWF is at the top of our list. The lake has been at the center of our family’s life for decades and we need to preserve and care for it to the benefit of coming generations and also as an example for other watersheds and lakes to follow. To do nothing is not an option.
– Jim & Dixie Covert
Did you know?
TWF’s mission covers over 60 lakes and 236 square miles of land area! Click on the map to learn more about our land and lakes.
TWF has taken action for the past 25 years to protect our land and water resources!
- 1997 – Organization founded as the Tippecanoe Lake and Watershed Foundation (TELWF).
- 1999 – First water quality project completed! Check out examples from then – today!
- 1999 – First paid staff – Theresa Petro hired as part-time Foundation Coordinator. Lynn Stevens served as Executive Director from 2000-2005.
- 2002 – First Upper Tippecanoe Watershed Management Plan completed and approved by IDEM/EPA providing the opportunity for Clean Water 319 grant funding.
- 2007 – Lyn Crighton hired as Executive Director.
- 2011 – TWF co-founded the Clear Choices Clean Water pledge campaign to promote healthy water practices throughout the state and the country. Won the Indiana Governor’s Award for Education & Outreach in 2012.
- 2013 – Established the TWF Dream Team of agricultural watershed conservationists to work with farmers.
- 2015 – Changed name to The Watershed Foundation.
- 2016 – That sewer system we mentioned earlier? TWF’s staff and leadership began working with another group of visionary volunteers who were successful in getting the Tippecanoe-Chapman Regional Sewer District created! The Board was established in 2021, and construction is set to begin later in 2022.
- 2016 – Expansion to include Warsaw & Winona Lake watershed areas & creation of Clean Waters Partnership.
- 2017 – First Snapshot Water Monitoring Day
- 2022 – 25th Anniversary Celebration!
These accomplishments have led to…
- 200+ water quality improvement projects completed!
- More than 1 billion pounds of weeds & algae are prevented from growing in our lakes and streams each year
- Phosphorus reaching Lake Tippecanoe has decreased by 25%. One pound of phosphorus can grow 10,000 pounds of weeds & algae.
- 9 out of 10 monitoring sites have improved in water quality in the last 15 years.
Together with our residents, farmers, partners, and supporters – we are MAKING A DIFFERENCE!
