HAMMOND - Local environmental organizations are partnering to protect the water quality and cleanliness of the lake. Michael Spinar [spin-ARR], Lake Michigan Lakewide Action and Management Plan Coordinator for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, says IDEM runs the program with a big-picture perspective in mind.
"The Lake Michigan and Lakewide Action Management plan program works with other states, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan to help protect the Lake and address problems that effect the lakes in sort of a holistic way."
Spinar, who is also the Grand Calumet River, Indiana Ship Harbor Area of Concern Remedial Action Plan Coordinator, says work is also being done on another project to improve environmental conditions locally.
"In Lake County we have our Grand Calumet River Indiana Ship Harbor area of concern in which we're utilizing federal, state and local funds in order to conduct sediment remediation of legacy chemical contaminants as well as habitat restoration in terms of treating invasive species and such and so both programs act and really help to protect and restore this area of the state."
Spinar says legacy contaminants are historical contaminants of an industrial nature, mainly the period before the 1970s.
He also says that by understanding the structure of the lake, all the factors that can influence it and the factors people have control over, helps people take ownership of preserving and protecting the lake.
