Mission Statement:

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Grand Lake St. Marys Restoration Commission officially formed in January 2010, focusing on lake restoration goals. Charter Members include:  Grand Lake St. Marys State Park, Wright State University Lake Campus, Cities of Celina and St. Marys, Counties of Auglaize and Mercer, Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance, Lake Improvement Association, Lake Development Corporation, and the Auglaize/Mercer Counties Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Leading local fund raising activity with Mercer County Civic Foundation and St. Marys Community Foundation:  $550,000 YTD

Testing new technology by installing electric powered Airy Gators and Streamside Collection Units designed to increase constant aeration to sediment layers and remove sand, gravel, silt particulates from streams prior to entering lake

 Monitoring water and data collection by Wright State University’s partnership with Battelle Institute and other universities validating changes in biology, chemistry of lake environment to further problem solve solutions

Forming  public/and or private partnerships with state departments of ODNR, OEPA, Health and Agriculture concerning our planning and activities in GLSM watershed

Seeking grants such as Surface Water Improvement Fund (SWIF) 319 Grant Award for “Treatment Train System” installation on Prairie Creek.  Funded model includes stream stabilization, traditional and floating wetlands, embayment dredging and re-introduction of natural mussels to promote nutrient removal

Promoting agriculture conservation and nutrient management practices in watershed through educational teams and over $1.5 million of incentive funds for operators

• Supporting stricter guidelines, inspection, nutrient mgt plans for all farms
• Prompting a variety of public and private entity solutions, resulting in pilot testing by EPA and ODNR, and other additives
• Teaming with Algae Ventures to replace cyanobacteria with non-harmful algae (diatoms) by adding silica
• Treating lake with alum to inactivate phosphorus
• Testing of Blue Planet project near Riley pond
• Harvesting of algae for energy purposes
• Securing funding for new conservation district or operational body, and lead facilitator
• Forming legislative subcommittee and lobbyist presence to increase funding sources
• Creating formal master plan and developing timeline for project management
• Sharing our knowledge, ideas and resources with one another to build awareness, leveraging any/all available funding sources through media and lake program updates

Fund Raising Update! 

Milt Miller receives another donation to the project, raising our total funds over $550,000!

Sediment Collector arrives Memorial Weekend!

Dr. Hiskey retrieves water samples from Grand Lake.

Airy Gators are here!  April 13 and April 15, two units delivered to Grand Lake St. Marys.  Baseline water sampling has begun and units will be powered within the next week.

Dr. Robert Hiskey, Wright State University Lake Campus Professor and his students are testing water samples with newly purchased scientific equipment furnished by the restoration project.

Grand Lake St. Marys Restoration Commission Resolution of Support

We are working together as a team to positively impact and restore health to Grand Lake St. Marys.  Our newest project includes sediment removal from three feeder creeks and placement of two large aeration units in two separate embayments.  We are committed to moving this project forward during spring and are actively seeking multiple funding sources, including local dollars.  Mercer County Civic Foundation and St. Marys Community Foundation 501c(3) have both set up specific accounts for your tax-deductible donations. 

Grand Lake St. Marys Restoration Commision Flyer

Contact Milt Miller, Fundraising Chair:  (419) 733-3004 or email miltmiller@hotmail.com
Projects being planned:  Sediment Removal, Island Restoration and Development, Water Quality Improvements

Make checks payable to:
 St. Marys Community Foundation  OR  Mercer County Civic Foundation
 Note:  Grand Lake St. Marys Project Fund

Send to foundation of your choice:
 St. Marys Community Foundation              Mercer County Civic Foundation
 146 East Spring Street                                PO Bx  439
 St. Marys, Ohio  45885                              Celina, OH 45822
More about us

To be contacted about a tax deductable donation click here.

Click here for a Tax-Deductible Donation form