Lake Improvement Association Highlights Water Quality Gains, Upcoming Projects at February Meeting

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The Lake Improvement Association (LIA) used its February meeting to highlight strong finances, ongoing environmental progress, and several major projects planned for the coming year around Grand Lake St. Marys.

LIA leaders reported the organization remains in solid financial shape, with $65,375 in its checking account and $17,000 held through the community foundation. More than 1,300 memberships have already been renewed, with additional renewals expected in the coming weeks. Officials emphasized that membership remains the association’s strongest asset when advocating at the state level.

Plans continue for the LIA Winter Icebreaker Dance, set for February 21. The event will feature live music from My Yellow Rickshaw, a silent auction, and several ticket options, including individual, group, and corporate tables. Community partners such as Boardwalk Grill and Westlake Villas are offering event-related discounts and support.

The association also announced details of its annual pontoon raffle. Tickets are $100 each, with the winner receiving a 2025 Viaggio X20U pontoon with a 115 horsepower Suzuki motor, or a $40,000 credit toward an upgrade at The Boathouse.

Updates were shared on multiple lake improvement projects. Construction is nearly complete on the West Bank playground shelter house, with final grading and grass seeding planned this spring, along with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. LIA also unveiled plans for a new all-abilities playground on the east bank, supported by a major donation from the Auglaize County Board of Developmental Disabilities. The playground represents an investment of about $116,000, with an additional $71,000 needed for rubber surfacing. Donations are being accepted to help complete the project this year.

A detailed water quality report showed continued progress from restored wetlands throughout the watershed. In 2025 alone, wetlands treated more than 760 million gallons of water, removing thousands of pounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment before it reached the lake. Officials noted this represents steady year-over-year improvement and contributes to lower harmful algal toxin levels compared to past peak years.

Additional updates included lake level and rainfall data, winter safety reminders for ice conditions, dredging work, and maintenance projects around the lake. The meeting concluded with a presentation on migratory birds, highlighting Grand Lake St. Marys as an important habitat and stopover point for numerous species.

LIA leaders encouraged residents to remain involved, suggest new project ideas, and continue supporting efforts aimed at improving water quality, recreation, and overall lake health.