EPA grant will cut pollutants entering Lake Michigan

HOBART, Ind. (AP) - A northwest Indiana city is sharing in a $355,000 federal grant that will boost efforts to reduce the amount of pollution-tainted storm runoff that enters Lake Michigan.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant supports several projects in Hobart to plant native plants to create natural filters for runoff entering the Deep River-Turkey Creek Watershed.

That watershed empties into Lake Michigan, adding to the lake's pollution.

U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky says the native plantings by the city of Hobart, the Alliance for the Great Lakes and the Delta Institute will protect one of the nation's "greatest natural resources."

Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor says those plantings will "create areas of natural beauty" and clean up the waters that flow into the lake from the city about 6 miles southeast of Gary.