"A lot of people donated their hard earned money to show support for the lake," said Mark Piening, association vice president. "This is a way for us to say thank you and reward that commitment."
Construction on the unnamed machine is expected to end by June 1, Piening said.
Cleaning and development of the 13,500-acre lake in Auglaize and Mercer counties has picked up in recent years.
In 2012, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources removed a then-record 289,000 cubic yards of sediment from Grand Lake St. Marys.
In 2013, ODNR set another department record by removing 302,226 cubic yards of sediment. Such nutrient-rich sediment plays a role in the development of algal blooms, so removing it is an important part of the process to restore the lake.
The new dredge is the fourth on the body of water, but Piening said it will serve a different purpose than the other three.
"This machine has a bit of a different design, and works on (a horizontal plane), rather than downward," he said.
The person whose entry is chosen will be recognized at a dedication ceremony for the dredge.
Submit your entry by visiting the LIA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lakeimprovement.
-- Mickey Shuey, an intern, is a senior at the University of Dayton.
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