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Last updated on Tuesday, June 5, 2018
(UNDATED) - The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and the State Soil Conservation Board (SSCB) distributed more than $900,000 to Indiana’s 92 Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The funds were awarded through the Clean Water Indiana (CWI) program as part of a matching grant.
Washington and Lawrence counties received $85,000 will be working together to address critical Natural Resource issues as identified in their Conservation District Business Plans. The issues addressed include: Water Quality, Erosion Control, Nutrient and Waste management and Soil Health.
The Districts will address these concerns by implementing a Nutrient Management Systems cost-share program. The objective of Nutrient Management is to ensure that commercial fertilizers and organic fertilizers such as manure
and litter are applied with the right placement, in the right amount, at the right time, and from the right source to optimize profitability and to minimize nutrient losses to plant, soil, and air and water resources. The Districts involved will develop cost-share programs to provide a whole system approach to address the resource concerns of water quality including sediment, nutrients, E-coli and other non-point sources of water pollution found in our streams rivers and lakes.
The Monroe, Brown, Owen, and Greene County SWCDs received $61,710 in grant funds. They are collaborating to implement Remove, Replant, and Restore: a project designed to manage the threat non-native invasive plants pose to wildlife habitats, soil health, and water quality.
The project takes a holistic approach to revitalizing landscapes in order to create long-lasting solutions to the
degradation caused by invasive species throughout Indiana.
Remove, Replant, and Restore has three main objectives: (1) remove invasive plants that pose a serious threat to the biodiversity of Indiana's forested and riparian ecosystems, (2) replant and restore the site with appropriate native species that accomplish the goals and objectives of each landowner, and (3) offer a long-term solution by establishing and supporting existing Cooperative Weed Management groups in the four counties that will continue the effective control of invasive species by bringing together local citizens, landowners, and organizations.
"These grants will go a long way to improve water quality across the state," said Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch. "It's important that we provide our conservation districts with the resources they need to be effective on the ground."
Clean Water Indiana provides financial assistance to landowners and conservation groups that work to reduce non-point sources of water pollution. The program is administered by the SSCB and funded by a portion of the state's cigarette tax.
Each district received roughly $10,000 to support their conservation efforts, whether that's providing technical assistance, education, training or cost sharing programs.
"In many cases, conservation districts are the first line of defense when it comes to addressing natural resource concerns at the local level," said Bruce Kettler, ISDA director. "We awarded these grants to supplement and reinforce those efforts."
To learn more about the CWI program, visit www.in.gov/isda/2379.htm, or to learn more about the SSCB, please visit www.in.gov/isda/2361.htm.
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