The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1442307
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In addition, the soil im- proves water quality while allowing the water to pass through. Soil filters out particles and removes position ions, and the soil bacteria and fungi transforms and decomposes organ- ic pollutants from the passing water. In a perfect world, soil would al- ways remain undisturbed and veg- etated. However, humans need ag- riculture, industry, manufacturing, stores, courthouses, schools, dwell- ings….. well you get the picture. We often need to disturb the land or change its natural state. This pos- es a threat to water quality. As im- pervious surfaces increase, storm- water runs off instead of infiltrating into the soil. As farmers work the soil to prepare a seed bed, spring rains erode the soil adding not just chem- ical pollutants, but sediment pollu- tion to the water. There are Best Management Prac- tices (BMPs) that can help improve soil health and water quality. For in- stance, stores like WalMart can use pervious pavement in their park- ing lots to allow rain to infiltrate the soil rather than off into a stream. A farm field such as this one with water causing erosion could benefit from a grassed waterway. This would less- en the nutrient and sediment pollut- ant loads to our creeks and streams. But BMPs are an added expense to a budget and are often substantial. Indiana Department of Environ- mental Management (IDEM) has funding from the Clean Water Act that can help implement BMPs. Lo- cal Soil and Water Conservation Dis- tricts can request some of the fund- ing through a grant proposal. This would return tax dollars to the coun- ty in a way that addresses our wa- ter quality. But who would determine where the money goes? This is where the need for a Wa- tershed Management Plan ( WMP) comes in. A WMP is needed by IDEM prior to requesting any fund- ing. Although an entire county may need addressed, IDEM works on a watershed level. This is because the WMP identifies targeted areas where funding can make the best im- pact or "more bang for the buck" if you will. Because working with wa- ter quality is complex and there is substantial costs to address it, prior- itizing restoration and protection is key. The WMP identifies water qual- ity problems and proposes solutions with a strategy for putting the solu- tions into action. Thus, a WMP is an efficient way to address concerns when resources are limited. The WMP for the Lower East Fork White River was just approved this summer by IDEM and EPA and is now ready for BMP implementation. Cost-share funding is available for BMPs in the critical subwatersheds of Aikman Creek in Daviess County, Mud Creek in Pike County and Birch Creek in Dubois County as outlined in the WMP. Producers farming in these watershed that implemented cover crop last fall (Oct/Nov 2021) could be eligible for reimbursement of a portion of those costs. Contact watershed coordinator Julie Loehr for more information at 812.779.7924 or julia.loehr@in.nacdnet.net Middle Patoka 319 Grant Project Review Pike SWCD was the lead on this second round of implementation in the Middle Patoka River Water- shed. The first round of implementa- tion occurred January 2013 through December 2015 with Alliance of In- diana Rural Water, but Pike SWCD desired to continue to strive toward the goals of the WMP through an additional round of implementa- tion of Best Management Practices (BMPs). This second grant began in August 2017. The goals of the WMP included reducing: • Nitrogen loads by 455,188 lbs./ year. The grant goal was 30 per- cent of that or 136,556 lbs./year. • Phosphorus loads by 55,047 lbs./year. The grant goal was 10 percent of that or 5,507 lbs./ year • Sediment loads by 10,420 tons/ year. The grant goal was 40 per- cent of that or 4,168 ton/year. Overall, this project was a huge success. Prior to the end of the three- year grant, IDEM awarded Pike SWCD an extension with addition- al funding added to the budget. This meant that more BMP implementa- tion projects occurred than was orig- inally anticipated. Therefore, this grant was able to meet the sediment and nutrient load reduction goals set forth in the grant application. Over 16,700 acres were impacted with projects that equated to load re- ductions equaling over 258,000 lbs. of nitrogen, almost 81,000 lbs. of phosphorus and 90,000 tons of sed- iment. D-6 Pike County Planter ■ Winter 2022 The Press-Dispatch