State deploys $2.3M for clean water projects
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More than $2.3 million in matching grants have been awarded to support 26 projects across the state in soil and water conservation districts and by other environmental organizations.
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the State Soil Conservation Board allotted the funding through the Clean Water Indiana program, which aims to reduce runoff from non-point sources of water pollution through financial support to landowners and conservation groups.
“Providing farmers and landowners with tools and funding to keep our Indiana waterways clean and their soil structure healthy is key to keeping Indiana agriculture thriving,” Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch said in a news release.
Conservation districts can partner with other counties or address specific issues with the funding. That could include creating a cost share program, hiring staff, providing technical assistance, implementing cover crop incentive programs or increasing watershed capacity.
The Clean Water Indiana program is funded by the state’s cigarette tax.
Districts and organizations awarded include:
- Cass County SWCD: $48,600
- Clark County SWCD: $23,968
- Clinton and Carroll County SWCDs: $36,000
- Daviess County SWCD: $76,957
- Decatur, Franklin and Ripley County SWCDs: $15,750
- DeKalb County SWCD: $100,000
- Elkhart County SWCD: $150,000
- Fulton County SWCD: $145,461
- Gibson and Pike County SWCDs: $72,000
- Hamilton County SWCD: $70,900
- Johnson County SWCD: $15,995
- Knox County SWCD: $73,000
- LaPorte County SWCD: $259,570
- Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts: $300,000
- Lawrence County SWCD: $62,000
- Marshall and St. Joseph County SWCDs: $86,250
- Martin, Daviess and Orange County SWCDs: $135,282
- Monroe County SWCD: $22,000
- Newton County SWCD: $62,222
- Pike County SWCD: $159,000
- Spencer County SWCD: $10,000
- The Nature Conservancy: $82,500
- Union and Fayette County SWCDs: $75,000
- Vermillion and Parke County SWCDs: $175,000
- Warrick County SWCD: $24,432
- Washington County SWCD: $30,150