Indiana awards over $1 million for water quality improvement projects

INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 26, 2018) — The State Soil Conservation Board (SSCB) awarded more than $1 million to 32 Soil and Water Conservation Districts for projects designed to improve water quality across the state. This funding is part of the Clean Water Indiana (CWI) grant program, which is administered by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

“This year alone, Clean Water Indiana has supported 373 conservation projects and prevented more than 63 million pounds of sediment from entering our waterways,” said Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “These grants are critical to shoring up the work being done by Indiana’s conservation districts and provide opportunities for farmers that otherwise would not exist.”

The CWI program, funded mainly by the state’s cigarette tax revenue, was designed to support Indiana’s conservation districts, as they work to reduce non-point sources of water pollution. While the projects vary depending on the needs of each district, some examples include promoting conservation, purchasing better equipment and providing technical assistance, education and training in the community.

Districts were also encouraged to collaborate with neighboring counties and many will use this funding to leverage additional resources from outside organizations or cost-share programs.

“Encouraging conservation districts to work together is a fundamental part of this program,” said Bruce Kettler, ISDA Director. “It builds synergy and allows them to tackle some of the challenges that extend past county lines.”

Robert Woodling, SSCB Chairman, believes this funding is crucial to supporting the voluntary conservation efforts of farmers.

“Clean Water Indiana enables farmers and communities to adopt conservation as part of their strategy,” Woodling said. “The State Soil Conservation Board is pleased to be able to provide this support and looks forward to the day we can do much more.” 

The following list includes the CWI grants that were awarded for 2018.

Visit www.in.gov/isda/2361.htm to learn more about the CWI program or www.isda.in.gov to learn more about ISDA.

Click here for audio of Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch.

Click here for audio of ISDA Director Bruce Kettler.