Weekly Update: Watershed Success in NW Indiana

The office will be closed next week for the Annual Conference of Indiana SWCDs. There will be no Weekly Update next week. The next edition will be published January 18.

If you need to reach us during the annual conference, staff will be available via email, or through these numbers:

Jennifer Boyle Warner: 317.502.7273
DeeDee Sigler: 317.431.6098

From the St. Joseph County SWCD:

The St. Joseph County SWCD has a new office at the USDA Service Center, which they proudly share with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). It is located at 2042 E. Ireland Rd, South Bend, IN 46614, which is at the intersection of Ireland and Ironwood roads, in the Ireland Square Plaza (next to the 1st Source Bank). For more information on the SWCD, read the St. Joseph County SWCD Annual Report here.

Boone County Annual Newsletter Available

The Boone County SWCD has released their annual newsletter. It can be viewed here as a PDF.

Grant County SWCD's New Office:

The Grant County SWCD has a new address. Please update your contact information for them. It is: Grant County SWCD, Grant County Complex, 401 S Adams Street, Room 322, Marion, IN, 46953. Their temporary telephone number is: 765.651.2407.

Silent Auction Items Needed

Darlene Corns, Lake County SWCD, and Marie Tom, Kosciusko County SWCD, are asking for donations for the Auxiliary's Silent Auction at the Annual Conference of Indiana SWCDs. The Silent Auction will be held January 9 and 10. It starts at noon on Monday, January 9. Items should be brought to the auction tables located outside of the Denver Room (second floor of the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown) Monday morning, Jan. 9 (by 10 a.m. please). Note: state law does not allow alcohol to be accepted as auction items (such as wine). Final bids will be made at the close on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Proceeds from the auxiliary benefit the Indiana Envirothon and Poster contests. If you have any questions, contact Darlene at [email protected].

See you at Conference,

Jennifer

Conservation Day at the Indiana Statehouse

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Conservation Day is an incredible opportunity to show state legislators that Hoosiers care about protecting our precious natural resources and preserving our environment. This is your chance to engage legislators in matters that mean the most to you and meet fellow conservationists throughout the state. The more people that attend Conservation Day, the bigger the impact. Carpool with co-workers, friends and family or walk to the statehouse during your lunch hour, and help make a difference!

Click here to learn more about what the Alliance is advocating for this year.

The event is free! Due to new statehouse restrictions, pre-registration is required by January 19th and can be completed online.

NEW THIS YEAR: there will not be a morning information session this year at the Government Center (visit website for details) and all participants will need to print a confirmation email prior to the event which will allow them access to the statehouse. We will have more details regarding these security restrictions on our website as soon as possible.

Watershed Moment

An Indiana Success Story from the EPA

by Janice Bullman, IASWCD Conservation Development Specialist

Nonpoint source pollution from agricultural and urban areas caused waters in the Bull Run/West Creek (located in Lake County, IN) watershed to fail to support a healthy biotic community. As a result of this impairment, the Indiana Department of Environmental

Bull Run. Photo Courtesy of EPA.

Management (IDEM) added Bull Run (in 2002) and West Creek (in 2008) to Indiana's Clean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d) list of impaired waters. Using CWA section 319 funds, project partners educated stakeholders about sound agricultural management and implemented best management practices (BMPs) throughout the watershed to control erosion and address urban and agricultural runoff. Recent monitoring data show that the Bull Run segment meets water quality criteria for healthy biotic communities. Therefore, IDEM will propose to remove both segments from the state's 2012 CWA section 303(d) list of impaired waters. The full story can be viewed on the EPA's website.

Northern and Southern Indiana Grazing Conferences

Grazing Conferences will be held in southern and northern Indiana next month. The Southern Conference will be held in Washington on February 1, 2012 (registration $25 before January 18). The Northern Conference will be held in Howe from February 3-4, 2012 (one day, $35; two days, $55).

Northern Indiana Grazing Conference Brochure (PDF)
Southern Indiana Grazing Conference Brochure (PDF)

Woodland Management Class Offered For Private Landowners

A course entitled "Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner" will be offered to assist private landowners in becoming more knowledgeable managers of their woodland resource. The course will be held on 8 evenings beginning February 21, 2012, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Sterling Christian Church Aid House, 109 North Eagle Street, Veedersburg, IN. There will also be two Saturday morning field trips scheduled on March 3rd and 24th to practice tree identification and observe woodland management activities.

Class topics to include tree identification, forest biology and ecology, forest management planning and practices, managing woodland taxation, timber marketing, forest wildlife management and where to find help with your woodland management goals. The registration options include hard-copy reference materials in a binder for $99 or a flash drive with an electronic copy of reference materials for $49. The fee includes the cost of the course classes, the listed materials, and a tree measuring stick.

The course will emphasize an introduction to forestry and management principles that landowners can apply on their properties. If you own woodland, sell timber occasionally, manage a tree plantation or wildlife, or are considering some woodland investment, this class may be of great benefit to you. Beginning with the basics of tree identification and how a tree grows, the class will explore the biology and management of forest resources that supports the diverse environmental and economic benefits our forests provide, including thousands of jobs in the Indiana's forest-based businesses.

Sign up today for this educational class sponsored by the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service & Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, and Bi-State Agriculture Programs, in cooperation with the Hoosier Heartland, Greater Wabash River, and Sycamore Trails Resource Conservation and Development Councils, and the West Central Indiana Cooperative Weed Management Area.

To register or for more information contact Lenny Farlee, Program Coordinator, at (765) 494-2153 or by email at [email protected]. Registration brochures can be found at www.ag.purdue.edu/fnr/Pages/events.aspx

Job Openings

IDEM Openings

There are two job positions open in the Watershed Assessment and Planning Branch at IDEM. Both positions are classified as Environmental Manager 2 with a starting salary of $38,116.00 and will be based in Indianapolis. Applications are due before 01/11/2012 (i.e. by 11:59pm on 1/10/12). To apply, visit www.in.gov/spd/2334.htm.

Job ID: 577234 NPS Outreach Coordinator

Job Description: The person in this position is responsible for managing grant projects related to Nonpoint Source pollution, assisting management with federal grant reporting requirements, assisting management with the NPS program policy updates, updating NPS education and outreach materials, providing NPS-related technical assistance to staff and customers and conducting NPS water quality sampling as needed.

Job ID: 577221 TMDL Writer

Job Description: The person in this position is responsible for the creation of TMDL reports, TMDL technical support, and assistance to the Integrated Report Coordinator. The person in this position conducts tasks and assignments necessary to the researching, drafting, and public notice of a Total Maximum Daily Load Report, conducts water quality sampling in support of TMDL or NPS projects, assists a variety of customers to provide water quality information, maps, and technical support on the Load Duration Curve Model, completes assignments and tasks that support the updating of the 303d List of Impaired Waters and the biennial 305b Report on the state of Indiana's water quality, performs all tasks associated with high resolution reach indexing using the catchment basin approach, and assigning assessment unit I.D.s based on the 12-digit HUCs.

Preferred Experience: Five (5) years work experience in an environmental or environmental public health field or accredited college training in a related field.

Benefits: The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package which includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plans and accrued leave.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

J o i n O u r M a i l i n g L i s t !

Would you like to receive the Weekly Update, send us an email and include your organization along with your email address.