About Us

What is the White River Watershed  Project?

A community driven project to address non-point source water pollution
for a better quality of life.

Goal: To create watershed management plans to clean-up and prevent non-point source water pollution.

Mission: The White River Watershed Project is a citizen partnership dedicated to developing watershed plans to improve water quality.

Vision: Our vision is that the White River will improve the quality of life of our community by safely serving its various needs while supporting wildlife diversity.

Project Basis:


The White River Watershed Project began in 2001 when the Delaware County ( Indiana ) Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded a $300,000 US EPA Section 319 grant through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Section 319 grants award funds to projects to clean up non-point source water pollution in rivers, lakes and streams. Local community partners and leaders joined the efforts of the DCSWCD to improve water quality in the surface waters of our county.


Phase I of the WRWP (2001-2004) focused on planning:

  • Residents and land users in Delaware County were invited to talk about their water quality-related concerns
  • Three subwatersheds of the White River were chosen for targeted study and planning.
  • The quality of the water in the streams within the subwatersheds was studied to determine the level of pollution in the selected streams
  • A plan {link to the Management plan} for correcting and preventing non-point source pollution was developed for the selected subwatersheds.

Phase II of the WRWP (2005-2008) was made possible by a second Section 319 grant and the continued support of local partners. This second phase will focus on implementation (carrying out the plan) on several fronts:

  • We will continue to talk to stakeholders in the community to address water quality concerns
  • We will conduct outreach events and develop educational materials to spread the word about preventing non-point source pollution
  • We will continue monitoring stream conditions to understand how pollution levels change over time
  • We will develop a master plan for the Prairie Creek Reservoir
  • We will develop a cost-share program to help fund the installation of best management practices on qualified lands and provide technical assistance to help plan conservation practices

Note:

Because Section 319 grants are concerned with water quality (not quantity), grant funds cannot be used to fix drainage tile or dredge ditches; cost-share programs that provide incentive payments, yield loss payments, land payments, or maintenance costs; large equipment purchases for individuals; work required by federal regulations; or permit fees.

Community Involvement

Initial water quality concerns of local citizens provided the spark that initiated the White River Watershed Project. The initial concerns were for:

Public Health
Drinking Water
Fish Consumption Advisories

Natural Habitat
Wildlife Diversity
Aesthetics

Recreation
Fishing
Boating
Swimming

Residents of Delaware County have been key partners in spreading the message about clean water, by participating in outreach and education efforts, volunteering for clean up days, and communicating their concerns about water quality and the advancement of the Project.

Ways to get involved:
Attend a public meeting to find out what is going on in your watershed.
Voice your ideas in a public meeting or open forum
Become a volunteer for outreach and education
Drop in on our feild days
Participate in our cost-share program
Visit our booth at local events