Little Blue River Watershed (319) Grant
Start date: March 2008
End date: September 2010
Grant amount: $194,880
Cost-share amount: $109,980
The watershed has been awarded a “319” grant from the Environmental Protection Agency
and administered by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).
"Cost-share" means that the grant can provide a percentage of the cost
of establishing a conservation practice if the landowner will also contribute money to it.
Cost-share money is available to landowners in the watershed
who want to utilize approved conservation practices in priority areas.
See the list below that describes the practices that are available.
Nonpoint Source Water Pollution
The purpose of the grant is to reduce Nonpoint Source water pollution.
This is the type of pollution that washes off the land from lots of different sites;
as opposed to Point Source pollution that comes from a pipe jutting into the river.
The picture below shows some ways in an agricultural setting where water flows off the land,
potentially carrying pollution to nearby water bodies.
Nonpoint Source water pollution focused on by the grant:
Erosion
Soil that isn't protected by growing plants or plant debris can become loose and wash away
into rivers and streams. This process called erosion leads to sedimentation. Sedimentation
harms aquatic life by destroying habitat where creatures live and breed. Sedimentation can
lead of flooding hazards, too, since it fills in the river channel. Soil is such a valuable resource
for growing food that we must keep it on the land and not let it deposit into our rivers, lakes and streams.
Animal Waste
Animal waste can come from wildlife, livestock and even humans through poorly functioning septic systems.
Waste from all these sources can lead to E. coli contamination in rivers, lakes and streams. E. coli is an
indicator of fecal material in the water and it is present in Little Blue River watershed streams. Keep river water out of your face and eyes. Wash your hands after you've been in the river.
Excess Fertilizer
Nitrogen and phosphates from fertilizer can pollute the water if it is over-applied or applied at the wrong time. Excess nitrogen is a major contributor to the "Dead Zone" in the Gulf of Mexico. Read more about this on the Watershed Location page of this website.
Cost-Share
Cost-share money is available to landowners and agricultural producers
in priority areas of the watershed, who want to establish
Best Management Practices (BMPs) that reduce Nonpoint Source water pollution.
The following table lists what practices are available
and the percentage of cost-share money that can be awarded.
|
Practice |
Cost-Share 319 grant |
Cost-Share
Participant |
BMP Cap |
Comment |
|
Alternative watering systems, |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
CNMP development |
90% |
10% |
$7500 |
Or fund through EQIP |
|
Cover crops |
75% |
25% |
No cap |
WMP priority 200 additional acres |
|
Critical area planting |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Equipment modification for manure application |
50% |
50% |
$5000 |
Available only during 1st year; must include additional BMPs installed; some restrictions apply |
|
Equipment modification for residue and tillage management |
50% |
50% |
$5000 |
Available only during 1st year; must include additional BMPs installed; some restrictions apply |
|
Fencing |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Field border |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Filter strips |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Grassed waterway |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Heavy use protection area |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Nutrient and/or pest management planning |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Pasture/hayland seeding |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Prescribed grazing plans |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Riparian forest and/or herbaceous buffers |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Roof runoff structures |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Sediment basin |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Soil and/or manure testing |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Stream crossing |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Streambank stabilization and shoreline protection |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
If the project cost is high, the applicant will be encouraged to use other NRCS programs. |
|
Structures for water control |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Waste utilization |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Water and sediment control basin |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Watering facility |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
|
|
Wetland restoration |
60% |
40% |
$7500 |
If the project cost is high, the applicant will be encouraged to use other NRCS programs. |
How to apply
Interested landowners/producers should contact either the
Rush or Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) office
for assistance in filling out an initial questionnaire about their proposed project.
Applications will be reviewed and ranked on a monthly basis.
The highest-ranking applications will be given funding priority.
Contact info:
Rush County SWCD 765-932-2813 x 3
Shelby County SWCD 317-392-1394 x 3
