Upper Sugar Creek Project To Improve Water Quality Launched

Do you live, work, farm or play in the Upper Sugar Creek Drainage? A new project focused on assessing, protecting, and improving water quality; engaging individuals interested in the Upper Sugar Creek Drainage; and developing a step-wise plan for the Upper Sugar Creek Drainage will host its first public meeting on March 16th at 6 pm at the Hoosier Heartland Success Center at 1623 US-231, Crawfordsville, IN 47933. Your reservation is requested. The RSVP can be found online at https://mongomerycoswcd.com/sugarcreek/.

The project is funded through an Indiana Department of Environmental Management section 319 grant received by the Montgomery County SWCD and its partners. The $131,000  grant will lay the foundation for future, voluntary, on-the-ground conservation implementation efforts. Sara Peel, project coordinator indicates “The Upper Sugar Creek Project is structured to allow community input on what they want to see happen in terms of regional planning to improve water quality within the Upper Sugar Creek Drainage. These efforts will include the initial project launch meeting as well as volunteer water quality monitoring, stream clean up events, float trips, listening sessions, educational opportunities, local tours and more.” Peel pointed out that more than 30 community agencies and organizations are supporting this effort. These groups include:  Boone, Clinton, Montgomery County  Purdue Extensions, Boone County Surveyor’s office, Boone County Soil & Water Conservation District, Clinton County Soil & Water Conservation District, Montgomery County Soil & Water Conservation District, Tippecanoe County Soil & Water Conservation District, Ceres Solutions, Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton, City of Crawfordsville WWTP, Clinton County Area Planning Commission, Clinton County Commissioners, Clinton County Health Department, Clinton County Surveyor, Friends of Sugar Creek, Hoosier Heartland State Bank, Indiana American Water, Indiana State Department of Ag, Montgomery County Drainage Board, Montgomery County Health Department, Montgomery County Surveyor, Moving Water Outfitters, NICHES Land Trust, Pheasants Forever – 462 Coal Creek Chapter, Purdue University FNR 572, Sugar Creek Advisory Board, Tippecanoe County Surveyor-Tri County, Town of Darlington, The Nature Conservancy, & Wabash College Democracy and Public Discourse Initiative.

The project is currently in its initial stages of gathering data and information, developing the project steering committee, and coordinating the gathering of public opinion. If you are interested in participating in this exciting project, contact the Montgomery County Conservation Director, Kristen Latzke at [email protected] or by phone at 765-362-0405, ext. 3. Additional information about the project’s progress and the upcoming public meeting can be found at https://montgomerycoswcd.com/sugarcreek/.