Listed below are summaries of projects funded with Section 205(j) grants by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management that are actively working on researching and planning ways to address nonpoint source pollution issues in watersheds across Indiana.
FFY2023
Investigation of Water Quality and Water Quantity in the School Branch Watershed (Contract # 80302)
The United States Geological Survey will continue to investigate water quality and water quantity throughout the School Branch watershed by performing hydrologic cycle measurements, analyzing continuous water quality, conducting intensive sampling, conducting biological assessments, and by distribution multi-media communication. The Survey will operate one streamflow and one super gage on School Branch at CR 750 N, operate four nested groundwater wells to provide continuous data for groundwater level and temperature at varying depths, and operate a SUNA nitrate sensor providing continuous water concentration of nitrate-plus-nitrite as nitrogen. The final continuous water quality data will be approved and archived in the USGS NWIS online public database. Concentration data from the discrete water samples will be quality assured, finalized, and archived in the NWIS online public database.
Little Pigeon Creek Watershed Management Plan (Contract # 79733)
The Warrick County Soil and Water Conservation District will produce a watershed management plan (WMP) for the Little Pigeon Creek, Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUC) 0514020110 and 0514020109. The WMP will include all elements listed in the State’s Watershed Management Plan Checklist (updated 2009). They will conduct a monitoring program to establish data for baseline loading rates on tributaries throughout the watershed. The SWCD will conduct an education and outreach program designed to bring about behavioral changes that will lead to reduced nonpoint source pollution in the watershed, including community events, a brochure, website updates, social media posts, and newsletters.
NPS Management Plan (Contract # 81027)
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has partnered with DJ Case and Associates to produce a revision to the state Nonpoint Source Management Plan (2025-2029). This revision will include updates since the last revision and have a special focus on environmental justice and climate adaptation gaps identified in the 2022 Equity and Climate Assessment. Additionally, the Plan will be hosted on the IDEM website with interactive components to improve accessibility for the public.
Operation of two Continuous Monitors on the Ohio River and Analysis of the Causes of Algal Blooms (Contract # 78896)
The Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) will continue to operate two previously installed continuous monitors along the Indiana portion of the Ohio River. The two monitors will record temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, chlorophyll a, and phycocyanin. In addition, grab samples will be collected and analyzed twice per month at both locations (total 48 samples). Analysis will include nitrate-nitrite, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus, Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), chlorophyll a, algal taxonomy, and algal toxins. ORSANCO will calibrate each continuous monitor twice per month from May to October for one year (total 24 calibrations). ORSANCO also maintains a website to receive continuous monitoring data. The data will also be analyzed and reported for causes of algal blooms.
Continuous Monitoring Supergage at Iroquois River near Foresman, Indiana (Contract # 81024)
The US Geological Survey will operate and maintain the continuous water quality monitoring gage (number 05524500) on the Iroquois River near Foresman, IN for twenty-four months. The Survey will collect real-time, continuous water quality data for turbidity, nitrate concentrations, phosphate concentrations, water temperatures, pH, dissolved oxygen, and specific conductance. Where statistically appropriate, the Survey will compute real-time concentrations and loads of suspended sediment, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. All data will be collected, and quality assured following published USGS methods. Data will be publicly available through on-line databases.
Beanblossom Creek Watershed Management Plan (Contract # 80235)
The Monroe County SWCD will produce a watershed management plan (WMP) for the Beanblossom Creek, Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 0512020201. The watershed plan will include all elements listed in the State’s Watershed Management Plan Checklist (updated 2009). The Monroe County SWCD will conduct a monitoring program to establish data for baseline loading rates on tributaries throughout the watershed. They will also conduct an education and outreach program designed to bring about behavioral changes that will lead to reduced nonpoint source pollution in the watershed, such as webpage updates, social media posts, newsletters, workshops, and one Hoosier Riverwatch training.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Indiana Fish Tissue
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will analyze per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in fish tissue in the Upper Wabash River basin. The study is designed to characterize the location and magnitude of PFAS. This study will increase spatial coverage of PFAS to better understand concentrations, distributions, and contaminant sources of emerging contaminants of concern while also supporting the Indiana Fish Consumption Advisory. The study will consist of one season of fish tissue collection followed by laboratory analysis and data management.
FFY2022
Cedar Creek Watershed Management Plan (Contract #70742)
Fort Wayne City Utilities will produce a watershed management plan (WMP) for the Cedar Creek Watershed, Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) 0410000306 and 0410000307. The WMP will include all elements listed in the State’s Watershed Management Plan Checklist (updated 2009). The utility company will develop a steering committee of local stakeholders to guide development of the watershed management plan. They will conduct a water quality monitoring program. They will also conduct an education and outreach program designed to educate citizens on problems and solutions associated with nonpoint source pollution in the watershed. The outreach program will include development and distribution of articles, fact sheets, press releases, and web material. They will host field days and workshops and distribute school curriculum.
Little Blue River Watershed Management Plan (Contract #68932)
Shelby County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) will produce a watershed management plan (WMP) for the Little Blue River Watershed, Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 0512020402. The WMP will include all elements listed in the State’s Watershed Management Plan Checklist (updated 2009). The SWCD will develop a steering committee of local stakeholders to guide development of the watershed management plan. The SWCD will also conduct an education and outreach program designed to educate citizens on problems and solutions associated with nonpoint source pollution in the watershed. The program will include the development and distributions of web material, newsletters, brochures, and social media updates. They will conduct workshops and field days and participate in community events. They will host a Hoosier Riverwatch training and implement a water monitoring program.
Mill Creek – Wabash River Watershed Management Plan (Contract #70728)
Vermillion County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) will produce a watershed management plan (WMP) for the Mill Creek-Wabash River Watershed, Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 0512010816. The WMP will include all elements listed in the State’s Watershed Management Plan Checklist (updated 2009). They will conduct a water quality monitoring program. The SWCD will also conduct an education and outreach program designed to educate citizens on problems and solutions associated with nonpoint source pollution in the watershed. The program will include the development and distribution of web materials, social media updates, newsletters, and brochures. They will host field days, attend community events, and host public meetings.
Lower Elkhart River Watershed Management Plan (Contract #68996)
The City of Goshen will produce a watershed management plan (WMP) for the Lower Elkhart River Watershed, Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) 0405000117 and 0405000119. The WMP will include all elements listed in the State’s Watershed Management Plan Checklist (updated 2009). The city will develop a steering committee of local stakeholders to guide development of the watershed management plan. They will host a Hoosier Riverwatch training and implement a water monitoring program. The city will conduct an education and outreach program designed to educate citizens on problems and solutions associated with nonpoint source pollution in the watershed. The program will include the development and distribution of web materials, social media updates, newsletters, and brochures. They will host field days, attend community events, and host public meetings.
Continued Operation of Two Continuous Monitors on the Ohio River (Contract #70736)
The Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) will continue to operate two previously installed continuous monitors along the Indiana portion of the Ohio River. The two monitors will record temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, chlorophyll a, and phycocyanin. In addition, grab samples will be collected and analyzed twice per month at both locations (total 48 samples). Analysis will include nitrate-nitrite, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus, Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), chlorophyll a, algal taxonomy, and algal toxins. The Grantee shall calibrate each continuous monitor twice per month (total 48 calibrations). ORSANCO also maintains a website to receive continuous monitoring data. The data will also be analyzed and reported for causes of algal blooms.
Investigation of Water Quality and Water Quantity in the School Branch Watershed (Contract #68804)
The United States Geological Survey (Survey) will continue to collect and interpret scientific data about water quality and water quantity in the School Branch watershed in Hendricks County, Indiana as part of the National Water Quality Initiative. The Survey will operate one water-quality monitoring gage on School Branch at CR 750 N that will provide continuous data for nitrate, phosphate, turbidity, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and specific conductance; one streamflow gage on School Branch at CR 750 N that will provide continuous data on water quantity represented by stream stage and stream discharge; and four monitoring wells near School Branch at CR 750 N that will provide continuous data on depth to groundwater and groundwater temperature. The Survey will maintain a web page to display continuous data from the School Branch gages and wells for stream stage and discharge, continuous water quality, and groundwater depth and temperature, and maintain a School Branch project web page to communicate information about the study. The Survey will participate in public and technical forums to present the results of the School Branch monitoring. The Survey will publish a Scientific-Investigations Report to describe the methods and data from this project.
FFY2021
Nutrient Supergage and HABs at New Harmony (Contract #43799)
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will operate and maintain a continuous water-quality monitoring instrumentation. The instrument will provide continuous data on water temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate. The equipment will also estimate load/yields of nitrate and orthophosphate using the measurements from the nitrate sensor and phosphate analyzer. The data will be made publicly available at the NRTWQ site. USGS will develop and publish surrogate models using continuous and discreet water quality data to estimate concentrations and loads of constituents that are not easily measured in real-time. USGS will also deploy a chlorophyll and phycocyanin sensor to collect discrete samples of cyanobacterial genes, cyanotoxins, and phytoplankton community samples. A model for estimating cyanotoxin levels in the Wabash River will be developed as part of this sampling.
Continued Operation of Two Continuous Monitors on the Ohio River (Contract #56382)
The Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) will continue to operate two previously installed continuous monitors along the Indiana portion of the Ohio River. The two monitors will record temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, chlorophyll a, and phycocyanin. In addition, grab samples will be collected and analyzed twice per month at both locations (total 48 samples). Analysis will include nitrate-nitrite, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus, Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), chlorophyll a, algal taxonomy, and algal toxins. The Grantee shall calibrate each continuous monitor twice per month (total 48 calibrations). ORSANCO also maintains a website to receive continuous monitoring data. The data will also be analyzed and reported for causes of algal blooms.
Twin Creek-Lick Branch Planning (Contract #56800)
Washington County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) will produce a watershed management plan (WMP) for the Twin Creek-Lick Branch watershed. The SWCD will implement a water monitoring program to gather reliable data to understand and prioritize watershed problems. Baseline data will be analyzed with local land use data to help the steering committee to prioritize locations in the watershed. Washington County will perform an outreach and education program to include a socio-indicator survey, media materials, brochures and flyers, education field days, presentations by staff, a clean-up event, and an educational display for events.
FFY2020
Upper White River WMP (Contract #48449)
Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) will produce a watershed management plan (WMP) for the Upper White River Watershed, Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUC’s) 0512020101, 0512020102, 0512020103. The WMP will include all elements listed in the State’s Watershed Management Plan Checklist (updated 2009). The SWCD will develop a steering committee of local stakeholders to guide the development of the watershed management plan along with an advisory board. Delaware County will partner with Ball State University to engage student in the planning project and will conduct a monitoring program that utilizes existing water quality data and develop new data. They will conduct an education and outreach program designed to educate citizens on problems and solutions associated with nonpoint source pollution in the watershed. Delaware County’s outreach program will include development and distribution of newsletters, stakeholder mailings, and press releases. They will hold quarterly education events.