Big Walnut Creek Watershed Project announces $200,000 in cost share funding

Certain areas of the Big Walnut Creek watershed (highlighted in green) are eligible for cost share funding to enhance Big Walnut and its tributaries.

Courtesy photo

Grant funding is now available to contribute to the overall health of Big Walnut Creek and the surrounding area.

The Big Walnut Creek Watershed Project, in partnership with the Boone, Hendricks and Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation Districts, has announced the availability of funding from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Section 319 program and local partners to directly enhance Big Walnut Creek and its tributaries.

The grant will provide funding for urban and agricultural producers within the target drainages of the creek to improve water quality on their property. To see the interactive map of the watershed, visit bit.ly/BigWalnutMap.

The Big Walnut Creek Watershed Project will use more than $200,000 by providing up to 75 percent of the costs for qualified urban and agricultural projects. To receive funding, projects must meet three criteria: 1) Be located within the target area (mapped in green on the map above); 2) Be a project type listed on the fundable projects list; and 3) Be approved by the project’s technical committees and the IDEM.

The applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with the first round of applications due Feb. 1. To learn more about the project, view the map, details of the qualifications, and/or to apply for cost-share funding, visit www.putnamswcd.org/cost-share-program-info or contact the Putnam County SWCD at 653-5716, ext. 3, or Sara Peel, project coordinator, at speel@arionconsultants.com.

Additional information about the project’s progress can be found at www.putnamswcd.org.