1st Annual Conservation Day at the Fair

Monroe Co Soil & Water in partnership with the Monroe County Fair Board held the 1st Annual Conservation Day at the Monroe County Fair.  There were 214 people that passed through the doors and made connections with various different conservation organizations, agencies and businesses.  

38 kiddos made native flower seed bombs for encouraging conservaton.

All together it was 16 groups sharing about conservation of our forests, water, soil, gardening, growing and more.

Highlights of Conservation in the 2010's

• District Coordinator moves to District Management as conservation awareness and interest in projects go from minimal work load - overload in 10 years.
• District received $600,000 319 Grant from IDEM for on the ground conservation work in the Beanblossom Watershed.
• There is an explosion of small farm and backyard growing, and with that comes the need and desire for soil conservation.
• District Manager works with IU-SPEA to secure a Graduate Student Fellow for additional part-time work.
• Board encourages District Manager to obtain training through Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy and Conservation Cropping Systems Advanced Soil Health Programs.
• Invasive species awareness grows as the SWCD supports the development of a local working group, MC-IRIS, to address the concerns.
• County Employee Spring Tree Giveaway Program started.
• Planting Cover Crop is high priority for the SWCD. Finding ways to get seed on with a crop becomes a focus. District partners with local air company to do aerial seeding.
• District partners with new County Stormwater Department to provide private landowners resources to install conservation practices that address soil health and water quality.