State of the River Report released March 18, 2011. Fifteen years of water quality monitoring, educational efforts and assistance to land owners hasn’t eliminated the threats to water quality in the St. Joseph River watershed.
Read the State of the River report to learn what has been done and what still must be accomplished to improve water quality. (click picture)

Tri-State Conservation Farming Expo
Tri-State Conservation Farming Expo 2
Tri-State Conservation Farming Expo 3
Tri-State Conservation Farming Expo 4

Tri-State Conservation Farming Expo to Return for the 11th Year
The St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative is proud to present the 11th annual Tri-State Conservation Farming Expo to take place on March 13, 2012 in Montpelier, OH at the Veteran’s Memorial Building on the Williams County Fairgrounds. This year’s theme for the Expo is Farming “4R” Future; focusing on the agronomic and economic benefits of applying fertilizer at the Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place, and using the Right Source.
 
The Expo will have regionally renowned speakers to present facts on fertilizer application and the consequences if the “4Rs” are not followed properly. Speakers include “Digital Dale” Minyo known for his morning and afternoon broadcasts on the Ohio Ag. Network, Dave Baker, Director Emeritus of the National Center for Water Quality at Heidelberg University, and Brother Nick Renner a landowner located in the Grand Lake/Saint Marys watershed, among other speakers.
 
The Expo will provide the opportunity for certified crop advisors to receive up to 5.5 continuing education units. The Expo will also have over 15 vendors present to answer questions and provide valuable tools to enhance your farming experience and production. A continental breakfast and fish lunch will be served. Each year the attendance at the Expo grows, with over 250 attendees at last year’s Expo, we hope the 11th annual Tri-State Conservation Expo will reach even more landowners and producers.
 
Tickets to the Expo are $20 each if purchased before March 1, 2012. Tickets are $25 if purchased between March 1st and 13th, including walk-ins the day of the Expo. If interested in attending the Tri-State Conservation Farming Expo, or for more information, contact the St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative at 260.484.5848, or your local SWCD.
Septic System Workshop Nov. 5, 2011

The St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative is hosting a septic systems workshop on Nov. 5, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Miller Park Shelter House in Edgerton, OH (300 Miller Park Drive). The workshop is free and open to the public. Homeowners are especially encouraged to attend to learn how their septic system works and how to maintain it. Participants will also learn about the St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative’s plan to establish a cost-share program for homeowners who need to repair or replace their septic systems.
There will be refreshments and door prizes! No need to pre-register.

Contact Sharon Partridge-Hall, Program Manager for the Initiative for further information; 260.484.5848 ext. 120 or Sharon.hall@in.nacdnet.net.

The Middle St. Joseph River Sub-Watershed Project Begins!
The SJRWI has been awarded a Clean Water Grant from IDEM to create a Watershed Management Plan for the Middle St. Joseph River Sub-Watershed.
 

PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT: The Initiative has been monitoring water quality in the St. Joseph River Watershed over the past 14 years.  Data has shown that surface water in the Middle St. Joseph Sub-watershed has exceeded maximum contaminant levels for dissolved oxygen, phosphorus, and E. coli throughout the testing cycle. The goal of this project is to develop a comprehensive Watershed Management Plan that incorporates the ideas and concerns of the watershed’s stakeholders which includes producers, businesses, residential landowners, and city and county offices, and to identify ways to improve water quality. This will be accomplished by a 42 month 319 grant, administered by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which was awarded to the Initiative in September 2010 to develop a Watershed Management Plan for the Middle St, Joseph River Sub-watershed and begin implementation of that Watershed Management Plan during the last 12 months of the grant.

 

For more information, contact the Initiative office at: 260-484-5848 ext. 120

 

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

The following businesses, agencies and organizations have helped sponsor our Outreach and Education programs in 2011

Allen County Parks and Recreation (www.allencoparks.org)

Allen County SWCD (www.allenswcd.org)

DeKalb County SWCD (www.dekalbswcd.org)

Steuben County SWCD (www.steubenswcd.org)

Williams County SWCD (www.williamsswcd.org)

Farmers and Merchants Bank, Biotill Cover Crops, Midwest Ag Finance, Rupley Farm Equipment, Bunge North America, Farm Credit Service of Mid-America, Liechty Farm Equipment, DEKALB/Asgrow, Brodbeck Seeds, Edon Farmers Co-op, Bennett Seeds, The Andersons, Alliance Agra, North Central Co-op, Paul Martin and Sons LLC, Nester Ag LLC, Agridry LLC, Archbold Equipment, Williamson Insurance Agency, Agra Warehouse, Max Delagrange.

We appreciate the help our sponsors give!

SJR Online!
Historic & current water quality monitoring data for the St. Joseph River.
Click here to access the database.

Septic Systems: Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind
A new DVD is now available. The video explains what a septic system is, what it does, and how problems can be prevented through regular inspection and proper upkeep. Copies are available at the health departments and soil and water conservation districts in Allen, Noble and DeKalb counties.

 

To watch the video online, go to www.co.allen.in.us/acowmd or visit the Allen County’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/user/allencountyinfo

CHECK THIS OUT!
Two new additions to the website.
 
1. What's a Watershed? and Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC)
 
2. What Do Rubber Duckies have to do with Nonpoint Source Pollution? Two Public Service Announcements from IDEM
Lower St. Joseph-Bear Creek Watershed Management Plan
The final version of the Lower St. Joseph-Bear Creek Watershed Management Plan has been completed and approved by IDEM. This effort has produced some very important data about the Lower St. Joseph and Bear Creek sub-watersheds. With the mapping and water quality data collected for this planning effort, it will be easier to target management techniques and changes in land use that will have the greatest impact on water quality in the St. Joseph River. The plan can be accessed below.