accessIndiana

Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS) (http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/)

Formerly called the U.S. Soil Conservation Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is the federal agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) working locally with citizens to conserve natural resources on private lands. They fulfill this through technical assistance, rural development, informational, and financial assistance, working with Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), state and local agencies, Resource Conservation and Development Councils (RC&Ds), watershed associations, and local groups.

The IDEM has a close working relationship with the NRCS. The IDEM Wetlands group relies on the NRCS for comments in the Sections 401 and 404 permit review process. The Watershed Management Section works with NRCS in several ways: through the Section 319 grants program, funding projects with the NRCS; relying on NRCS for technical expertise in reviewing IDEM project proposals; and assisting NRCS in review of EQIP conservation priority area proposals.

For the past 8 years the Watershed Management Section has had an NRCS Resource Conservationist on staff as a liaison between the two agencies. Three additional NRCS Resource Conservationists have been added to the NPS Program staff at IDEM in 1999 to assist with watershed planning at the local level, and develop Watershed Restoration Action Strategies. The NRCS has also participated in the NPS Task Force, and is the primary sponsor of the W.A.T.E.R. Committee.

NRCS and IDEM share leadership responsibilities in implementing the President's Clean Water Initiative (Clean Water Action Plan), including development of the UWA and WRASs.

The State Technical Committee (STC) advises NRCS and the Farm Services Agency (FSA) in program related matters. Other state agencies participate regularly as members of the STC.

Coordinated Resource Management (CRM) (http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/tech_ref/icrm.html)

The CRM process focuses on resolving local resource management issues through consensus of watershed stakeholders and ecosystem based planning. CRM is an integral tool in developing a feasible watershed management plan.

Resource Conservation and Development Areas (RC&Ds) (http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/rcd/)

The RC&D Program is a unique blend of private enterprise and creative federalism: (1) program activities are initiated and directed at the local level by volunteers; (2) it is a USDA interagency program that encourages the blending of natural resource use with local economic and social values; (3) its customers have a major voice in how the program activities are carried out in their respective communities; and (4) economic and sociological rationales have been considered in selection of RC&D areas, and their continued funding and support. RC&D builds upon long-range resource development plans aimed at improving entire areas or regions based on local needs and priorities. RC&D combines resources to provide an effective and efficient forum for local decision makers to manage change. To implement RC&D, diverse groups of local volunteers are brought together in a unique partnership, a RC&D Council, to find solutions to their problems. This process is based on the premise that local people are best able to determine needs and create solutions for their own communities. The RC&D commitment emphasizes one or more of the following areas: (a) natural resource conservation; (b) resource development; (c) community/economic/business development; and (d) environmental education. There are currently eight RC&D Councils in Indiana.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) (http://www.fsa.usda.gov/in/)

The Farm Service Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture ensures the well-being of American agriculture, the environment and the American public through efficient and equitable administration of farm commodity programs; farm ownership, operating and emergency loans; conservation and environmental programs; emergency and disaster assistance; domestic and international food assistance and international export credit programs. These programs provide a safety net to help farmers produce an adequate food supply, maintain viable operations, compete for export sales of commodities in the world marketplace, and contribute to the year-round availability of a variety of low-cost, safe, and nutritious foods.

FSA enhances the environment by the development and implementation of programs to ensure adequate protection of our natural, cultural, and historic resources. The FSA assists agricultural producers and landowners in achieving a high level of stewardship of soil, water, air, and wildlife resources on America's farmland and ranches. FSA strives to provide equitable, friendly, effective, and efficient customer service and to enhance the ability of small, limited resource, beginning and socially disadvantaged family farmers/ranchers to operate successfully. FSA provides innovative leadership in developing ways to reduce the cost of and improve operations and services.

Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE)
(Detroit District: http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/)
(Louisville District: http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/)

The ACOE owns several reservoirs in Indiana. Most of the land around the reservoirs is leased to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to manage for recreation or wildlife habitat. The ACOE retains control of most of the dams in order to implement the flood control function of the reservoirs and for maintenance purposes. The ACOE and the IDNR both staff property managers at the reservoirs. They work together to address any problems on the sites.

The ACOE participates to some extent in the W.A.T.E.R. Committee, where Indiana watershed issues are discussed. The State has also relied upon ACOE expertise concerning wetlands to help in reviewing of 319 proposals. The Wetland Advisory Committee is a multi-agency group working on wetland conservation issues, and the ACOE has participated in these meetings.

The IDEM Wetlands group works with the ACOE on CWA Section 401 permits. IDEM reviews each permit application for compliance with the State's water quality standards.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS),
Indiana Office (Northern Indiana: http://www.fws.gov/r3pao/n_ind/)
(Southern Indiana: http://www.fws.gov/r3pao/bloom/)

The USFWS Indiana office assists landowners and cost-share in restoration of wetlands, prairies and bottomland forests; reviews Clean Water Act permits for wastewater discharges, wetland fill and development. Under Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act; reports on impacts to fish and wildlife of federal or federally funded projects; implements recovery programs for 21 federally listed species in Indiana; consults with federal agencies to ensure compliance with the Endangered Species Act; and participates on various environmental committees, including the Kankakee River Basin Commission-wide levee study, GAP analysis, and Indiana Biodiversity Initiative.

IDEM has worked extensively with the USFWS on various nonpoint source pollution issues, including funding Section 319 projects by assisting in the review of 319 proposals. USFWS also served on the Task Force for updating the NPS Management Plan. The Wetlands group of IDEM works with the USFWS on Sections 401 and 404 permit project review and have partnered with them on Wetlands Restoration projects. They also serve on the W.A.T.E.R. Committee and the Wetlands Advisory Group.

U. S. Geological Survey (USGS), Indiana District (http://www-dinind.er.usgs.gov/index.html)

The U.S. Geological Survey is the Nation's largest earth-science agency and has the principal responsibility within the Federal Government for providing hydrologic information and for appraising the Nation's water resources. The water resources of Indiana consist of numerous streams, rivers, lakes, and aquifer systems. The Indiana District staff measures streamflow and water-quality data as well as ground-water levels throughout the State. These hydrologic data along with stream-sediment characteristics and water-use data are used in research and studies to describe the quantity, quality, and location of Indiana's water resources. Collection, analysis, and interpretation of these data are done in cooperation with other federal, State, and local agencies, universities, and research centers.

IDEM has worked extensively with the USGS on nonpoint source pollution issues. IDEM has funded Section 319 projects with USGS, and USGS has assisted in the review of certain 319 proposals. USGS served on the Task Force for updating the NPS Management Plan, worked on the development of the Watershed Action Guide, and serves on the W.A.T.E.R. Committee and the Wetlands Advisory Group. The State is completing the mapping of hydrologic units (watershed basins) to the 14-digit level through a Section 319 grant to USGS. The mapping will be publicly available in Fall 1999.

National Parks Service, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (http://www.nps.gov/indu)

The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is the only National Park in the state of Indiana. It is a unique area, ranking fourth in plant diversity in the National Park System. The National Park Service has participated in National Lakes Shore projects and has facilitated local watershed meetings. The Park Service also participates in the Wabash Heritage Corridor meetings.

EPA Clean Lakes Program (USEPA CLP) (http://www.epa.gov/owow/lakes/)

The Clean Lakes Program was established in 1972 as Section 314 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (a.k.a. Clean Water Act or CWA). The program had as its goal the provision of financial and technical assistance to States in restoring, enhancing, and protecting publicly-owned lakes. The 1987 Amendments to the Clean Water Act expanded the program to include Statewide assessments of lake water quality conditions, especially with regard to eutrophication levels. There have been no appropriations for this program since 1995.