accessIndiana

Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs)
(web pages: http://nacdnet.org/resources/IN.htm)
(contact numbers: http://www.IN.gov/dnr/soilcons/dreamweaver/images/swcd.pdf)

Each of Indiana's 92 SWCD's is a sub unit of state government. The three elected and two appointed supervisors on each district board are public officials. SWCD)'s were established to control and prevent soil erosion and flood damage within the district. Each local district sets the priorities and guidelines for conservation needs. Other agencies, including the U.S.Department of Agriculture-Soil Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources-Division of Soil Conservation, provide the technical assistance required to meet those priority needs. Staff from the Cooperative Extension Service provide the educational support.

SWCD's (Soil and Water Conservation Districts) can put land users in touch with the right people to provide technical and or financial assistance needed to: (1) solve specific soil or water resource problem; (2) provide conservation education assistance and soil information for farmers, other landusers, and students; and (3) help locate agribusinesses or organizations offering no-till planters, no-till drills, or other conservation equipment for rent. Some SWCD's offer their own rental program

The SWCDs exist within the State of Indiana as subdivisions of state government. (The Districts powers and duties are set forth in IC 14-32-5.) The Districts are authorized to carry out a variety of functions, including the following:

carry out soil erosion and water runoff preventive and control measures...; construct, improve, operate, and maintain the structures that are necessary or convenient for the performance of any of the operations authorized...; cooperate or enter into agreements... in the carrying on of conservation operations...; obtain options upon and acquire... real or personal property or rights or interests in property; maintain, administer, and improve property acquired...; develop or participate in the development of comprehensive plans for the proper management of soil and water resources...; require an occupier of land not owned, or controlled by the state, as a condition to extending benefits... enter into agreements or covenants concerning the use and treatment of the land that will tend to: prevent or control soil erosion; achieve water conservation and water quality protection.... (IC 14-32-5-1)

In addition, the Districts are authorized to adopt rules and regulations consistent with this Article in order to "carry into effect the purposes and powers of this article." (IC 14-32-5-1(17)) State agencies, county or other governmental subdivisions of the State with jurisdiction over publicly owned land "shall cooperate to the fullest extent with the district to effect programs and operations undertaken by the district..." (IC 14-32-5-7)

Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD) (http://iaswcd.org/)

Indiana's 92 SWCDs fund and provide leadership for IASWCD, Inc. their state association. The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts is a non-profit, nongovernmental, private organization. The association's goal is to promote the development of districts and the need for soil and water conservation programs in Indiana. Incorporated in 1968, the IASWCD operates from Indianapolis. It provides legislative leadership, and fundraising, development, and training opportunities to its districts. The IASWCD, Inc. is administered by a board of directors, who are SWCD Supervisors, from all regions of the state. The association has 21 board members, including representatives from the Indiana District Employees Association and IASWCD Auxiliary.The IASWCD promotes the SWCDs in Indiana and brings their concerns to the State Legislature. Indiana's conservation districts are structured for local leadership. Committees at all levels address natural resource education, forestry, and wildlife, soil and water resources, district operations, ways and means, and legislative issues. This body also disseminates conservation education materials and training to the Districts. The Nonpoint Source Information Specialist for the IASWCD is paid through a Section 319 grant, which includes publication of Nonpoint Notes, a widely distributed monthly newsletter.

The law provides for a county drainage board for each of Indiana's 92 counties. Every regulated drain in a county is under the jurisdiction of the drainage board. Land drained by a private or mutual drain is subject to assessment for the construction, or reconstruction, or maintenance of a regulated drain if the land is also drained by the regulated drain. Except in a county having a consolidated city, the drainage board consists of either: (1) the county executive; or (2) three (3) or five (5) persons, at least one (1) of whom must be a member of the executive. Appointees must be resident freeholders of the county who are knowledgeable in drainage matters. Freeholders appointed to the board serve for terms of three (3) years, with their initial appointments made so as to provide for staggering of terms on an annual basis. In addition, the county surveyor serves on the board as an ex officio, nonvoting member. In a county having a consolidated city, the board of public works of the consolidated city comprises the drainage board, subject to IC 36-3-4-23.

The State Department of Health is responsible for training and providing technical assistance to local health jurisdictions (e.g., county or city health departments, health and hospital corporations) regarding residential septic systems. In addition, the Department also is responsible for issuing construction permits to all commercial on-site non-discharging sewage disposal systems. Residential septic permits are issued by the various local health departments. Some counties also may require a county-issued construction permit for commercial on-site non-discharging sewage disposal systems.

The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) is a regional planning commission established by resolution of the three Indiana Lake Michigan shoreline counties. Regional planning commissions are authorized to "institute and maintain a comprehensive policy planning and programming and coordinative management process for the region. It shall coordinate its activities with all units in the region and shall coordinate the planning programs of all units and the state." (IC 36-7-7-7). NIRPC functions as a council of governments. The NIRPC Board of Commissioners includes 35 representatives of local governments, most of whom are elected. The board meets regularly to discuss regional issues and adopt nonbinding policies. The Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission provides a staff of planning professionals in areas of environmental planning, transportation, and economic development. NIRPC administers staff support through contractual arrangements with other local commissions, including the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission, the Lake Michigan Marina Development Commission, and the Kankakee River Basin Commission.

The Healthy Beaches Initiative is a collaborative effort among several agencies seeking to protect and the health of the Indiana shoreline of Lake Michigan. Experts from various fields have joined to resolve an issue of the Indiana shoreline that is also occurring nationwide in other coastal states. It is not frequent or long lasting, but one that periodically hampers the full enjoyment of one of the most sought after resources. The issue is sporadic, unpredictable high levels of bacteria in the swimming waters of our beaches.

The Indiana Wetland's Conservation Plan was adopted by the Natural Resources Commission in April of 1996. The plan is to be used to guide wetlands conservation efforts throughout the state. The 75 page booklet is available for downloading from the web. The Hoosier Wetlands Conservation Initiative is a strategy to begin actions to conserve wetlands through projects at various levels of state government and local organization.