accessIndiana

The Watershed Agency Team for Enhancing Resources (W.A.T.E.R. Committee)

The W.A.T.E.R. Committee was organized in February 1993 as the Indiana Interagency Watershed Management Coordination Committee. The name was changed to the W.A.T.E.R. Committee to allow for more comprehensive interaction concerning water issues. The W.A.T.E.R. Committee was originally made up of several Federal, State, county, and local governmental agencies involved in various aspects of water quality protection. Other organizations have come aboard since the Committee first formed. While the W.A.T.E.R. Committee has no legal basis or authority, it has met continuously for seven years and acts as the primary forum for watershed-related discussions in Indiana.

In 1997 the W.A.T.E.R. Committee established four priorities for the member agencies. The priorities, and progress to date in implementing them, include the following:

• Promote the creation of a State-wide data library accessible to agencies and the public which contains geographic information system (GIS) and water quality information; promote sharing of data among agencies and with the public. Progress: A plan has emerged and funding is being pursued. The NPS Program will participate in this effort as resources allow.
• Develop a prioritization process for Indiana watersheds, mutually accessible to all agencies, with the intention of improving interagency cooperation in restoration and protection of water resources. Progress: The UWA has been designated to fulfill this priority.
• Develop an interagency team of "Decision Makers" to commit resources to and support future watershed projects. Progress: A group of decision makers has been meeting informally.
• Promote the coordinated development and distribution of watershed education resources. Progress: It has been agreed that sufficient structures now exist in the state to carry out this initiative without the assistance of the Committee. The Committee will continue to promote watershed education where appropriate.

The requirements of the Clean Water Action Plan have made the continuance of the W.A.T.E.R. Committee critical. This group finds themselves positioned to become the focus for water resource conservation coordination within the State of Indiana. In late 1997 the Committee charged a workgroup with developing a Watershed Action Guide for Indiana, a manual for local-level involvement in watershed restoration and protection. (This document was published by the IDEM Watershed Management Section in December 1998.) In May 1998 the W.A.T.E.R. Committee identified a group of people from several agencies and charged them with developing the Unified Watershed Assessment, which was reviewed and approved by the Committee prior to being submitted to U.S. EPA. The Committee is currently coordinating an effort to develop a structure for data sharing among State and Federal agencies.

Indiana Conservation Partnership (http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/newsletter.html)

The Indiana Conservation Partnership provides technical, educational, and financial assistance to citizens in order to solve erosion and sediment-related problems occurring on the land or affecting public waters. Agencies belonging to the Indiana Conservation Partnership work together through both legislative mandate and mutual interests. These agencies are: the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Division of Soil Conservation, Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, and the Indiana Association of SWCDs (IASWCD). In addition to several Memoranda of Understanding that facilitate their relationship, they have developed a joint Strategic Plan to confirm their commitment to working together.

Since the 1930's, agricultural producers in Indiana have lead efforts to combat soil erosion and water management problems, primarily through the aegis of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) and the agencies which provide them with technical assistance. Local groups have worked with State and Federal personnel to implement new initiatives such as multi-purpose watershed projects in the 1950's and 1960's and to put together the nation's first Resource Conservation and Development Area (RC&D) in the mid 1960's. Indiana also led the way in model implementation projects in the 1970's and in completing the first major State "once over" soil survey. A comprehensive analysis of Indiana's soil and water resource conditions was prepared by the Natural Resources Study Commission in the mid 1980's and was used by the Indiana General Assembly to strengthen the State's role by providing for additional educational, technical and financial assistance for soil and water conservation through the IDNR Division of Soil Conservation. After 60 years, this effort has expanded to include urban land development, forestry, and mining.

The Conservation Partnership published a Strategic Plan in 1997 that identifies and prioritizes natural resources issues in the State. This Plan identifies five primary issues to be addressed in Indiana goals, strategies, and desired results for each issue. These issues are:

• Water quality and quantity;
• Soil quantity and productivity;
• Wetland protection;
• Urban development and loss of farm land; and
• Manure and organic nutrient management

Watershed Coordinator's Network (http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/INWatershed.html)

In Fall 1997, representatives from NRCS, IASWCD, and Project CLEAR (Laughery Creek/ Versailles Lake) called together all local watershed project coordinators in Indiana. A mailing list of 30 individuals was developed, including employees of citizen-driven projects, as well as agency personnel and employees of nongovernmental organizations. At that time, seven coordinators were being supported through Section 319 grants. This group has met quarterly to trade experiences, listen to presentations, and express their needs to supporting agencies.

The network has eased the isolation sometimes felt by relatively inexperienced people carrying out a difficult job without accessible role models. IDEM has attended these meetings, providing support where possible and sharing information with the coordinators. This group was used as a sounding board by the W.A.T.E.R. Committee during the development of the Watershed Action Guide for Indiana: Straight Talk about Developing Watershed Plans, and the publication was tailored to their needs.

The Network continues to expand as more watersheds recognize the need for a local coordinator to draw together the efforts and aspirations of residents, and to perform the burdensome administrative, educational, and organizational activities that citizens and agency personnel do not have time to complete. The W.A.T.E.R. Committee continues to call on the Network annually for feedback on local watershed group's needs, such as information on the need for technical assistance, funding, and information.

CRAWDAD, Indiana's Water Monitoring Alliance (http://www.IN.gov/dnr/soilcons/riverwatch/crawdad.htm)

Formed in 1996, the CRAWDAD partnership is comprised of representatives from existing volunteer surface water quality monitoring programs and environmental agencies in Indiana. CRAWDAD conducts meetings to discuss workshops, program development, goals, achievements, information, and education to foster necessary collaboration that reduces duplication and encourages the success of each program. CRAWDAD members represent active volunteer water quality monitoring groups in Indiana's lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands. The group is currently working on developing a computerized database to coordinate water quality data collection, analysis and distribution.