The Watershed Stewardship Section works with and reviews the activities of conservancy districts, river basin commissions, and watershed development commissions while also educating them about the division’s functions and advising them on their proposed projects and activities. Our goal is to work with local groups in promoting healthy watershed management that cares for natural resources while also addressing human needs. Our section also assists with information on public freshwater lakes in Indiana.

What is a watershed?

A watershed is an area of land and water that drains all the streams and rainfall to a common outlet. All land and water in that area is part of the watershed, and the size of a specific watershed can vary from less than a square mile to spanning across multiple counties. Surface water like lakes, streams, reservoirs, and wetlands and all the underlying groundwater are part of the watershed.