Summary
The Clark County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) applied for a Nonpoint Source Program Section 319 grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to develop a watershed management plan for the Fourteen Mile Creek and Goose Creek-OH River (IN portion) watersheds. These watersheds together cover 108,193 acres located in eastern portions of Clark County, the southeastern corner of Scott County, and southwestern corner of Jefferson County. Impaired Category 5A water bodies, per the U.S. EPA's 303(d) List, are found in four locations in the watersheds. In addition, the waters of Fourteen Mile Creek and Goose Creek discharge into the Ohio River, which is also on the U.S. EPA's 303(d) List.
Impaired waters were not the only reason the SWCD selected the Fourteen Mile/Goose Creek watersheds for this project. Residents of the area had periodically voiced concerns over the conditions of the watershed, from its karst topography and sinkholes, to trash in the stream system, to septic smells, to concern over uncontrolled development. The SWCD felt the time was right to develop a plan to address these problems and concerns.
Receiving the Section 319 Grant allowed the Clark County SWCD to conduct water quality diagnostic tests that established baseline data, and to hire a watershed coordinator that worked with a diverse local steering committee to develop a comprehensive watershed management plan. The watershed management plan documents the current status of the watershed, outlines a clear vision for watersheds’ future, and recommends a clear strategy for implementation of best management practices to improve water quality throughout the watershed. The grant also provided for community outreach, which has stimulated awareness concerning water quality, and has helped lay a foundation of watershed ownership/investment while building the groundwork for full implementation of the steering committee’s recommendations.
The Fourteen Mile/Goose Creek WMP meets the requirements of IDEM’s 2009 Watershed Management Plan Checklist and was approved by IDEM and U.S. EPA in March 2018.