Delaware County is home to farms, small towns, a mid-sized city (Muncie), and Ball State University. In order to serve such a diverse population, the Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) provides programming and tackles projects in a variety of areas.
The White River Watershed Project (WRWP), funded through our EPA 319 grant, provides funds for such diverse efforts as bank restoration, green roof installations, constructed wetlands, rain garden workshops, Best Management Practices tours, and help for local landowners in solving erosion issues on their own property.
The SWCD reaches out to the agricultural community with biannual pasture walks for grazed livestock and horse owners, workshops and field days covering issues such as drainage and soil fertility, and an energy efficiency program to help farms of any kind reduce their energy consumption.
The District's conservation technician/coordinator and watershed coordinator both seek opportunities to speak to classes about conservation-related topics in schools and at Ball State University. We enlist students and professors from the University to help with projects as Earth Team Volunteers, and were proud to accept a national award from NRCS in 2010 for our involvement with this program.
The Delaware County SWCD was honored in 2010 with a District Showcase Award by the Indiana Association of SWCDs for our work with the John M. Craddock Wetland Nature Preserve. Most of the volunteers for the wetland have been recruited from the Landscape Architecture Department to design and build structures and boardwalks for the Craddock Wetland. The wetland is a 27-acre reclaimed natural area in the heart of Muncie's defunct industrial district, linked to the White River and the Cardinal Greenway, and attracts wildlife such as migrating waterfowl. The Craddock Wetland, funded by the Ball Brothers Foundation, is taking shape as a beautiful oasis in a heavily urban setting through the efforts of the District and our many partners.
For 2011 and forward, we look forward to continuing our efforts to assist landowners and the general public with conservation and natural resource issues through education and cost-share programming. The Craddock Wetland is slated for completion by 2013 and we will tackle creek bank erosion and sedimentation in a small town suburban area in 2011.
For every project that is completed, there are two that need attention and we know our work will never be finished. We feel fortunate to have so many local partners to assist us with our mission. We appreciate the good relationships we have with surrounding SWCDs, and are blessed to have the trust and generosity of the Ball Brothers Foundation. We think the future looks bright here in Delaware County!