WATERSHED COORDINATOR REPORT ~ April 21, 2010

319 Grant Grand Lake St. Marys

• Accepting applications, ranking every month at Mercer SWCD mtg.
• Newsletter and press releases need to be created and sent for approval
• Grant includes cost share for 14 septic system replacements, 2 septic system repairs, 5 milk house wastewater treatment systems and 10 tile control structures

Residential Soil Sampling Program

• $5 for lawn and/or garden soil samples
• Pick up sample bags and info at Mercer SWC
• Cost share with Helena Agronomic Center, Coldwater, and Lake Improvement Association

Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Group/Nutrient Management Commission

• Area includes Grand Lake St. Marys and Wabash River Watersheds through Indiana
• Swine manure data collection ongoing. (This project is funded by Assistance Agreement number MX964472 between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Conservation Technology Information Center.)
• Group decided to partially fund bus trip to WI

Mississippi River Basin Initiative

•  Application will be submitted
•  Hosted by Mercer SWCD
•  Area will include subwatersheds west of Grand Lake

Lake Shoreline Stabilization Geotextile Tube Project

• Located near Turtle Point, on the way to Windy Point
• Plan to propose floating wetlands for the remaining funds
• NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant; partnership with Grand Lake St. Marys State Park

Implementation Grant Meetings

• Almost half way through 3-year project
• Thirteen municipalities visited, at least 12 more to visit
• Every government body in the watersheds will eventually be visited for a brief overview of Watershed Project and Implementation Grant.

Education

• Received watershed education mini-grant for a bucket program, funds will be received in late June
• Working with Marion Local High School on field day, April 30th, 2010, at East Bank Park
• April 23rd, Celina City Schools Work Day at Harbor Point 4-H Camp
• As requested watershed presentations and/or Enviroscape/Water Treatment Enviroscape/Ground Water Model/Growing Up WILD/Passport to Fishing/Project WET/Project WILD/Project Aquatic WILD/Project Learning Tree

Coordinator’s Upcoming Meetings/Trainings

• WCSM Spectrum, April 23rd, 2010, Earth Day Info
• Technician Development Training, June 9, 2010, Horace Collins, Columbus
• Growing Up WILD, 1:30 p.m. May 15, 2010, Harbor Point 4-H Camp, Celina