Funds available

It started in 2014 with an algae scare.

Now, nearly $900,000 in grant funding and almost seven years later, Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District continues to offer its cost-share program for improving soil health and water quality in surrounding areas.

This year, the grant application is open to all landowners in Jay and Blackford counties and is focused primarily on cover crops. Conservation district coordinator Bettie Jacobs described the program as beneficial to both the district and local farmers.

“It’s not only good for our soil, but it’s good for their pocketbook,” Jacobs said.

Several years ago, a high concentration of toxic blue-green algae –– it can cause illness or death in pets and can cause irritation or nausea in humans –– was discovered in the Salamonie Reservoir.

Tim Kroeker, watershed coordinator at Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District, conducted a watershed management plan in 2015 examining the climate, geology, soil and land use and water quality in portions of the Upper Salamonie River Watershed in Jay and Blackford counties.

One issue he discovered was an excess of nutrients in the river. With more than 80% of the watershed area in Jay County used for agricultural purposes, Kroeker looked to local landowners.

The Upper Salamonie River project was implemented by Jay County Commissioners in 2016, and it was funded with Section 319 grants by Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Through these grants, a cost-share program was developed and promoted for the implementation of conservation practices by farmers and landowners in the affected areas.

“Most of our focus has been keeping things out of the water,” Kroeker said. In this way, he continued, the plan benefits farmers.

“We cut down on sentiment, top soil loss, loss of their nutrients … they want their phosphorus and nitrogen to stay on the field,” he added. “A lot of their goals are similar to ours.”

In recent years, Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District has received four Clean Water Indiana grants from Indiana State Department of Agriculture. These grants have also been used for the cost-share program as well as technical assistance and educating the community.

“We’re very lucky,” Jacobs said. “We’ve been one of the few counties that have been awarded these grants so many years in a row.”

In January, Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District received a $130,000 Clean Water Indiana grant for improving local water quality. The district is hoping to attract new farmers or landowners to its grant application this year.

Landowners can apply for 50% to 75% per acre, up to $20 per acre. There is a maximum of 300 acres per landowner allowed. These dollars are used to cover the cost for conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips or equipment modifications.

“Whenever you make a change on your farm, it’s going to cost money,” Kroeker said. “(This grant) has really helped a lot of people get started.”

In the past, applications have been rated based on proximity to a water source, property erosion potential, if the area has higher slopes, and other factors.

Those interested in applying can call Kroeker at (260) 766-1104 or email [email protected], or call Jacobs at (260) 726-4888 or email at [email protected].