HUNTINGTON COUNTY
SOIL AND WATER
CONSERVATION
DISTRICT
BUSINESS PLAN
2013 - 2017
“A community working together today to protect the
environment for a better tomorrow”
Conservation District Business Plan
Huntington County Soil and Water Conservation District
Who We Are:
The Huntington County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)
is a subdivision of State Government and operate as a Department of
Huntington County Government. It is a public body which exercises
public powers. It is governed by five supervisors, each a resident of
Huntington County, three elected and two appointed. The district
receives its statutory authority from Indiana District Law (Indiana
Code IC 14-32-5-1).
What We Do:
The Huntington County Soil and Water Conservation District provides
the public with information, education and technical assistance on
soil, water and related natural resource conservation; identifies and
prioritizes local soil and water resource concerns; and connects land
users to sources of education, technical and financial assistance to
implement conservation practices and technologies.
Our Mission:
The mission of the Huntington County Soil and Water Conservation
District is to educate and provide assistance to the citizens of our
county in the wise use of conservation practices on the land to
protect the soil, water quality and other natural resources.
Our Key Partners and how they assist:

Huntington County Government – primary funding for the office and staff, along
with helping increase public awareness.

ISDA, Division of Soil Conservation (ISDA-DSC) –the State Soil Conservation
Board, through ISDA-DSC, provides guidance, direction, training, and funding
opportunities to the SWCD, including Clean Water Indiana funding.

Purdue Cooperative Extension – Extension is the educational branch of the
Conservation Partnership. Through our local Cooperative Extension Office we
have local staff and University expertise available for workshops, field days, and
other conservation education activities.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) – our chief source of
technical expertise, in the agricultural area, is the USDA-NRCS. We share office
space, communication equipment, and goals to reduce erosion and sediment on
productive agricultural lands. The NRCS District Conservationist implements
Farm Bill programs in the county and advises the local SWCD Board as they seek
to address conservation concerns on agricultural lands in the county.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) – administers farm commodity, crop insurance,
credit, environmental, conservation, and emergency assistance programs for
farmers and ranchers

Huntington County School Corporation – is an educational outreach source for
educating youth and use of facilities for meetings.

Huntington Parks and Recreation Department – promotes conservation
practices in the urban setting and provides facilities for workshops.

County Surveyors Office – local staff provides services for workshops and
cooperation in distributing outreach materials for landowners doing projects
along ditch banks.

Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) – provides information
and training on Rule 5 and MS4s guidelines, along with enforcement of soil
erosion and sediment control plans during and after construction. They provide
funding opportunities through 319 Demonstration Grants.

Department of Natural Resources – shares a common goal of preserving natural
resources through promotion of wetland restoration, reduction of erosion on
agricultural lands, improving water quality protecting forestlands and wildlife
habitat. Staff is available for educational programs and workshops.

Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD) IASWCD serves as a united voice for all 92 conservation districts across
the state. It helps districts purse new and or updated policy, legislation
and funding at the state level….

Natural Resource Education Center (NREC) – provides educational
resources and supplies to local SWCDs.

Upper Wabash River Basin Commission – is a governing body that oversees
the administration of 319 grant projects for the Upper Wabash area.

Local Ag Chemical & Equipment Dealers – assist with field days through
financial, providing guest speakers, and equipment displays.

United States Army Corp of Engineers – assists the District with sampling
of local rivers and streams and funding for water tests.
Highlights on Huntington County and its Natural Resources
Our Critical Natural Resource Issues:
 Soil Health – protect the quality and productivity of our soil
 Soil Erosion – prevent the loss of valuable topsoil
 Water Quality – protect our water resources from excess
nutrients
 Nutrient Management – using nutrients wisely for optimum
economic benefit, while minimizing impact on the environment.
 Forestry – promote reforestation and protect forestlands
 Wildlife – protect and enhance wildlife habitat areas
How we plan to address these critical issues in the next five years:
Soil Health
Goals:
 Improve the quality of the our soil
 Improve the productivity of our soils
 Increase awareness of the importance of our soils health
Action Items:
 Increase number of acres seeded to cover crops
 Increase number of corn and soybean acres no-tilled
 Promote use of grid sampling to determine amount of nutrients needed
on farm fields
 Seek funding for incentive programs for seeding cover crops and grid
sampling
 Hold workshops and field days to show the effects of good conservation
practices on the soil
Soil Erosion
Goals:
 Continue reduction in farmland erosion
 Compliance on all MS4s and Rule 5 projects
 Increase filter strips along streams, lakes and open ditches
 Increase of field windbreak acres
 Increase in number of acres no-tilled
Action Items:
 Promote informational programs about filter strips
 Sponsor informational programs about land use and farmland protection
possibilities
 Promote Federal and State conservation programs
 Work with Community Development
 Receive & Review Erosion Control Plans – Rule 5
 Assist IDEM in implementing an effective enforcement program to
assure erosion control plans are being followed
 Seek additional technical staff
 Seek funding sources for conservation practices through grant
opportunities
 Provide Transect Survey Statistics to the public
 Educational programs for youth and adults
Water Quality
Goals:
 Protect and preserve all wetlands in the county
 Improve county’s surface and groundwater quality
 Reduce contaminates at landfill
 Accurate and current water monitoring data
 Increase awareness of the importance of protecting our water resources
Action Items:
 Develop educational programs about the value of wetlands in improving
water quality
 Promote programs for restoration of wetlands
 Work with livestock operators on manure management
 Conduct landfill inspections bi-annually and work with landfill manager
on practices to reduce contaminates seeping into groundwater
 Work in cooperation with Health Department to secure water monitoring
data
 Promote plugging of abandoned wells
 Host field days and workshops
 Water sampling program
 Partner with local MS4 personnel on stenciling program
 Develop educational programs for youth/school groups
Nutrient Management
Goals:
 Improve nutrient management (animal waste, pest management, and
fertilizer)

Increase number of acres grid sampled
Action Items:
 Promote injecting not broadcasting of animal waste
 Promote Grid Sampling (Variable Rate Technology)
 Work with partnership agencies and organizations in conducting
demonstration field days and educational programs
 Seek funding for incentive/cost share programs
Forestland Management/Wildlife Habitat
Goals:
 Promote Classified Forests
 Improve forestry management
 Maintain and increase wildlife habitat areas
 Control nuisance exotic species
 Protect Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Species in the county
 Increase tree plantings and windbreaks to reduce wind and water
erosion
Action Items:
 Promote conservation programs for tree plantings
 Sponsor Forestry Field Days
 Work with Forestry Consultants to promote Timber Stand Improvement
(TSI)
 Sponsor tree sales
 Promote programs to enhance wildlife habitat
 Educate public about exotic species and how to control them
 Promote management practices that will protect aquatic habitats
 Seek grants for doing Timber Stand Improvement
 Educate landowners on the importance of wetlands for wildlife
District Capacity Building
Goals:
 Have adequate technical and educational staff to meet the needs of the
district
 Trained grant-writer
 Promote SWCD Board Diversity
Action Items:
 Secure funding for technical staff
 Use grant-writer to acquire other funding sources
 Provide training needs for staff
 Encourage involvement of Associate Supervisors to the SWCD board to
represent diversity of our community
Key Strategies:
Information
The district provides conservation information to the public with the following
items:
 Newsletters
 Website (USDA and IASWCD websites)
 Customer Service (e.g. phone calls and walk-in requests for information)
 Brochures and other publications
 Annual Meeting
Education
The district educates the public through the following events and activities:
 Workshops
 Field Days
 Conservation Tours
 Presentations
 Demonstration Sites
 Customer Service
Marketing
The district promotes conservation to the public using the following strategies:
 Radio Announcements/Advertisements
 News Releases
 Newspaper Media Coverage
 Displays in local businesses windows
 Display at City Library
 Promotional Items/Handouts
 Supervisors and staff serving on various community boards and committees
 Promote programs through local Ag Dealers (field days)
Technical Assistance
The district provides technical assistance in the following ways:
 Bi-annual landfill inspections
 Receiving and reviewing Rule 5 Erosion Control Plans and site checks for
compliance
 Customer Service (e.g. soil survey information, topography maps)
Financial Incentives/Cost Share Assistance to Landowners/Operators
The district connects landowners in Huntington County to the following sources
of conservation financial assistance:
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA),
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Federal conservation programs (e.g. farm bill programs)
Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), Indiana Department of
Environmental Management (IDEM)
 State conservation cost share/incentive programs (e.g. Lake and River
Enhancement (LARE), Clean Water Indiana and 319 Grants)
Funding for District Operations
The district receives financial support from the following sources:
 County Commissioners and County Council
 State grants, including Clean Water Indiana grants
 Affiliate Memberships
 SWCD Annual Tree Sale
 SWCD Annual Fish Sale
 SWCD Conservation Equipment Rental
 Outside Sources and Grants
 Ag Dealers and Area Businesses
Accountability (tracking conservation progress and how funding is utilized)
 Annual SWCD Financial Report – Gateway Report
 SWCD Program Report for Annual Meeting
 Report on federal, state and other dollars leveraged by county support
 Cropland Transect Surveys of tillage practices used
Desired Outcomes:
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Cleaner streams, rivers, and lakes
More productive soils
Proper levels of nutrients applied to our soils
Increased woodland resources
Sustain current or increase number of wetlands
Improved wildlife habitat
Enhanced quality of life for Huntington County citizens
Better informed public
Better educated youth about the importance of our natural resources
Future Natural Resource Concerns:


Global Warming
Renewable Energy Sources