Friends of Lake Monroe is pleased to announce a new voluntary cost-share program for the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) that reduce erosion and water pollution. This funding is available to landowners in the Lake Monroe watershed, which spans portions of Brown, Monroe and Jackson Counties.
Example practices include planting cover crops after the main crops are harvested, installing permanent vegetation along streams, fencing livestock out of streams and installing heavy use area protection where livestock gather.
Most practices will be funded at 75% of the total cost (landowner pays 25%). Project funding comes from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the Monroe County Stormwater Board, and in-kind support from ten partner organizations.
“This cost-share program with the Friends of Lake Monroe is a great opportunity for Brown County farmers, big and small, to bring conservation practices to their land,” said Katie Starr, District Manager Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District.
“By implementing best management practices, we can improve Brown County soil health and protect our water quality for future generations. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about how you and your family can be part of this program!”
Interested landowners can learn more about the application process on the Friends of Lake Monroe website at friendsoflakemonroe.org/cost-share, by contacting Watershed Coordinator Maggie Sullivan at 812-558-0217, or by contacting the Brown County Soil &Water Conservation District office at 812-988-2211.
The initial application deadline is June 1, 2023. Awarded funds will be issued on a reimbursement basis after work is completed.
Friends of Lake Monroe will also partner with local Soil &Water Conservation Districts to host field days demonstrating agricultural BMPs.
“Field days provide an opportunity for farmers to see best management practices in action and to learn from other farmers,” Sullivan said. Other educational events will include forestry trainings, septic system maintenance workshops, boat tours, and shoreline cleanups.
This project is part of a larger initiative documented in the Lake Monroe Watershed Management Plan, released in January 2022. The plan aims to reduce the amount of sediment, nutrients, and fecal contamination reaching the lake by pursuing multiple projects across the watershed. Adopting best management practices is a key strategy for protecting and improving water quality in Lake Monroe and its tributaries.
“Improving water quality in Lake Monroe is a long-term process that will require support from throughout the watershed,” Sullivan said.
“We are excited to build on our previous work ensuring that water quality in Lake Monroe is protected and enhanced.”
To learn more, please visit www.friendsoflakemonroe.org.
Friends of Lake Monroe is a 501(c)3 non-profit that was formed to protect and enhance Lake Monroe and its watershed through science, advocacy, and public involvement: working collaboratively with citizens, government, and business to improve and support lake water quality.
