State conservationist Damarys Mortenson announced that Indiana’s USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications to improve water quality in the Kankakee River watershed and helping landowners protect and restore forestland across southern Indiana through easement funding.

Both projects make funds available to farmers, landowners and entities seeking to protect and preserve key environmental areas that are targeted by encroachment, erosion and overall decline. 

For the Kankakee Watershed program, dollars are available through the Kankakee Watershed Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).  

“This project is a great example of public, private and non-profit organizations working together to solve local problems,” Mortenson said. “The group is addressing critical water quality and quantity issues in the watershed. By targeting RCPP dollars and leveraging partner resources, we can make a greater impact on the health of waterbodies in the Kankakee watershed and downstream.” 

text of conservation easement
Close-up of Conservation easement with pen

One of the goals of the project is to address excess water by establishing wetland easements on land throughout the watershed. These will help facilitate water storage and improve water quality. NCRS pays all costs associated with recording the easement. 

The funding for the southern Indiana project is through the Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape RCPP. The landscape begins about 20 miles south of Indianapolis and contains Department of Defense installations and ranges, six state parks, seven state forests, nine state fish and wildlife areas, 39 state-dedicated nature preserves, one National Forest and three National Wildlife Refuges. 

Under the program, forestland owners work with NCRS to place permanent easements on their property. These would ensure that the land remains protected from development and would conserve the delicate habitats and species vital to the local ecosystem.  

“I cannot overemphasize the benefits of restoring, enhancing and protecting our forestland within this project area,” Mortenson said. “This project provides a much greater impact where Indiana’s significant natural resources, species habitat and military training needs intersect.” 

All applications for the watershed and southern Indiana projects must have applications submitted by Oct. 4. Visit your local USDA Service Center to see if you are eligible for these opportunities. To find your local office and representative, visit farmers.gov/service-locator. 

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Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.

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