A recently completed three-year Clean Water Indiana grant has improved water quality and soil stability across the Upper Mill Creek Watershed.
The watershed encompasses Hendricks, Putnam, Owen and Morgan Counties.
The watershed was chosen due to its being primarily in agricultural use, with concerns ranging from erosion and associated nutrient loss, and water quality.
Launched in 2015 and ending in 2017, the grant was designed to assist farmers throughout the watershed in establishing cover crops and making the transition from conventional to no-till planters.
Twenty-two farmers participated across the four counties, with 2,480 acres funded through the grant. Farmer-funded cover crops stabilized 12,234 acres.
Some of the cover crops boosted soils’ water absorption and fertility.
More than 2,400 acres were no-till cropped during the grant.
Most of that acreage was in Hendricks County.
The grant assisted in modifying seven corn planters and 156 row units.
Under the grant, farmers were awarded $20 per acre for seeding with cover crops, with a maximum of 50 acres each. Equipment modification cost sharing allowed for up to $2,500 each.
The Clean Water grant was administered by the Hendricks County Soil & Water Conservation District located in Danville.
