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Soil & Water district seeks continued county support; reports $35,000 DNR award and volunteer work
Summary
Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District requested renewal of county financial support, reported 700+ volunteer hours removing invasives since 2023, distribution of 1,200 native-seed packets, partnerships for a demonstration garden, and a $35,000 2027 LARE grant to fund farmer cost-share projects in Campbell Creek and Restitch watersheds.
Claire Bert, representing the Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), asked commissioners to renew the county’s financial support for the district and provided updates about recent and planned work. The district reported more than 700 volunteer hours on invasive-plant removal since 2023 and distribution of more than 1,200 locally collected native-seed packets to residents; SWCD partners include Cardinal Greenways, Mid Indiana Trails, Flatland Resources and Minnetrista.
Bert said the district is leasing land from Ball State University to build a demonstration garden that will feature cover crops, prairie and vegetables and that the district partnered with local master gardeners for the project. Colby Gray, who spoke for the district, said SWCD received a notice of a $35,000 award from the Department of Natural Resources LARE Fund for 2027 to support cost-share programs for conservation practices in the Campbell Creek and Restitch subwatersheds of the Mississinewa River watershed. Commissioners asked staff to research how the county funded SWCD in 2024–25 and tabled the funding request until they could confirm budget sources.
