Lower Kankakee Watershed Initiative
About Our Program
The Lower Kankakee Watershed Initiative (LKWI) is a joint venture between Jasper and Newton County Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD). Jasper County SWCD was officially awarded a Section 319 grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) in Dec. ‘23-Jan ‘24 to implement the watershed management plan for the Lower Kankakee watershed. This grant will be utilizing a cost share program to establish agricultural and urban water quality and soil health projects throughout the watershed.
In 2025, we will continue implementing the cost share program while offering various educational workshops and outreach opportunities. Follow us on Facebook to stay updated on these events!
Cost Share Opportunity
The LKWI cost share program can provide up to 75% reimbursement of the total cost of agricultural or urban conservation practices that address water quality concerns. To obtain funding, projects must be:
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located within the critical area of the Lower Kankakee watershed
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included in our list of fundable practices
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approved by the LKWI's steering committee and our funding source; the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)
Agricultural Projects
Approximately 73% of the land in the Lower Kankakee watershed is in agriculture production providing an impactful opportunity for producers to incorporate conservation practices that reduce water pollution and build soil health.
Cover Crops
Cover crops like cereal rye, clover, and radish are used to improve soil quality and future crop harvest by improving soil quality while reducing soil erosion and runoff. Cover crops are typically grown for one season to one year and are normally grown in non-cropping seasons.
Livestock Restriction
A livestock exclusion system is a system of permanent fencing installed to exclude livestock from streams and areas not intended for grazing. This will reduce erosion, sediment, and nutrient loading, and improve quality of surface water.
Equipment Modification
Equipment modifications enable producers to adopt conservation practices like no-till, cover crops, or precision farming technology without needing to invest in an entirely new system. Producers use the same equipment with the addition of modifications that allow for the implementation of these practices.
Urban Projects
Capturing stormwater before it enters nearby waterbodies and rivers is one of the most effective methods to improve water quality and it can begin in your own backyard.
Rain Gardens
"A rain garden is a bowl-shaped garden designed to capture and absorb rainfall and snowmelt" (The Southern Lake Michigan Rain Garden Manual). Rain gardens fill with water after a storm which slowly infiltrates into the soil rather than running off.
Pollinator Habitat
Pollinator plantings use native plant species to improve soil health, reduce erosion, and provide habitat to pollinating insects and wildlife. They can be used to improve the aesthetic of the land and can be planted on unproductive farmland or in your backyard. (A Guide to Establishing Pollinator Habitat in Indiana)
Rain Barrels
A rain barrel is a container that collects and stores rainwater from your rooftop (through disconnected downspouts) for later use watering plants and flower or vegetable gardens.
Jasper and Newton County SWCDs are having a rain barrel sale. Contact us to purchase yours!
$75 for a 55 gallon barrel
Interested in applying?
Contact Newton County SWCD for agriculture related projects
Contact Jasper County SWCD for urban related projects
