In the state's budget, supporters inform legislators they want $ 12 million in the budget for the Clean Water Indiana program.

Clean Water Indiana will provide funds to Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) to address locally identified concerns. In 1999, the General Assembly passed legislation creating Clean Water Indiana, but appropriated  no funds for the program.

SWCD Supervisors, SWCD customers and coalition members work to secure needed funding. The Clean Water  Indiana Coalition includes many organizations, representing diverse interests. Coalition members include the Indiana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Crooked Lake Association, Indiana Beef Cattle Association, Indiana Corn Growers Association, Indiana Farm Bureau, Pheasants Forever, Hoosier Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Nature Conservancy.

Both the Indiana House of Representatives and the Indiana Senate will draft versions of the state budget. After they complete this process, conferees from the House and Senate will come  together to develop one budget, and members of the House and Senate will vote to approve the budget.

If Clean Water Indiana receives funding, the money will go to local SWCDs, divided into two portions. The first portion will match dollars the SWCD raises from local sources. The SWCD will use these funds to address locally identified conservation concerns. The second portion will provide cost share funds to landowners. These funds will assist in the installation of conservation practices to control polluted run-off and reduce soil erosion.

Indiana will use Clean Water Indiana funds to gain additional federal funding for conservation. The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) proves incentives to landowners in priority watersheds, to install conservation practices. The CREP program matches state investments in conservation at a rate of 4 federal dollars for 1 state dollar. The Indiana Chapter of The Nature Conservancy announced they would provide an additional $ 2.5 million if legislators  fund Clean Water Indiana. The Nature Conservancy will spend the $2.5 million in the Tippecanoe River Watershed, a apriority area for the organization.

Clean Water Indiana makes  sense for all of Indiana. To support this program, call your State Legislators today. Tell  them you support Clean Water Indiana, and want $12 million placed in the budget for the program. For more  information visit www.iaswcd.org or call the SWCD office at 812-268-5157 extension 3.