WABASH, Ind. – A Wabash River Defenders project that aims to improve water quality will have a final public meeting on at 6 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Honeywell Room in the Honeywell Center.
This project has been focused on assessing, protecting and improving water quality; engaging individuals interested in the Wabash River Drainage; and developing a step-wise plan for the Wabash River Drainage.
The project assessed water quality in 12 tributaries to the Wabash River in Wabash and Miami counties, developed an engagement and outreach program, and developed a plan to protect and improve water quality within this portion of the Wabash River Drainage – the Treaty Creek-Wabash River Watershed.
The $215,000 grant lays the foundation for future, voluntary, on-the-ground conservation implementation efforts.
“The Treaty Creek-Wabash River Project is structured to allow community input on what they want to see happen in terms of regional planning to improve water quality within the Wabash River Drainage,” said Sara Peel, project coordinator. “These efforts position the Wabash River Defenders, Miami and Wabash County Soil and Water Conservation Districts, City of Wabash, and other partners to implement on-the-ground conservation practices in the future.”
Peel pointed out that more than 20 community agencies and organizations supported this effort. These groups include: The Community Foundation of Wabash County, Grow Wabash County, City of Wabash Utilities, Visit Wabash County, Indiana American Water, Miami County Soil and Water Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wabash County Surveyors office, Wabash County Soil and Water Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wabash County Purdue Extension, Wabash County Solid Waste Management District, Wabash County Area Plan Commission, Wabash County United Fund, and Wabash County Emergency Management.
The meeting on Feb. 10 will detail results of water quality monitoring efforts, review stakeholder concerns, identify practices to be targeted during future implementation projects and allow community members to provide feedback on the future of the project.
Anyone who is interested in participating in this project, volunteering to monitor water quality, or would like to learn more about upcoming meetings and events, please contact the Project Coordinator, Sara Peel at wabashriverdefenders@gmail.com or Jen Rankin at jrankin@slashthetrash.com.