TRAIL CREEK WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP 1/22/2016 Section 319 Final Report This project represents the first phase of implementation of The Tale of Two Creeks: The Trail Creek Watershed Management Plan A Guide for Cleaner Water (2007).
Trail Creek Watershed Partnership S E C T I O N 3 1 9 F I N A L R E P O R T Project Overview: This project represents the first phase of implementation of The Tale of Two Creeks: Trail Creek Watershed Management Plan: A Guide for Cleaner Water (2007). The goals of the project were: 1. Implement the Trail Creek watershed management plan by developing and implementing a cost-share program for BMPs in critical urban and agricultural areas identified in the plan 2. Contract with an individual to serve as an implementation coordinator to develop and administer the costshare program 3. Achieve improved water quality through urban and agricultural BMPs Cost-share Program Development and Promotion: The Trail Creek Watershed Partnership served as the steering committee to develop and promote the Clean Creek Fund. This Fund is envisioned as a permanent fund that will exist to serve the community even after the Section 319 Project is complete. Other sources of funding will be sought in the future. Throughout the duration of the three-year 319 Project, partners met monthly to review project proposals, receive updates on projects and allocate funds. A cost-share coordinator was contracted through the SWCD to develop, promote and manage the Clean Creek Fund. Clean Creek Fund Implementation: The Clean Creek Fund assisted with the installation of 108 acres of cover crops, an 1,860 square foot flow-through planter box, a 2,720 square foot rain garden, a large manure pit and diversion system and two comprehensive nutrient management plans covering 852 acres. These efforts resulted in the reduction of approximately 80 tons/year of sediment, 1,400 pounds per year of nitrogen and 350 lbs/year of Phosphorus. Education and Outreach: The Education and Outreach Committee of the Trail Creek Watershed Partnership met frequently to identify needs and opportunities for the community to learn about Trail Creek and the Watershed Partnership. Many educational opportunities were provided including monthly visits to a local elementary school, a week-long immersive experience called Trail Creek Week, workshops, field days, and public meetings. Water Quality Monitoring: The Michigan City Sanitary District was the lead agency on the Trail Creek Watershed Water Quality Monitoring Program. Previous sampling sites were updated and many more were added. This activity was guided by the Technical Committee of the Partnership. Updating the sampling sites allowed us to update our Critical Areas and more carefully target the hot spots in the watershed. A full Water Quality Monitoring Program Report is attached. Page 1
Trail Creek Watershed Partnership Implementation Project Section 319 Final Report 1. Introduction The Trail Creek Watershed, located in northwestern Indiana s LaPorte County, drains a 59.1 square mile area of mixed land uses into Lake Michigan at Michigan City, IN. The watershed is comprised of three sub-watersheds: The Main Branch, the East Branch and the West Branch. The Main Branch sub-watershed has the greatest amount of developed land, including commercial, industrial and residential lands. The East Branch and West Branch sub-watersheds are primarily rural in character, including a mix of row crop agriculture, livestock, hayfield, low-density development, and natural areas. An immediate product of early efforts included the preparation and completion of the Trail Creek Watershed Management Plan of 1993. This report offered a multi-faceted and substantive plan focused on nonpoint sources of pollution, with recommendations to reduce sedimentation and nutrient loading to the stream of Trail Creek. Several demonstration projects including 4 streambank restoration projects and a constructed wetland for residential sewage disposal were implemented with grant monies as a result of the 1993 Trail Creek Watershed Management Plan; however long term monitoring was not implemented nor were additional grant monies sought for implementation. The Watershed Management plan stated that a Lead Agency needed to be identified to coordinate watershed improvement activities. In hindsight, a fatal shortcoming of the implementation of the 1993 Watershed management plan was that no Lead Agency was ever identified. Three goals and a variety of objectives were identified within the 1993 Trail Creek Watershed Management Plan. Many of those goals and objectives remain valid with the current (2007) plan update. The goals from the 1993 Watershed Management Plan are as follows: 1. Reduce potential health hazards due to poor water quality in the stream of Trail Creek. 2. Improve aquatic life support. Increase quality/quantity of recreational opportunities to stimulate economic growth. 3. Develop a public awareness of the unique and diverse opportunities the stream of Trail Creek Provides. Page 2
IN DECEMBER of 2003, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) issued a detailed technical report regarding excessive E. coli levels in Trail Creek entitled Trail Creek Escherichia Coli TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) Report. This report indicates that for point sources of E. coli pollution, such as wastewater treatment plants, the NPDES permitting and monitoring requirements will provide the necessary reasonable assurance that these sources are not contributing to violations of state E. coli standards. For non-point sources of E. coli pollution, the report concludes that: non-point sources will need to be monitored locally for implementation of BMPs (best management practices) or in providing access to watershed grants to assist in reducing non-point sources to meet the load allocations (LA) developed under this TMDL. The preparation of this watershed management plan update is the next logical step in achieving cleaner water in northwestern LaPorte County as envisioned by IDEM in 2003 (Trail Creek Watershed Management Plan, 2007). The Michigan City Sanitary District took on the challenge of leading the development of the Trail Creek Watershed Management Plan, approved by IDEM in April of 2007, and has remained a leader in the management of the Trail Creek Watershed ever since. Michigan City Sanitary District has been monitoring the Creek since 2005. This data was used to develop the water quality goals of the 2007 Trail Creek Watershed Management Plan: 1. Meet the State Water Quality Standard for E. coli of a monthly geometric mean of 125 cfu/100 ml and a maximum daily standard of 235 cfu/100 ml; 2. Decrease sedimentation and dredging of the navigable channel. Total Suspended Solid goal of 15 mg/l; 3. Decrease nutrient loading in Trail Creek to the target concentrations (0.05 mg/l ortho-phosphorus, 0.05 mg/l total phosphorus, 0.25 to 0.1 mg/l nitrogen ammonia, 1.0 mg/l TKN, and 10 mg/l nitratenitrite); 4. Maintain a natural stream channel and flow Vision: Through collaborative efforts, we can provide the stewardship and leadership required now in order for future generations to enjoy the natural beauty and prosperity of a clean Trail Creek. Mission: Citizens of the Trail Creek Watershed will assess water quality issues and develop meaningful implementation strategies targeted to improve the quality of life within the watershed through water quality enhancement and realization of the long term goals with regard to the environmental, recreational, and aesthetic use of our Lake Michigan lakefront and Trail Creek. In 2011, the Trail Creek Watershed Steering Committee decided to begin the implementation of the WMP. A Section 319 grant was secured and the project began in 2012. The goals of the project were to: 1. Implement the Trail Creek watershed management plan by developing and implementing a costshare program for BMPs in critical urban and agricultural areas identified in the plan 2. Contract with an individual to serve as an implementation coordinator to develop and administer the cost-share program 3. Achieve improved water quality through urban and agricultural BMPs Page 3
2. Evaluation of Goal Achievement Goal 1: Implement the Trail Creek Watershed Management Plan by developing and implementing a costshare program for BMPs in critical urban and agricultural areas identified in the plan. This goal resulted in the development of two products. The first product is a cost-share program called The Clean Creek Fund. The second product was an update to the Critical Areas identified in the WMP based on updated water quality monitoring. (See Addendum to Trail Creek Watershed Critical Areas Priorities 1-29-2013 ). This addendum allowed the cost-share program to target dollars more effectively. This addendum resulted in three new Critical Areas: the Main Branch Sub-Watershed Critical Area, the West Branch Headwaters Critical Area and the East Branch Headwaters Critical Area. Goal 2: Contract with an individual to serve as an implementation coordinator to develop and administer the cost-share program. This goal was met by contracting with Scott Kuchta. Scott served as the Cost-Share Coordinator for three years. Goal 3: Achieve improved water quality through urban and agricultural BMPs. Water quality monitoring was undertaken throughout the life of this project. This resulted in an excellent base-line for water quality which will allow us to determine the effectiveness of our BMP installations over time. The outcomes, as identified in the 2011 application to the 319 program, were: 1. Reduced e.coli, Nitrogen, Phosphates and Total Suspended Solids leading to improved water quality 2. Increased urban and agricultural BMP adoption 3. Improved coordination between stakeholders on water quality and habitat issues 4. Improved public involvement Page 4
3. Documentation of Completed Tasks Trail Creek Watershed Partnership Task A: Develop and promote a cost-share program to implement best management practices that address the water quality concerns outlined in the Trail Creek Watershed Management Plan. The Trail Creek Watershed Partnership contracted with an individual to develop the Clean Creek Fund. This fund provides funds to land owners wishing to participate and install best management practices to improve water quality in the Trail Creek Watershed. The project partners formed a steering committee which guided the development and promotion of this fund. Fliers and brochures were placed throughout the community. The Cost-Share Coordinator and the SWCD Education Coordinator spoke at various group meetings to promote the fund. A public meeting was held at Krueger Memorial Hall in Michigan City to kick off the Clean Creek Fund. Press releases were issued throughout the project and information was shared on the SWCD website, the Trail Creek Watershed Facebook and the SWCD quarterly newsletter. Task B: Implement the approved cost-share program described in Task A. The Clean Creek Fund assisted with the installation of 108 acres of cover crops, an 1,860 square foot flow-through planter box, a 2,720 square foot rain garden, a 60 x 70 foot (42,000 square foot) manure holding facility and diversion system and two comprehensive nutrient management plans covering 852 acres. These efforts resulted in the reduction of approximately 80 tons/year of sediment, 1,400 pounds per year of nitrogen and 350 lbs/year of Phosphorus from entering the Creek. Page 5
Task C: Conduct an education and outreach program designed to bring about behavioral changes and encourage BMP implementation that will lead to reduced nonpoint source pollution in the watershed. (See attached Outreach Table) 1. Conduct no less than 12 steering committee or technical subcommittee meetings: 2. Publish information about watershed implementation activities in the LaPorte County SWCD Newsletter no less than twelve times to promote the cost-share program and upcoming events to watershed stakeholders: (See attached Newsletters) -Community and Classroom Conservation Newsletter-August 2013 Federal Funds Now Available for Trail Creek Watershed Property Owners -Community and Classroom Conservation Newsletter-August 2013 Michigan City Celebrates Coastal Awareness Month -Community and Classroom Conservation Newsletter-February 2014 Trail Creek Watershed- Renaissance Academy -Community and Classroom Conservation Newsletter-February 2014 Trail Creek Watershed Clean Creek Fund -Community and Classroom Conservation Newsletter-August 2014 Canoemobile Returns to Trail Creek -Community and Classroom Conservation Newsletter-August 2014 Planting the Seeds of Environmental Awareness, Trail Creek Outreach -Community and Classroom Conservation Newsletter-August 2014 full page insert on Clean Creek Fund -Community and Classroom Conservation Newsletter-December 2014 Wilderness Inquiry Canoemobile Visits Trail Creek -Community and Classroom Conservation Newsletter-December 2014 Conservation in the Trail Creek Watershed -Community and Classroom Conservation Newsletter-February 2015 Cover Crops Workshop -Community and Classroom Conservation Newsletter-May 2015 Lake Michigan Coastal Awareness Month -Community and Classroom Conservation Newsletter-May 2015 Full page insert on Clean Creek Fund -Community and Classroom Conservation Newsletter-August 2015 Canoemobile 2015: Back at Trail Creek Page 6
3. Submit no less than six press releases to the local media to update the public on the progress of the project 4. Update the LaPorte County SWCD website on at least a quarterly basis to include materials associated with the Trail Creek Cost-share program and other events 5. Attend at least six meetings of partner organizations and/or water resource groups to discuss the WMP, the cost-share program, and upcoming events: a. Michigan City Conference on the Environment-Presentation on the Trail Creek Watershed Management Plan June 5, 2014. 120 attendees b. LaPorte County Farm Bureau Meeting-November 4, 2013 c. Michigan City Sanitary District Board Meeting-Presentation on the Trail Creek Watershed Management Plan January 23, 2013. 30 attendees d. Michigan City Rotary Club-Presentation on Trail Creek WMP and implementation and outreach activities September 10, 2015. Approximately 20 attendees e. Northwest Indiana Steelheaders Meeting-Presentation on Trail Creek outreach activities April 2, 2015. Approximately 30 attendees f. Chicago Wilderness Congress-Presentation on Partnerships in the Trail Creek Watershed April 3, 2014 approximately 75 attendees 6. Conduct biannual public meetings to provide updates on the plan s implementation progress: a. Krueger Memorial Hall Clean Creek Fund Kick-off and Public Meeting September 12, 2013. Approximately 15 attendees b. Public Meeting/Project Updates-Green Drinks at Shoreline Brewery January 21, 2016 approximately 50 attendees 7. Conduct no less than six school programs that incorporate watershed based curriculum in the classroom and through outdoor hands-on learning: a. Project LAKKE (Local Activities Keeping Kids Engaged)-monthly watershed based program for fourth graders at Lake Hills Elementary i. 12/9/2013, 2/21/2014, 9/5/2014, 10/24/2014, 11/21/2014, 12/14/2014, 2/20/2014, 3/27/2014, 5/22/2015 (WATER QUALITY FIELD TRIP) b. W.G. Jackson Research Vessel Visits-public and school groups attend i. June 8-9, 2013-265 participants ii. June 20-22, 2014-213 participants iii. June 12-15, 2015-162 participants iv. TOTAL=658 participants c. Trail Creek Week-interactive hands-on watershed based programming (FULL REPORT ATTACHED) i. September 23-27, 2013-550 participants ii. September 15-19, 2014-600 participants iii. September 14-19, 2015-900 participants d. Water Quality Summer Camp-partnership with Ivy Tech i. July 20, 2014-20 students (middle school) ii. June 24, 2015-20 students (middle school) e. Fifth Grade Conservation Field Days-non-point source pollution activity i. May 12-16, 2014-800 participants ii. May 11-15, 2015-800 participants Page 7
8. Hold no less than three stream cleanups throughout the watershed. a. Friendship Gardens Beaches and Blueways Clean-up-September 21, 2013 b. Beaches and Blueways Clean-up-September 19, 2015 c. Beaches and Blueways Clean-up-September 20, 2014 9. Conduct no less than three field days to promote urban and agricultural BMPs. a. Winter Tree Walk-Urban Trees and Stormwater Co-hosted with Tryon Farm Institute-Tryon Farm, Michigan City, IN January 30, 2016 approximately 40 participants b. Streambank Erosion Field Paddle-Michigan City, IN December 7, 2015 c. Cover Crops Workshop and Field Day Co-hosted with Porter County SWCD-Westville, IN March 26, 2016 10. Present informational displays and distribute outreach materials no less than six times at community events including but not limited to the LaPorte County Fair and the Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration. a. Lake Hills Family STEM Nights: 10/28/2013, 10/20/2014, 11/9/2015 b. LaPorte County Fair: 2013, 2014, 2015 11. Conduct no less than two Hoosier Riverwatch stream monitoring trainings for local community members and stakeholders. a. Hoosier Riverwatch Basic Training Krueger Memorial Hall, May 2, 2015 20 participants b. Trail Creek Stream Blitz, Krueger Memorial Hall, November 14, 2015 CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF REGISTRATION 12. Install no less than six signs along the Trail Creek Riparian Corridor to educate stakeholders on how buffered area protects and restores natural connectivity and reduces the input of warm water, sediment and other pollutants into Trail Creek. a. Winding Creek Cove b. Hansen Park c. Creek Ridge County Park d. Peo Public Fishing Access e. Liberty Trail Fishing Access f. Springland Avenue Lamprey Barrier 13. Install interpretive signage at no less than two publicly visible cost-share project sites, if applicable. a. Cover Crop signs installed at two fields: Page 8
14. Track implementation of the cost-share program through number of BMPs installed, location and estimated load reduction. 15. Provide two copies of all products produced as a result of this grant to IDEM. Other Outreach Activities: 1. Trail Creek Fun Float, Washington Park, IN sponsored by the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association a. 2013 Fun Float: 138 participants b. 2014 Fun Float: 146 participants c. 2015 Fun Float: 114 participants 2. Introduction to Cover Crops Breakfast, Red Mill County Park, LaPorte, IN, March 18, 2014 3. Installation of bridge-crossing signs: LaPorte County Highway Department produced signs to be placed on all county bridges informing people that they are crossing Trail Creek. The City of Michigan City installed the signs. 4. Storm-drain art program: partnership with Lubeznik Center for the Arts and Michigan City Area Schools. Students designed artwork to be placed around storm drains throughout Michigan City to inform the public where stormwater (and associated contaminants) end up. 5. Ride the Wave Regatta: sponsored by Northwest Indiana Paddling Association. Kayaking race on Trail Creek. 6. Billboard on Highway 20 in Michigan City promoting cover crops Page 9
Best Management Practices: Through the Clean Creek Fund, several Best Management Practices (BMPs) were installed. 108 acres of cover crops were planted at the headwaters of the West Branch of Trail Creek resulting in an estimated load reduction of 80 tons/year of sediment and 86 pounds/year of phosphorus. On the Main Stem of Trail Creek, an 1,860 square foot flow-through planter box was installed at the Marina South Condominium Community. This resulted in estimated reduction of 86 pounds per year of Total Suspended Solids. Marina South also installed a 2,720 foot rain garden, estimated to reduce Total Suspended Solids by 105 pounds per year. A very important project was the installation of a large manure holding facility and horizontal boring to allow the capture of manure into a transfer pit. This project occurred at a dairy farm in the headwaters of the West Branch of Trail Creek and resulted in an estimated reduction of 1,400 pounds per year of nitrogen and 250 pounds per year of phosphorus. This project involved very careful partnership building with the farmer. This spot had been identified as a hot spot in the WMP and was a long-time concern of the Trail Creek Watershed Partnership. Additionally, the Clean Creek Fund provided cost-share funds for two Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans. The first CNMP covers 777 acres and the second covers 75 acres. While not funded by the Clean Creek Fund, the Trail Creek Watershed Partnership also provided technical input and oversight to the City of Michigan City on several other BMPs installed in the Watershed. The Wabash Street Improvement and Green Infrastructure Project included 27 rain gardens and 40 square yards of Flexi-pave permeable pavement. The Michigan City Park Department installed several BMPs in two parks in 2015. The first, at Hansen Park in Michigan City, included the first ADA-compliant canoe and kayak launch in Indiana. Parking lots serving the launch were constructed of pervious pavers. The truck/trailer lot is 88 w x 10 d or 880 square feet and the ADA parking lot is 36 w x 20 d or 720 square feet. Permeable construction will result in an estimated 14 lbs/year reduction in TSS. The second BMP was a bioswale installed at Winding Creek Cove. This City Park was experiencing runoff from the surrounding neighborhood, causing erosion in the parking lot. The Bioswale is primarily designed to reduce volumes of water running off of the parking lot toward the Creek, but will result in an estimated reduction of 9lbs of TSS per year. During the span of this project, the LaPorte County Parks Department and the Northwest Indiana Steelheaders did some streambank restoration at Creek Ridge County Park. They have plans for more extensive restoration work in the future and the Trail Creek Watershed Partnership supports their request for LARE funds to complete this work. Page 10
MAP OF TRAIL CREEK WATERSHED BMP INSTALLATION ID # BMP 1 Pervious Pavement 2 Bioswale 3 Green Infrastructure 4 Cover Crops 5 Cover Crops 6 Manure Storage 7 Planter Box & Rain Garden Page 11
Manure storage facility at headwaters dairy farm Bioswale at Winding Creek Cove Page 12
Monitoring Results: Trail Creek Watershed Partnership (A full report of the Water Quality Monitoring Program in the Trail Creek Watershed is attached.) The sampling and analysis of the Trail Creek Watershed expanded on earlier watershed sampling projects. The goal of this project was to determine and compare with previous data what water quality levels currently exist and to those conditions of past studies for locations in the Trail Creek Watershed throughout the year as well as to identify sources of pollution that may be reduced through implementation of BMPs. Monitoring Parameters & Targets Precipitation Flow Conditions Water Temperature Dissolved Oxygen Nutrients (Phosphorus & Nitrogen) Sediment (Total Suspended Solids & Turbidity) E. coli The expanded sample points along the Main, East and West Branch Tributaries and their sub-tributaries generated data for comparison with previous data and allowed the measurement of progress of current and potential projects. The expanded East and West Branch Tributaries sampling points enabled an extensive monitoring of the critical agricultural and preservation areas located in this portion of the Trail Creek Watershed. Sampling in preservation areas would determine how to maintain or reduce the existing loading to the streams from these sub-watershed areas. Page 13
The test results from the expanded Main Branch Tributaries will be useful in identifying specific urban areas and to assess viability and effectiveness of urban area septic systems. Chemical, biological and physical conditions on the selected sampling stations allow for the identification of problem areas, characterization of the watershed, implementation of the BMPs, and assessment of water quality improvement for the Trail Creek Watershed. Ultimately, this monitoring program, by sampling tributaries deep into the watershed was designed to identify non-point and point sources and to develop a baseline that will show changes in water quality from the watershed management planning phase through the BMP implementation phase. Collected data will be compared with data collected during development of the watershed management plan and used to gauge successes. Page 14
Public Participation: Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries. Jimmy Carter The City of Michigan City is a diverse one, politically, socially, environmentally and economically. Trail Creek, and the opportunities it offers, serves as a great equalizer. Much of Trail Creek flows through areas of the Trail Creek Watershed Partnership community where the residents have been disenfranchised from the process of environmental protection. The people have been exposed to a higher than average threat from landfills, run-off and other environmental pollution. Before we can expect our population to install a rain garden to protect a resource, we must expose them to that resource. Therefore, the members of the Trail Creek Watershed Partnership are fully committed to introducing the residents of the community to the gem that is Trail Creek. This happens through several large-scale events. In its 9 th year, the Trail Creek Fun Float continues to grow each year and draw a high number of Fun Floaters. This event, sponsored by the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association, draws many individuals and families and gives them an opportunity to see Trail Creek in a whole new way. The event is free for participants and offers a leisurely paddle up and a fun float back down Trail Creek. Stream clean-ups are another way to engage the public in the process of watershed protection. Each year, the Michigan City Park Department and other members of the Trail Creek Watershed Partnership organize a Beaches and Blueways Clean-up. Each year, we have a solid turn-out on the River and hundreds of participants at the Beach Clean-up. Hundreds of pounds of trash and debris are removed each year. Trail Creek Week, the largest outreach event of the Partnership, has become a sought-after event by teachers in the Michigan City Area School system. They begin asking about it as soon as they arrive back to school in the fall. This event offers engaging hands-on activities for students Monday through Friday and an opportunity for students to bring their families back on the following Saturday. In 2015, the Family Event served 135 people! Our largest yet. For the past three years, the Michigan City Sanitary District has brought the W.G. Jackson Michigan City residents participate in 2015 Beaches and Blueways Cleanup Michigan City residents board the W.G. Jackson research vessel to Michigan City. This boat is equipped to take participants out on the river and into Lake Michigan. While aboard, passengers participate in real time citizen science. They collect water samples from the River and the Lake and compare them. Parameters include dissolved oxygen, nutrients, sediments, and plankton counts. Tours on the W.G. Jackson give area residents an opportunity to learn Page 15
about our local water quality and feel as if they have made a legitimate contribution to the study of our waterways. Each month, the Michigan City Mainstreet Association (MCMA) hosts a First Friday Art Walk in the Uptown Arts District of Michigan City. This event allows people to visit shops, experience public art and learn a little bit more about the City of Michigan City. For the past three years, the Trail Creek Watershed Partnership has partnered with the MCMA to host the Banana Slug String Band at the First Friday Art Walk during the month of June. June is Coastal Awareness Month. Bringing in a children s band that sings about environmental music is a perfect way to celebrate Michigan City s coast, and raise awareness of the integral connection between Trail Creek and Lake Michigan. This event always draws a lot of families and children and allows us to celebrate our water resources. Participants enjoying the Coastal Awareness Month performance of the Banana Slug String Band We feel very strongly that we cannot expect our residents to care about a resource that they have no connection to. Our public participation strategy is all about introducing our neighbors to the treasure in their backyard-trail Creek. Participants at the 2015 Trail Creek Fun Float Page 16
Partnerships: Trail Creek Watershed Partnership Our partnerships are strong! While the LaPorte County Soil and Water Conservation District is the sponsoring agency on the Section 319 grant, the Trail Creek Watershed Partnership is just that-a partnership in every sense of the word. Each month, representatives from the following groups and agencies come together as the Trail Creek Watershed Partnership Steering Committee to discuss progress, challenges, projects, and outreach. LaPorte County Soil and Water Conservation District Porter County Soil and Water Conservation District Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission Michigan City Sanitary District The City of Michigan City Urban Waters Federal Partnership U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Michigan City Park Department LaPorte County Park Department The Unity Foundation of LaPorte County Northwest Indiana Steelheaders Farmers in a soil pit at the Cover Crops Field Day co-sponsored with the Porter County SWCD Indiana Department of Natural Resources Northwest Indiana Paddling Association Save the Dunes National Park Service LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau Indiana Illinois Sea Grant Lake Michigan Coastal Program Tryon Farm Institute NiSource Michigan City League of Women Voters Page 17
These groups and agencies work together to ensure that projects are well developed, outreach occurs and everyone is aware of issues. Three sub-committees and various ad hoc committees meet as needed to do the work required to complete projects. These committees report back to the full Steering Committee with recommendations. Members of the committees work collaboratively on grant writing and reporting, water quality monitoring, education and Joe Exl, NIRPC, teaches about water quality at Trail Creek Week outreach, marketing, and cost-share promotion and administration. Costshare projects are all brought to the full Steering Committee for approval. One of the most collaborative outreach projects of the TCWP is Trail Creek Week. This outdoor field experience lasts five days and immerses participants in various aspects of Trail Creek. This event requires partners to meet well ahead of the event to coordinate. At the event, partners provide the stations, and assist with the site and site prep and all other aspects of the event. (SEE ATTACHED REPORT) Drew Hart, U.S. Forest Service, at the Winter Tree Walk, co-hosted by the Tryon Farm Institute Indiana Department of Natural Resources teaching about stream morphology and invasive species at Trail Creek Week Page 18
Successes, Challenges and Lessons Learned: Trail Creek Watershed Partnership Lesson #1-Keep your eye on the prize. The goal is improved water quality. When we identify a problem, it s easy to want to do anything to solve it. However, problems are only solved by people working together. If you lose the support of any individual or group, your project can be tanked and the water quality never improved. Lesson #2-Marketing is very important. This was a continual challenge for our group. We had great ideas and ways for the public to become engaged, but marketing is always a problem. Water quality professionals are great at what they do, but that typically doesn t include marketing. Lesson #3- Watershed management plan implementation is all about communication. Know your audience and be able to explain what you re doing in a way that is meaningful to the potential partner. Lesson #4- You can t reach everyone every time. It is sometimes difficult to find the right person or people to partner with on a BMP. It takes times to build a meaningful relationship, develop trust, provide technical support and sell the project. Lesson #5- Keep an organized list of potential projects. This database will help a group quickly seize additional funding opportunities and keep working on the plan s implementation. Lesson #6- Find unlikely partners in unlikely places. There s many businesses that are very supportive of watershed management planning efforts. Just because environmental isn t in their mission, don t be afraid to reach out to diverse audiences. Some of the Partnership s greatest successes were due to the partners themselves. Representatives from a diverse selection of stakeholders worked collaboratively to accomplish the goals of the project. Future Activity: The Trail Creek Watershed Partnership will continue to meet monthly to discuss projects and programs. Trail Creek Week will continue indefinitely. A spring invasive species management workshop, co-hosted with International Friendship Gardens is planned for early 2016. We will continue to apply for funding to implement BMPs in the watershed and we re maintaining a list of willing land owners. Page 19