Monroe County Stormwater Services

05/20/2026

Public Notice - May 20, 2026

Monroe County Stormwater Management Board – Request for Qualifications

Monroe County is seeking a qualified consultant to update the County’s Long Range Stormwater Improvement Plan and become a partner to assist with all stormwater, drainage, and water permitting programmatic efforts.



All RFQ submissions shall be electronically submitted in a single PDF file by 3:00pm on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Please submit them to Erica Penna at [email protected] with the subject line “Monroe County LRSWIP Submission”.



Please see the official RFQ for guidelines and submittal information: ​

05/11/2026

Tire amnesty day on Saturday!! Please, dispose of tires properly so they don't pollute our waterways.

Need a place to dispose of old tires at no cost? TIRE AMNESTY DAY May 16th, 9 am to 2 pm at the Fairgrounds. For details on accepted and not accepted tires visit the home page of www.wastereductiondistrict.com

05/04/2026

Sometimes, even the county buildings need a little maintenance! The crew is hard at work this week replacing stormwater infrastructure at the Highway Garage! 🚧☔🌧

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05/01/2026

🌱 Fun Fact Friday!

As we mentioned before, spring yard work season is here! While it's important to make sure grass clippings and other debris stay out of the drain, did you know there are actually more than one type of structure that allows water into the system?

Beehives, curb-inlets, stormwater grates - you name it, Monroe County's got it!

These different types of infrastructure are specifically designed to be utilized in different places to allow for the most amount of drainage possible - which can only be done if we do our part to keep them clear.

Remember to:
🌿 Blow or sweep grass clippings back onto your lawn, not into the street or gutter.

04/28/2026

Yesterday, Monroe County saw upwards of 2" of rainfall, almost 3" in some areas, in a short window. When rain falls this quickly, flash flooding is possible as our storm infrastructure may become overwhelmed. If water has not drained or you see debris build up, let us know so our crews can work to clear the blockage before the next rain event. Call us at 812-349-2565, email us at [email protected], or submit online here: https://www.in.gov/counties/monroe/infrastructure/stormwater-program/report-drainage-concerns-and-stormwater-pollution/

If you're curious about rainfall totals, one source we like to look at is the CoCoRaHS website, a community collaborative to provide information about rain, hail, and snow. Learn more here: https://forecast.weather.gov/data/obhistory/KBMG.html

04/27/2026

Be safe this afternoon and evening, Monroe County! Remember, if you see a flooded roadway, turn around! You can report road hazards and flooded roadways to the Monroe County Highway Department by calling 812-803-6810, by email to [email protected], or via online submission form linked below:

https://in.accessgov.com/monroe-county/Forms/Page/monroe-county/report-a-roadway-roncern/1

A line of strong to severe thunderstorms will continue to develop across central Indiana. The potential exists for damaging wind gusts to 60 mph south of I-70 along with locally heavy rain with minor flooding possible. North of I-70, the line of thunderstorms may produce wind gusts to 30 mph along with locally heavy rain and cloud to ground lightning.

04/17/2026

🌱 Fun Fact Friday!

Spring yard work season is here – and your storm drains are paying attention!

Grass clippings and mulch left in the street might seem harmless, but when it rains, they wash into storm drains and break down in local waterways, releasing nutrients that can fuel algae growth and harm stream health. The same goes for fertilizer – if rain falls shortly after application, those nutrients can run off your lawn before they ever reach the roots.

A couple of easy habits that make a big difference:

🌿 Blow or sweep grass clippings back onto your lawn, not into the street or gutter.
🌿 Check the forecast before you fertilize. A dry stretch of a few days helps keep nutrients where they belong – in your soil.

It's a small shift in routine that can make a real difference downstream!

04/16/2026

Friends of Lake Monroe is looking for farmers and homesteaders in the Lake Monroe watershed area (eastern/southeastern Monroe County, most of Brown County, northwestern Jackson County) who want to improve soil health and/or control erosion on their property. We offer funding for a variety of practices like gutters on barns, heavy use area pads, alternate watering sources for livestock, access roads, cover crops, grassy waterways, and more.
Please see our website for more info https://www.friendsoflakemonroe.org/cost-share or contact Maggie Sullivan at [email protected].

04/10/2026

🌧️ Fun Fact Friday!

April showers bring May flowers, but they can also bring something less welcome: illicit discharge.

When it rains heavily, water moves fast across driveways, yards, and parking lots, picking up whatever is in its path: motor oil, fertilizers, pet waste, soaps, and more. If those pollutants reach a storm drain, they flow directly to a nearby creek or stream with no treatment at all.

Unlike sanitary sewer systems, storm drains aren't connected to a treatment facility. What goes in comes out the other end, and straight into Monroe County's waterways.

So, this month, make sure to look around your property after a storm. If you see discolored water, suds, or an oily sheen coming from a drain or ditch, that's worth reporting.

📍 See something? Report it to Monroe County Stormwater Management.

04/03/2026

🌪️ After a Storm, Here's What to Know About Debris Management

Indiana has guidance from IDEM on managing debris safely following storm events, and a few things are worth keeping in mind:

- Not all debris is the same. Natural materials like trees, soil, and untreated wood are unregulated and easier to manage. Man-made materials, such as drywall, appliances, and plastics, need to go to an approved disposal facility.

- Burning requires approval. IDEM may allow burning of clean wood waste or vegetation following a natural disaster, but verbal approval is required first

- Asbestos, rubber, and plastics cannot be burned under any circumstances.

- Near a stream or drainage area? Place debris outside the floodplain and far enough away that it won't wash back into the waterway during the next rain event.

- Near a sinkhole? Never dump debris into or near a sinkhole. Sinkholes connect directly to our groundwater supply.

Have questions about debris removal after a storm or tornado? Reach out to us or the Monroe County Solid Waste Management District. We're happy to help point you in the right direction!

📞 IDEM Solid Waste: 800-451-6027 |🚨 IDEM 24-hr Emergency Spill Line: 888-233-7745