Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District

04/24/2026

We had such a great turn out at today's FREE native tree giveaway! Thank you again, Lake Monroe Water Fund for partnering with us and for purchasing these native trees for our Brown County neighbors with your Forests to Faucets grant funding!

04/23/2026

Thanks to funding from Lake Monroe Water Fund Forest to Faucets grant from the U.S. Forest Service we will be giving away over 500 native trees to our community! Join us tomorrow at the Brown County Public Library Plant Sale 2pm - until we run out of trees!

We will not give away trees away until 2pm. If you arrive early, please line up and enjoy the spring sunshine with your neighbors 🌞

New this year, we will be requiring anyone that gets a tree must also sign up for the Brown Co Soil and Water AND Lake Monroe Water Fund newsletters. This way you can stay up to date on cool things happening in the area!

See you all tomorrow at 2pm!

04/14/2026

For the Ladies 🪻🌱

Join Brown County Soil & Water Conservation District Wednesday, April 22nd from 10am to 3pm for our Spring Foraging Women's Learning Circle! Get together with a group of Brown County ladies to talk about what edible plants you can find in the springtime, learn about sustainable foraging, and prepare your own violet syrup and redbud jelly!

Registration is $10 to cover the cost of lunch and supplies.

RSVPs are required: https://tinyurl.com/SpringForagingEventbrite

03/26/2026

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. Friends offers 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 reach out via their website for more info: https://www.friendsoflakemonroe.org/cost-share

03/23/2026

This is the last week to get your native plant orders in! Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.

03/15/2026

03/14/2026

Did you know? Every two years, Indiana is required to update its list of impaired waters in the state in accordance with the federal Clean Water Act. That list is currently underway, and citizens, organizations, universities, business, and others are invited to review the proposed listing of impaired waterways and submit public comments. The deadline is March 21st.

All public comments received by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) will be submitted to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the 2026 Integrated Report (IR), which reports on significant findings related to Indiana’s water quality.

IDEM has previously received little or no comments during this process. Let’s change that! IDEM has previously received little or no comments during this process. Let’s change that! Learn more (and find a submission link) at:: https://www.hecweb.org/2026/02/16/public-comment-open-for-indianas-2026-303d-list-of-impaired-waters/

03/10/2026

02/24/2026

If you are interested in learning more about BC specific invasives, such as how to ID and remove them, or are looking for funding to help offset that cost, please reach out to the office!

Our office was recently awarded a $125,000 Clean Water Indiana grant focused on cost-share for invasive removal.

Governor Mike Braun has proclaimed February 23–27, 2026, as Invasive Species Awareness Week in the State of Indiana.

The proclamation recognizes that invasive species “influence the productivity, value, and management of land and water resources in Indiana” and notes that the cost to prevent, monitor, and control them is “$8 million annually.” It also highlights that, after habitat destruction, invasive species are “the second greatest threat to biodiversity.”

Invasive species threaten native plants and animals, disrupt ecosystem functions, and create challenges for agriculture, industry, and public health. This week serves as an important reminder of the need for continued education, prevention, and coordinated management across Indiana.

ISDA appreciates the work of our partners, landowners, conservation groups, and community members who help protect Indiana’s natural resources from invasive species.