Dona Hunter, Resource Conservationist, LaGrange County Soil and Water Conservation District, Indiana. 01.12.2004

Jurisdiction:

The scope of the interview was LaGrange Count, Indiana, located entirely within the St. Joseph River Watershed.  LaGrange County is ranked fourth in the state for dairy production and has a large and growing chicken population.  Corn and soybeans account for approx. 90% of crops with approx. 40% grown with no-till practices.  Hay and wheat are the next most common crops.  Amish lands are typically a mix of pasture with some hay and corn production. 

Projects/beneficial watershed features:

LaGrange County is finalizing a comprehensive county planning  imitative that will include ordinance revisions.  Input came from many entities, including the Amish communit6y.  The County has three Commissioners who have the ultimate authority regarding comprehensive planning and ordinances.  An Amish man sits as an ex-officio member of the Planning Commission.  A few highlights of the plan include the promotion of intensive rotational grazing, the need to address the growing environmental impact of many Amish cottage industries spread around the county, and the need to address development in areas where sandy soils raise groundwater contamination concerns. 

There are no specific county-wide storm-water or erosion ordinances, the county follows Indiana Rule 5 general guidelines.  There is a county-wide sewer district.  State law requires that houses within 300 feet of a line connect to the sewer system  IDEM has a compliance and enforcement program, but no money to staff it.  A SWCD annual report exists, as do Natural Resource Inventory data. 

The district is hosting its 3rd Annual Grazing Conference, which is unique to the Great Lakes area.  Local school groups participate in Water Quality Field Days in junior high and high schools where they investigate macroinvertebrates, wildlife, forestry, and soils. A past 319 grant funded a mobile water quality unit that is geared toward school and public presentations. 

It is believed that past atrazine concerns have been addressed, but data are not readily available for interpretation.

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Challenges in the watershed:

Beach closures have occurred in the past due to pathogens, but distinctions between human and animal sources were unknown.  Shipshewana lake has had nutrient blooms in the past. 

Examples of implemented improvements include alternative watering systems, fencing to exclude livestock from surface water, filter strips, manure application and nutrient management planning, pasture planting and improvement and other innovative practices. 

Manure management plans for all new livestock facilities in LaGrange County are being written at the request of the Building Department, Health Department and County Commissioners.  This is only for LaGrange County and is strictly being done on a voluntary basis.  There is not an ordinance in place to address manure storage or handling in the county.  An old ordinance addresses only set backs for building construction.