The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it would award Indiana’s environmental agency more than $3.7 million to improve the health of watersheds throughout the state.

During a visit to Indiana Sept. 3, EPA Region 5 Administrator Kurt Thiede announced the agency would award a $3,777,000 Clean Water Act Section 319 grant to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

The grant will fund nine projects selected by IDEM that will focus on improving watersheds affected by nonpoint source pollution.

“IDEM is glad to have the support of the EPA in protecting Indiana’s waterways,” said IDEM Assistant Commissioner, Office of Water Quality Martha Clark Mettler. “The 319 grant program provides important funding to safeguard our natural resources and improve water quality for all Hoosiers.”

The projects chosen for funding are:
• Big Pine Creek Watershed Implementation Project – sponsored by the Benton County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)
• Deer Creek-Sugar Creek Implementation Project – sponsored by the Carrol County SWCD
• Highland Pigeon Watershed Management Plan Development – Gibson County SWCD
• Onsite Sewage Disposal System Outreach and Education Project – sponsored by the Indiana Lake Michigan Coastal Program
• Otter Creek Watershed Implementation – sponsored by the Ouabache Land Conservancy
• Maria and No Business Creek Planning and Implementation Project – sponsored by the Sullivan County SWCD
• South Fork Blue River Watershed Project – Washington County SWCD
• Region of the Great Bend of the Wabash River Implementation Project – Wabash River Enhancement Corporation
• Walnut Creek-Tippecanoe River Watershed Implementation Project - sponsored by the Watershed Foundation