Our Mission

The mission of the Lower Kankakee Watershed Initiative is to create a Watershed Management Plan for the section of the Kankakee River that runs through Jasper County and part of Newton County in Indiana. In 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency and Indiana Department of Environmental Management approved our Lower Kankakee Watershed Management Plan.  

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The Lower Kankakee Watershed Initiative (LKWI) was established in 2019 after being awarded a grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. This initiative is a joint effort between the Jasper and Newton County Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The goal of this grant is to assess current water quality data and create an EPA approved Watershed Management Plan (WMP) for the area.

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Who We Are

The Lower Kankakee Watershed Initiative (LKWI) is a joint venture of the Jasper and Newton County Soil and Water Conservation Districts, along with local stakeholders, to create a watershed management plan for the Lower Kankakee River. 

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Our Partners

​Partners of the project include:

• Jasper and Newton County Surveyors and Health Departments;

• Jasper County Council Members;

• Jasper, Newton, Porter, and Lake County Soil & Water Conservation Districts;

• NICHES Land Trust;

• Indiana State Department of Agriculture;

• Natural Resources Conservation Service and other state agencies;

• Ag Conservation Solutions;

• Vision Ag, LLC;

• The Law Office of Riley & Ahler, P.C.;

• area farmers

• area stakeholders

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Funding Source

A three-year grant from Indiana Department of Environmental Management for $167,192.  Funds are being used to pay for staff, perform a windshield survey, analyze and synthesize existing water quality data, conduct social indicator surveys, demonstrate best management practices, and create a water shed management plan.  

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This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement (C9-97548218) to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. 

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