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Appendix B: Key Agencies

Partnerships exist between IDEM and other agencies at the state, regional, and federal level that support watershed protection and nonpoint source (NPS) management. A key goal of this plan is to build new partnerships to include a much wider range of organizations, entities, and stakeholders. Current partnerships have been classified into two groups: primary and secondary partners. Primary partners are those with a direct role in NPS pollution control and who work with IDEM in implementing NPS pollution reduction activities. Secondary partners are those agencies that have no direct involvement with NPS pollution control, but through their other activities, they can have an impact. The following appendix names these agencies and describes their missions and roles in Indiana’s approach to NPS management.

An important consideration for locally-led watershed groups, as they develop watershed management plans, is the impact permitting programs have on various stakeholders. Many permits contain requirements to actively manage stormwater, create best management practices, and conduct assessments of stormwater on water quality. These requirements not only complement watershed management planning, but also provide regulatory control over certain sources of NPS pollution in a watershed. It is critical that not only permittees be included as partners, but also regulatory authorities on the federal, state, and local level. Coordination of regulatory and non-regulatory approaches to managing NPS pollution is key to a holistic approach to this issue.

Primary Partners

  • Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD)
    • The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD) and local soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) work toward a shared purpose: to coordinate assistance from available sources (public and private, local, state, and federal) in an effort to develop locally driven solutions to natural resource concerns. The mission of IASWCD is to provide technical, financial, and educational assistance needed to implement economically and environmentally compatible land and water stewardship decisions, practices, and technologies. The local SWCDs are a resource for residents, especially farmers and rural residents, in matters of land conservation, prevention of soil erosion, and other natural resources concerns. The IASWCD’s Web site references IDEM’s Office of Water Quality (OWQ) for its publications related to water quality issues such as NPS pollution.
  • Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) – Coastal Zone Management Program
    • The purpose of the Lake Michigan Coastal Program (LMCP) is to support coordination and partnerships among local, state, and federal agencies and local organizations for the protection and sustainable use of natural and cultural resources in the Lake Michigan region. The Coastal Zone Management Program created a coastal NPS pollution control program framework which is available on its Web site. The Indiana Coastal Nonpoint Management Plan (Section 6217) is a requirement of U.S. EPA and NOAA. The plan requires that LMCP identifies how existing and new programs address a suite of 55 management measures. The NPS Management Plan, developed by IDEM, is consistent with the IDNR Coastal Zone 6217 Program and will be a part of the implementation.
  • Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) – Lake and River Enhancement Program (LARE)
    • The goal of the Division of Fish and Wildlife's LARE Program is to protect and enhance aquatic habitat for fish and wildlife, and to ensure the continued viability of Indiana's publicly accessible lakes and streams for multiple uses, including recreational opportunities. This is accomplished through measures that reduce nonpoint sediment and nutrient pollution of surface waters to a level that meets or surpasses state water quality standards. The LARE Program provides technical and financial assistance for qualifying projects. Approved grant funding may be used for one or more of the following purposes:
      • investigations to determine what problems are affecting a lake or a stream segment;
      • evaluation of identified problems and effective action recommendations to resolve those problems;
      • cost-sharing with land users in a watershed above a project lake or stream for installation or application of sediment and nutrient reducing practices on their land;
      • matching federal funds for qualifying projects;
      • watershed management plan development;
      • feasibility studies to define appropriate lake and stream remediation measures;
      • engineering designs and construction of remedial measures;
      • water quality monitoring of public lakes;
      • management of invasive aquatic vegetation; and,
      • sediment removal from qualifying lakes.
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
    • The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is a federal agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. With the mission of “Helping People Help the Land,” NRCS provides products and services that enable people to be stewards of soil, water, and related natural resources on non-federal lands. NRCS’ guiding principles are service, partnership, and technical excellence. NRCS employees work in every county in Indiana to provide technical assistance, conservation planning, and program information support to private land users. NRCS also provides financial assistance for many conservation activities through various voluntary Farm Bill programs.
  • Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) – Division of Soil Conservation
    • Indiana SWCDs are independent subdivisions of the state government and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) provides support to the SWCDs. The Division of Soil Conservation is one member of a partnership that includes the SWCDs, IASWCD, NRCS and Purdue Cooperative Extension. The ISDA’s State Soil Conservation Board's Clean Water Indiana (CWI) Grants Program provides Indiana's SWCDs with a great opportunity to showcase pilot programs of what Hoosier conservationists can do when given the resources to make a difference. The ISDA can assist IDEM and local project sponsors in the control of NPS pollution related to agricultural activities.
  • Farm Service Agency (FSA)
    • The Farm Service Agency (FSA), also a federal agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, administers and manages farm commodity, credit, conservation, disaster, and loan programs as laid out by Congress through a network of federal, state, and county offices. Through the FSA’s work with the agricultural community, it can help in the education of farmers in the prevention of soil erosion and NPS pollution. FSA provides financial assistance to landowners for conservation under the Conservation Reserve Program.
  • Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) – Division of Reclamation
    • The Division of Reclamation is responsible for oversight of active coal mining and restoration of land disturbed for coal extraction. The Division of Reclamation states on its Web site that “all water affected by the mining operation must pass through approved sediment control structures before leaving the mine site to prevent water pollution.” The operator must comply not only with the mining laws, but also applicable state and federal water quality laws, including obtaining water discharge permits issued by IDEM. Siltation structures must remain until permanent vegetation is well established and water entering the pond meets water quality standards. Ponds not approved for retention after mining must be filled and reclaimed. IDEM permits approved for mining operations can be used to ensure compliance with any NPS management programs needed.

Secondary Partners

  • Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) – Division of Water (DOW)
    • The IDNR Division of Water (DOW) staff members are engaged in multiple activities that benefit both current and future generations of Indiana residents and property holders. DOW collects, maintains, and provides water resource information to users such as individual citizens, businesses, environmental organizations, and federal, state, and local government agencies. DOW generates surface and ground water resource assessments. It strives to alleviate flood disaster damages and abuse of Indiana's water resources through floodplain regulation, dam and levee inspection, construction projects, water rights administration, and public education.
  • Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH)
    • The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) regulates commercial onsite wastewater disposal systems. ISDH has developed standards for the construction and maintenance of onsite disposal systems. ISDH also provides education, training, and technical assistance to local health departments for building resources at the local level. Faulty onsite disposal systems can be a source of NPS pollution and any efforts put forth by IDEM related to these systems will be coordinated with ISDH.
  • National Park Service
    • The National Park Service is responsible for the management of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the storm water run-off it contains. The National Park Service has programs in place to limit the amount of shoreline erosion taking place. The management of the Indiana Dunes would also be consistent with the IDNR Coastal Zone Management Program and the IDNR Division of State Parks in the area of the Dunes State Park. Efforts to decrease NPS pollution will include all agencies.
  • Office of the Indiana State Chemist (OICS)
    • The Office of the Indiana State Chemist (OICS) is charged with administering several agricultural laws involving seeds, fertilizer, animal feeds, and pesticides. Pesticide management is addressed in a document entitled, “Estimating Ground Water Vulnerability to Nonpoint Source Pollution from Nitrates and Pesticides on a Regional Scale.” Enforcement of laws regarding fertilizer and pesticide use and storage can improve NPS pollution and would be of interest to IDEM.
  • Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement – U.S. Department of Interior
    • The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is the federal agency that works with the IDNR – Division of Reclamation. The state of Indiana has the authority to administer the mine reclamation program. This agency may be involved in activities to assist the state mitigating NPS pollution.
  • U.S. Forest Service – Hoosier National Forest
    • The U.S. Forest Service manages public lands in national forests and grasslands. The U.S. Forest Service focuses on forest management and can have an impact on NPS pollution through the management measures chosen for use in the state’s national forest. The forest management plan for the Hoosier National Forest has a discussion of BMPs consistent with IDNR’s forestry program that can be used to control point and NPS pollution.
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
    • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS’s) mission is to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Environmental Quality Program has contaminants specialists who review environmental documents, legislation, regulations, permits, and licenses with pollution potential to ensure that harmful effects on fish, wildlife, and plants are avoided or minimized. This review includes analysis of documents and permits related to control of NPS pollution from agriculture and urban run-off; point source pollution from industrial and municipal waste treatment facilities; and discharges of dredge and fill material. These reviews can identify areas for NPS pollution control improvements that the state can focus on.
  • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
    • The mission of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is to serve the nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life. The National Water Quality Assessment Program researches water quality and NPS in urban watersheds. The USGS has published reports on nonpoint and point sources of nitrogen in major watersheds of the United States, including an analysis of the White River in Indiana. The USGS can provide valuable research and sampling assistance to the state.
  • U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
    • The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is the federal agency in charge of Indiana military installations. DOD staff can assist IDEM by making sure that all measures are being taken to keep NPS pollution at a minimum on all military installations in Indiana.
  • Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
    • The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is charged with the broad responsibility of ensuring that America’s roads and highways continue to be the safest and most technologically up-to-date. Although state, local, and tribal governments own most of the nation’s highways, FHWA provides financial and technical support to them for constructing, improving, and preserving America’s highway system. One of its strategic goals is to protect and enhance the natural environment and communities affected by highway transportation. FHWA publishes a reference document entitled "Storm Water Best Management Practices in an Ultra-Urban Setting: Selection and Monitoring" which is used to select BMPs for use in controlling storm run-off and water quality. Proper use of the information provided by FHWA can help to minimize NPS pollution on highway projects.

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