Inside this issue:

  • Upcoming Events
    • Dillon Park Strike Team Workday 11-20-21
    • EQIP Applications Due 12-17-21
    • Hamilton SWCD Annual Meeting 2-15-22
  • Soil is Alive Mobile Classroom Receives Funding
  • Boot Brush Stations Added Across Hamilton County 
  • District Offering Invasive Species Trade-In Program 
  • Intern Spotlight - Meet Max
  • Annual Tree Sale Successful 
  • HIP Strike Team in Full Force
  • Increase Wildlife with Natural Corridors
  • Project Wingspan
  • Winter Watering for Newly Planted Trees 
  • Cover Crop Insurance Program
  • NRCS Requests EQIP Applications

Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District News

Soil is Alive: Mobile Classroom Awarded Grant Funding 

The Soil is Alive: Mobile Classroom project was the recipient of two grants of financial support during the 2021 calendar to assist in the completion of the classroom space inside the unit. The mobile classroom will be used to promote soil health across Central Indiana and is a collaboration between the Hamilton, Boone, Clinton and Madison County Soil & Water Conservation Districts. The project was initially funded by a Clean Water Indiana Grant in 2017. Since this time, the project has steadily moved forward toward completion, with project completion expected in the summer of 2022.  

Duke Energy graciously provided $8,000.00 to the mobile classroom project through their Powerful Communities: Local Impact Grant program.  Funds are planned to be used to complete the K-12 educational components inside the trailer.  

Funding was also provided through the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative and the United States Department of Agriculture.  A $5,000.00 donation was received to strengthen and develop educational content through banners, signs, and mobile displays.    

 

Hamilton County Invasives Partnership Adds Boot Brush Stations

This fall six additional boot brush stations have been installed in Hamilton County as part of a Hamilton County Invasives Partnership initiative. These stations include permanent signage providing information on invasive species and how park visitors can help protect the natural spaces they love by limiting the spread of invasive species.

A fixed boot brush at each station allows park patrons to wipe their shoes before and after using the trails. This prevents invasive species and other weed seeds that may be found on hiker’s shoes from being transported into the park and helps prevent existing invasive seeds from being transported out to other natural areas.

A boot brush station at a local park

Is your organization or business interested in sponsoring a boot brush station?  Contact Claire for details.  

 

SWCD Offering Invasive Species Trade-In Program 

This Fall, the Hamilton County Invasives Partnership (HIP) and Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) are offering an invasive species trade-in program.  For a limited time and as supplies last, property owners can show proof of removal of an invasive species on their Hamilton County property and receive one five-gallon native species specimen for free.

Over 80% of invasive species growing in Indiana are thought to have come from the landscape trade.  Many popular landscape trees and shrubs such as Callery Pear species and Burning Bush easily escape landscape cultivation and take over nearby right of ways, roadsides, and natural areas. These infestations cause erosion, animal habitat degradation, and loss of important native plant species. 

 

Intern Spotlight - Max Seiler

Max is a senior at Noblesville High School and he has been assisting Hamilton County SWCD since August 2021.  Max has been spending his days with us working on conservation outreach and programming for the District.  Max plans to attend Eckerd College on Florida's Gulf Coast next fall and study marine biology.  Stop in and say hello to Max, he would love to meet you. 

Max Seiler on the 4-H Fairgrounds

 

Annual Tree Sale Successful 

Volunteers at tree sale

Volunteers at fall tree sale

The SWCD’s annual fall native tree sale has become the go to source for quality, affordable native trees each fall. 1,789 trees were pre-ordered in August and September and customers picked up their orders from the llama barn on the 4-H Fairgrounds on October 4th. The proceeds from the tree sale are critical to supporting the SWCD’s mission and allow for new and exciting programs to be offered each year.

The SWCD would like to extend our sincere thank you to the 40 volunteers who donated 105 hours to unloading and organizing trees and assisting customers during the pickup event.  We couldn’t do it without you!

Online orders for next year’s sale will begin in late July.  Native plant kits and rain barrels will be available next spring.

 

HIP Strike Team in Full Force

This October the Hamilton County Invasives Partnership successfully hosted two Strike Team events. The events this October took place at Fall Creek Woods Natural area in Fall Creek Township and at Macgregor Park in Westfield and focused on removing woody invasive species such as Callery pear, Asian bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and autumn olive. Between the 17 total volunteers, over 57 volunteer hours of invasive removal were completed!

HIP Volunteers at recent event 

Upcoming Events 

 
Annual Meeting Feb. 15, 2022

Conservation Corner 

Increase Wildlife Survival with Natural Corridors 

Banff National Park's wildlife crossing overpasses

I had a great conversation about natural corridors the other day with a local engineer. This conversation got me thinking about how conservation affects our everyday lives. As I’m sure many have noticed, lately there have been a lot of roadkill deer in the ditches and roadsides on my commute not to mention opossums, raccoons, and squirrels. Through development, our intrusion into their space causes wildlife to venture into places dangerous for animals and drivers causing interactions that are often detrimental to the survival of the animal and sometimes to the human as well. Taking these interactions into account when planning and developing land uses can reduce the frequency of these human/animal interactions.

Natural corridors can easily be added to development plans and masterplans. These corridors can serve as pathways for animal movement that keep them away from motorways. These corridors can also be used by people for recreation, meditation, a break from urban areas, and, possibly, alternatives to normal automobile commutes. One great example of this is the Potter’s Bridge Trail. To reduce commute congestion and greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, commuters could drive to the trailhead and walk, run, or ride to their destination in Noblesville, Westfield, Carmel and beyond. Commuters may even see animals along their way that are drawn to these corridors. To learn more, continue reading at the link below.  

 
 

Project Wingspan is Looking for Volunteers to Enhance Pollinator Habitat 

Project Wingspan Logo

Project Wingspan logo

Pollinator Partnership is working with a coalition of partners and a team of dedicated volunteers to increase the quality, quantity, and connectivity of pollinator habitat across the Midwest and Great Lakes Region to support imperiled native pollinators and the vital habitat on which they depend. 

Project Wingspan is creating and engaging a network of volunteers by providing educational training on plant identification and seed collection protocols to ensure volunteers are competent and confident in their abilities to collect common native plant seed according to best management standards. Trained volunteers, in collaboration with program partners, will make targeted collections of local genotype native wildflower seed within designated collection zones.

Project Wingspan will also provide technical guidance and educational support to land managers and landowners through a series of in-person habitat management workshops, online webinars, and other resources to disseminate information on current best management practices. 

How can YOU help?  The program is looking for landowners or managers that are interested in learning how to improve their lands for pollinators. Do you have robust native plant populations on your land and are interested in the possibility to contribute towards local habitat improvement efforts as a seed collection site? Project Wingspan is also looking for individuals that have a passion for nature and want to help imperiled pollinators by becoming a trained seed collector.   

 

Winter Watering for Newly Planted Trees

Young newly planted tree need winter moisture.  

Do trees and other plants get thirsty in the winter?  Well, it depends on the weather conditions, but I would say usually, especially newly planted trees.  Older established trees have a more extensive root system and are more resilient to dry winters.  Since we recently had a tree sale this past fall, I will concentrate on “new” trees as opposed to older established trees, however even older trees can experience winter drought issues. 

Although trees go dormant during winter months, their root systems still need adequate moisture and can suffer from lack of it.  Regarding evergreen trees, which keep their needles throughout the winter, watering can be even more important, as they lose moisture through their needles faster than deciduous trees, which lose their leaves in the Fall.

So when should you consider watering?  Newly planted trees should be watered on a regular basis up until freezing temperatures, for sure, but then also about 2 times per month during the winter, if there is no snow cover on the ground or little precipitation.  It is also recommended that you water on days when the temperature is at least 40 degrees (with no snow or ice around the base of the tree), and do so in the morning so the tree roots have time to absorb the moisture before temperatures potentially drop back into the freezing range at night.  If it is a windy, dry winter, this is even more critical.  Trees that have experienced winter dryness may still look normal the next spring, but the damage may become apparent later in the summer with dieback of branches.

I know gray wintery days might not seem like the time to water, but if it is a dry ground, windy type of winter, it could be very important.  You invested time and money in your new trees, so be sure to take the necessary steps to protect that investment.

 

Crop Insurance Premium Discount Program 

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), The Nature Conservancy and partners throughout the state have worked with the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) to establish an initiative in the West Fork Upper White River watershed counties to increase cover crop usage in Indiana. Our focus for this program is to target first time cover crop users in an effort to expand awareness and the adoption of cover crops as a tool to improve farm resiliency.

This program is providing a $5/acre crop insurance premium discount for farmers who employ a cover crop on insured acres in the Upper White River watershed. We will be promoting year round to raise awareness and give farmers time to plan for a cover crop in the Fall. More detailed info can be found at the link below.

 

Indiana NRCS Encourages Farmers to Start EQIP Application Process Early 

CoverCrop

Hamilton / Tipton County agricultural producers who want to improve natural resources and address concerns on their land are encouraged to sign up early for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  While the application deadline is not currently set, Kerry Smith, NRCS District Conservationist, says the application deadline is usually mid to late December. 

EQIP is a voluntary conservation program available for agricultural producers.  Through EQIP, NRCS provides financial and technical assistance to install conservation practices that reduce soil erosion and sedimentation, improve soil health, improve water and air quality, and create wildlife habitat.

Producers interested in EQIP are encouraged to contact your local NRCS field office to start the conservation planning and application process early.  Hamilton county producers can contact Angie Garrison, NRCS District Conservationist, at (765) 482-6355, extension 3. 

 

2021 Affiliate Members 

Friend of Conservation
David Brost      ​Duane & Mary Rinker
Kim Gauen                    John South
Jennifer Hensley          Beth Williams 
Terry Luley                   Craig Wind 
Compassionate Conservationist
Dallas Hester 
Zac Sprunger
Conservation Hero
Phil Flanagan
Steve Hilger
Becks Superior Hybrids
Karen Hymbaugh

Partner in Conservation 

 
 
Farm Bureau of Hamilton County

Hamilton County SWCD
1717 Pleasant St. Suite 100 | Noblesville, Indiana 46060
3177732181 | soil.water@hamiltoncounty.in.gov

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