Hoosier Organizations Involved in Protecting our Water Resources
Indiana is home to plentiful waterways – lakes, streams, rivers, and reservoirs. These waterways serve many purposes – aquatic habitat, recreation, and supplying water for use in homes and businesses throughout the state.
Water conservation and protecting water sources is of the utmost importance to ensure they can continue to the needs of the communities we serve all across the state. Many organizations across the state have made protecting our water resources a priority. During 2017, several organizations received funds to support their efforts through Indiana American Water Environmental Grant Program to support their efforts.
Chances and Services for Youth
Chances and Services for Youth is a 2017 grant recipient for their work on the Booker T. Washington Park Splash Pad & Garden project. The facility serves numerous families and children in the area, and incorporates multiple conservation features. A graywater tank with a capacity of 1,200 gallons collects water from the splash pad, using it to irrigate the adjacent community garden.
City of Kokomo
The City of Kokomo is working with local organizations to make improvements along Wildcat Creek. Additional floodway storage will be added to protect nearby buildings during rain events. The project also aims to revegetate the banks of the stream with native plants to control stream bank erosion.
Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development (HAND)
HAND is partnering with other organizations to address water circulation and quality issues at the Spicewood Gardens retention pond. Spicewood Gardens provides affordable senior living opportunities in Sheridan. Ind. The grant funds are helping HAND to reconstruct the pond, adding depth to improve aeration; reducing algae, pollution, and the area’s mosquito population while augmenting aquatic and plant life in and around the pond. Water quality will be monitored on an ongoing basis after the project is completed.
City of Gary
The City of Gary is coordinating the planting of around 100 trees along the Little Calumet River watershed. A trailer will be retrofitted to irrigate the new trees. Public education and outreach will also teach locals more on the environmental and personal benefits the new plants offer, as well as how to plant and properly care for new trees.
Indiana American Water is committed to conserving and protecting Hoosier waterways. We applaud these strategic organizations for their work to protect our planet’s most valuable resource. To learn more about Indiana American Water’s Environmental Grant Program, visit us online at https://amwater.com/inaw/about-us/environmental-grant-program.