This month, ROW highlights Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District (MCSWCD), which provides technical, financial, and educational resources to assist Marion County land users in conserving healthy soil, water, and other natural resources. District Manager John Hazlett is a long-time member of the Pogue’s Run and Fall Creek Committees, also serving as a waterway representative on ROW’s Steering Committee.

Throughout 2019,  MCSWCD worked with the Fall Creek Committee strategizing for the update of the Lower Fall Creek Watershed Management Plan (Plan). Watershed management plans provide expert-informed strategies and work plans for achieving cleaner and more secure water resources. Once updated, the Plan will make waterway projects eligible for federal funds for education, training, technical assistance, and demonstrations.

MCSWCD will lead the Plan update process, engaging Christopher Burke Engineering and doing community outreach to ensure neighbor priorities are included. If you live, work, play, or worship near Fall Creek and want to get involved, please contact John Hazlett at [email protected].

MCSWCD has installed rain gardens, provided green space management, and hosted workshops for landowners and managers across Marion County to promote the health of our waterways. In addition, MCSWCD has recently released a perfect companion to ROW’s Invasive Species Removal Guide in their Native Plantings for Beneficial Insects and Pollinators resource.

ROW is extremely grateful for  Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District’s commitment to the collective work on our waterways!