Implementing the Coffee Creek Watershed Management Plan

Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy received funding from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Management Program in September, 2004.(www.in.gov/dnr/ lakemich) The Great Lakes Coastal Restoration Grants Program provides funding for a Watershed Coordinator and for implementing several tasks that the watershed community determined are critical to achieving the goals of the recently developed Watershed Management Plan and ultimately the vision for Coffee Creek watershed.

Collaboration and partnerships with the public, private landowners, the Town of Chesterton, and Porter County agencies is critical to the success of these efforts. The Watershed Coordinator has been meeting with the various entities to carry out the tasks in our seven priority areas identified in the Watershed Management Plan.

Riparian Buffer Survey - Several landowners participated in a riparian buffer survey along Coffee Creek and its tributaries. The survey was conducted to record and evaluate types of vegetation, width of each vegetation zone, presence of invasive species, and condition of the vegetation. The evaluation of vegetation type and amount will assist in determining whether or not the buffer is sufficient to protect the water from excessive sedimentation and to determine whether or not a problem with erosion exists.

Forested Land Committee – The watershed coordinator is working with the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service to educate and engage landowners with forested lands. Forty percent of the Coffee Creek watershed is identified as forest land. Forested lands are critical to the quality of water within the creek and tributaries by providing several environmental benefits including reduction in stormwater runoff and flooding; reduction in stream channel erosion; and providing habitat for native plants, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife.

Hoosier Riverwatch – This program, supported through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, provides equipment for volunteer water quality and aquatic wildlife monitoring. Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy will be conducting Hoosier

Riverwatch monitoring on a quarterly basis beginning in the Fall 2005.

Agriculture and Water Quality – Although less than 14% of the land use in the Coffee Creek Watershed is cropland, some agricultural practices may be having negative impacts on water quality. Avoiding impacts all together may not be an option but what is possible are practical ways to ensure that risks are minimized without sacrificing productivity. Pollution prevention farming methods are known as “best management practices” (BMPs). Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy is developing a agriculture BMP brochure specific to the Coffee Creek watershed and will be working with farmers to implement these methods on their land.

If you have any questions or comments about the work within the watershed or would like to volunteer your time or expertise to further implement the Coffee Creek Watershed vision, please contact the Watershed Coordinator, Steve Barker, at (219) 395-5300.