Elkhart County Soil & Water Conservation District
Our mission is to assist land users and other agencies in the wise use of natural resources in Elkhart County.
By JORDAN FOUTS jfouts@elkharttruth.comFeb 28, 2023 https://www.elkharttruth.com/news/storm-water-board-gets-infiltrationdemo/article_ba0b4d11-d0e0-513b-9f7f-e9bd8f7e3aa2.html GOSHEN — As water came down in sheets outside, the Elkhart County Storm Water Board got a look at soil conservation methods put into practice during its meeting Monday.Jim Hess, manager of the Read More
The Elkhart County Soil & Water Conservation District has had the honor of receiving The Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence under the Land use/Conservation category for the development and continuation of their Storm Water Alliance Management Program (SWAMP). The Indiana Read More
Have you ever shoveled soil in your backyard and dug up a bunch of worms? Worms have a symbiotic relationship with soil, meaning that the soil and the worms benefit each other. Soil provides protection, habitat, and nutrients for the Read More
Welcome back to another edition of Blogging BMP’s! I wish that I could say this edition was being composed under better circumstances than last month, but unfortunately it is quite the opposite. Covid 19 is still dominating our lives. We Read More
A monthly Blog discussing the Best Management Practices (BMP’s) that must be used to aid in erosion and sediment control Welcome to the first edition of Blogging BMP’s where we discuss the various best management practices used on construction sites Read More
The name may be familiar to some, Black Eyed Susan, as one that is grown in flower gardens and landscaping, but it is a common native plant in Indiana. The prolonged bloom time attracts butterflies and other pollinators. This drought tolerant species can handle a wide range of soils. Growing 1-3ft tall with yellow blooms during the summer season, this easy to grow plant adds quite the showpiece to a landscape.
Looking like a spot of sunlight in a prairie, the Lanceleaf Coreopsis shines bright with its yellow petals and fuzzy center. Blooming for many weeks in early summer, it creates a brilliant display. The flower attracts butterflies and other pollinators while the seeds attract backyard birds. This plant will happily grow in dry soils. Up to 22 native bee species rely on the genus Coreopsis. Its fibrous root system helps infiltrate water into the soil.
The purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is an iconic native plant for northern Indiana, growing 3-5ft tall with its rich purple flowers blooming throughout the summer. It can handle many soil types with moist to dry drainage. This native works well for rain gardens and pollinator plots.