Launching the Water Quality of Life Manual

…turning stewardship into a shared community book.

This year’s event was also an exciting milestone as we rolled out our Water Quality of Life Manual, a tool designed to help connect conservation practices with the everyday quality of life we value in Elkhart County. The manual highlights how healthy soil, responsible stormwater management, and thoughtful land stewardship work together to protect our waterways, strengthen farms and communities, and support long-term economic vitality.

It was only fitting that the Elkhart County Soil and Water Conservation District recognize Megan Bolyard with the Friend of the SWCD Award during Pay Dirt. Megan played a key role in helping design and build the Water Quality of Life Manual, which made its first public debut at this year’s event. Her leadership, creativity, and passion for practical conservation helped turn an idea into a valuable tool that will guide better water management for years to come. We are incredibly grateful to Megan and her team at BS&F Engineering for their partnership, vision, and dedication to strengthening the water quality of life in our community.

Also, at Pay Dirt, we were proud to recognize John Leer for his commitment to conservation and stewardship through the SWCD Field Border Program. John has shown that strong agriculture and clean water go hand in hand by establishing field borders that protect soil, filter runoff, and strengthen the health of our local waterways. His willingness to adopt practices that benefit both his farm and the broader community reflects the true spirit of stewardship. Through efforts like these, John helps demonstrate that agriculture plays a vital role in advancing our shared vision of “Water Quality of Life” across our landscape.

We were proud to recognize Chris McFarland with the Construction Award for Water Quality of Life for his outstanding leadership and dedication in the field. Through his work with Premium Concrete Services, Chris and his team consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism, craftsmanship, and attention to detail. Their commitment to quality construction and responsible practices helps ensure that projects not only stand the test of time but also support better water management for our community. Chris’s work reflects the kind of pride and stewardship that strengthens both our infrastructure and our shared goal of protecting our water quality of life.

A special thank you to Brinkley RV and its outstanding team for being our featured project. Their work demonstrates how thoughtful development and innovative stormwater solutions can align with conservation goals. Projects like this demonstrate why tools such as the Water Quality of Life Manual are critical; they guide real-world solutions that protect our natural resources while supporting growth in Elkhart County.

The City of Goshen Stormwater Department was honored for its leadership and commitment to protecting local waterways through strong collaboration and forward-thinking water management. By working closely with Brinkley RV during the development of their new project, the department demonstrated how proactive planning and partnership can lead to better outcomes for both economic growth and environmental stewardship. Their efforts to incorporate best stormwater management practices help reduce runoff impacts, protect downstream water quality, and reinforce our community’s shared commitment to Water Quality of Life. This collaboration serves as a great example of how municipalities and industry can work together to build a stronger, more sustainable future.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to Abonmarche Consultants for their valued participation in our Pay Dirt event and for the leadership they continue to show in advancing thoughtful, practical water stewardship. Their engineering expertise played a key role in helping shape the stormwater solutions for the Brinkley RV project, demonstrating how smart design can support growth while protecting the natural resources that sustain our communities. By working alongside partners like the City of Goshen Stormwater Department, the Abonmarche team helped engineer solutions that deliver the most practicable Water Quality of Life benefits for our entire community and well beyond our watershed. Their collaboration, professionalism, and commitment to stewardship are a great example of how engineering can truly serve both people and the land.

We also want to recognize Goshen Brewing Company for brewing the Elkhart River Reserve Pilsner and for hosting our networking event. Gathering together over a locally crafted beer that celebrates healthy soil and clean water was a perfect way to highlight the connection between conservation, community, and our shared water quality of life.

We are incredibly grateful for the farmers, contractors, engineers, vendors, sponsors, and conservation partners who joined us. Your willingness to collaborate and share knowledge is exactly what moves conservation forward. The conversations around the Water Quality of Life Manual reinforced that protecting water isn’t just an environmental goal; it’s a community goal that benefits agriculture, development, local businesses, and residents.

Events like Pay Dirt succeed because of people who believe in building better soil, stronger farms, smarter development, and cleaner water for future generations. The rollout of the Water Quality of Life Manual during this event represents another step forward in giving our community the tools needed to protect what matters most.

We’re already looking forward to the next opportunity to keep the momentum going.

Thank you again for being part of the Pay Dirt community and for helping protect the water quality of life in Elkhart County.