The Vernon Fork steering committee met Jan. 15, 2023, at the Jennings County Public Library in North Vernon to continue the development of the watershed plan and recently submitted several sections of the plan to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for review.

Once the plan is reviewed, it will need approval from the Environmental Protection Agency before cost share funding can be distributed.

The group finished up the project goals and objectives. The group also ran through some examples of how certain conservation practices, like cover crops, will reduce nutrients from entering creeks and the Muscatatuck River.

The committee also discussed different ways to market the project using its logo on different items and social media.

The next watershed meeting is at 1 p.m. Jan. 25, 2024, at the Jennings County Public Library.

The group will be developing the cost shared components for different conservation practices, such as cover crops and watering systems, that will be offered to land users and operators within the watershed. The committee will develop a ranking system based upon the information from the watershed plan.

For information, contact the Jennings County Soil & Water Conservation District at 812-346-3411, ext. 3, or the Jackson County Soil & Water Conservation District at 812-358-2367, ext. 3.