MARSHALL COUNTY 
SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

In the fall of 2014 the Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) received state and federal funds to produce a watershed management plan for the Headwaters Yellow River Watershed.

 

The Headwaters Yellow River Watershed encompasses approximately 187,423 acres of land across Marshall, Elkhart, St. Joseph and Kosciusko Counties.  Plymouth, Bremen, LaPaz, Lakeville and Nappanee are all located within the Headwaters Yellow River Watershed.

 

The Indiana DNR's lake and River Enhancement (LARE) Program provided funds to collect and analyze water quality data at multiple locations throughout the watershed.  United States Environmental Protection Agency funds were provided through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program.  IDEM funds were used to produce the Watershed Management Plan, conduct education/outreach events and install a demonstration best management practice in the watershed.

 

Multiple streams and lakes within the watershed have been listed on IDEM's 303d list of impaired waterbodies for E. coli and excess phosphorus.  The project identified critical areas within the Headwaters Yellow River Watershed that are contributing to these impairments and worked with local landowners to install a demonstration best management practice in one of these critical areas to improve local water quality. 

 

The project began January 1st of 2015 and completed December 2018. Marshall County SWCD contracted with Cardno, Inc. to administer the grant.  

 

For further information on the Headwaters Yellow River Watershed Management Plan feel free to contact:                             

 

 

 

​

​

​

To learn more about Indiana watersheds please visit Watersheds and Nonpoint Source Water Pollution