The Indiana Department of Agriculture's Clean Water Indiana Program is distributing almost $900,000 in grants to address invasive species and other water conservation efforts.
The program awarded the annual grants to 14 Soil and Water Conservation districts this year. Those districts are responsible for local conservation of natural resources.
Clean Water Indiana Program Manager Leah Harmon says many of the applications also asked for more resources to target education and outreach.
"There's been an overall statewide push to address invasive species so we are seeing invasive species assistance requested in more parts of the state than we ever have before," she says.
Monroe, Brown, Owen and Greene counties collectively received a little more than $60,000 in grant money last year to address invasive species control.
Dubois, Daviess and Martin Counties will receive over $95,000 to address invasive species. Knox, Pike, Sullivan, Dubois, Daviess and Warrick counties will receive about $50,000 for conservation on reclaimed mine lands. Marion County will receive $60,000 for an urban soil health project.
The grant projects will begin on January first of next year.