Hoosier Environmental Council

We're hiring! Hoosier Environmental Council seeks a full-time Advocacy in Action Manager/Outreach Manager. This is an opportunity to put your people and communication skills along with technical expertise into service for a safe, clean and healthy environment for all Hoosiers! To apply, send your resume and cover letter to careers@hecweb.org. 🔗https://lnkd.in/exY2HASk

HEC's Toby Days met with Jim Soper, Water Operating Specialist at Ninestar Connect, at their GEM water system in Hancock County last week. Toby is helping Jim craft a Source Water Protection Plan that will layout a structured approach to ensure they continue to provide safe clean drinking water to all their consumers, now and for future generations.

Congress Returns to a Tight Deadline! As the Farm Bill expires, crucial conservation programs hang in the balance. Discover how the delay could affect sustainable agriculture and what you can do to help. 🌾 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g-_FS_D7

Post-Hurricane Helene, as we observe International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the importance of wetlands has never been clearer. Jane Madgwick, previous CEO of Wetlands International, notes, "90% of disasters are water-related, increasing as wetlands degrade." Learn how protecting wetlands can mitigate such disasters in our latest blog. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gS6Eczt6

Help us improve water quality education in Indiana! Take a 3-minute survey to help the Indiana Geological and Water Survey understand water quality education in Indiana. 🔗https://lnkd.in/g4SDQCHC

Remember that you can use your purchasing power to support local farmers in ways that don't just have to do with the food you eat. If you're buying pumpkins or gourds to celebrate the coming of Fall and Halloween, consider purchasing them from local farm stands, locally owned garden centers, or pumpkin patches in Indiana. Buying from these local vendors supports the local economy, reduces carbon emissions from long-distance transportation, and let's be honest, is a more enjoyable experience compared to buying from big box stores.

The Indianapolis MPO is undergoing a major update to the region's metropolitan transportation plan (MTP). The CIRCLE 2050 MTP (Central Indiana: Reflect, Create, Lead, Excel) will include updated goals, information about regional transportation trends and projections, and an updated list of proposed major transportation projects through 2050. To learn more about what an MTP is, check out this video: https://lnkd.in/gg8-MXmt A draft document for the CIRCLE 2050 MTP is available for public review and comment through October 27. As part of the public comment period, the document is available to review at the link below, or at the IMPO's office (by appointment) at 200 E. Washington St, Suite 2322, Indianapolis, IN 46204. 🔗https://ow.ly/C4oY50TH1ET The document will also be available to view and discuss during two online Listening Sessions which will take place: 📆Monday, Oct 21, 5:30-6:30 PM | https://ow.ly/H7lF50TH1ES 📆Tuesday, Oct 22, 9:30-10:30 AM | https://ow.ly/lxOn50TH1EQ

HEC's Maria attended the 2024 Great Lakes Conference in Chicago with Healing Our Waters - Great Lakes Coalition last weekend and took part in their organized beach cleanup at Oak St. Beach. Together, they collected 2,059 pieces of rubbish, including... -765 plastic pieces 🥄 -344 cigarette butts 🚬 -13 bandages 🩹 -115 food wrappers 🥡 -7 balloons 🎈 and so much more. We're grateful for changemakers like Maria and her colleagues from the conference who are willing to pitch in at the office and out in their communities. #beachcleanup #healingourwaters

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and partners throughout the state have worked with the Gulf Hypoxia Program (GHP) to develop a no-cost program with a focus on increasing the knowledge and use of soil sampling as a nutrient management practice to benefit farm operations. The program, titled Indiana’s Mississippi River Basin Soil Sampling Program, is open now for applicants through Nov. 1, 2024. Sign-ups begin Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, and ISDA is accepting registrations until Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. To sign up, or if you have any questions, please contact Ophelia Davis at 317-232-0305 or soilsampling@isda.in.gov.

We're Celebrating Source Water Protection Week! 🚰 HEC has been working with water utilities throughout Indiana to ensure they have an up to date and comprehensive plan in place to protect their sources of drinking water. The best way to assure we have high quality drinking water at the tap is to protect our beautiful water sources. If we keep our rivers, lakes and underground wells free from pollution, it’s easier and less expensive to keep water safe and healthy! #sourcewaterprotectionweek