White River Alliance

There are a LOT of dogs on this planet. Their waste really adds up! Do your part to protect our water. Pet waste can transmit viruses and parasites, along with bacteria like E. coli. Humans who come in contact with pet waste could get sick. Do your part and pick up your dog’s poo!

As introduced, House Bill 1037 strips local communities in Indiana of the ability to have construction-site stormwater rules that exceed the requirements of the state’s construction stormwater general permit (CSGP), and nullifies local rules that are currently in place. Now, it may be amended. We would support amendments that: - Retain local authority to have their own stormwater requirements on construction sites of less than one acre, which the CSGP does not cover. - Protect local authority to have stormwater standards and procedures in those matters where the CSGP itself refers to following local standards and procedures. - Match the language of HB 1037 to the stated intent of the House author and Senate co-sponsor, which is to address the construction phase only and exclude other phases such as post-construction site stabilization. Without these changes, we will continue to oppose HB 1037. Our local communities should retain the flexibility and authority to set stormwater standards according to local conditions and priorities. If you agree with our view, please let your state senator know. https://lnkd.in/g7-jsWjA OR by using Indiana Conservation Voter's tool to contact your legislator at: https://lnkd.in/gj2rKbDg

One month from today, we will be having our virtual forum "How Do We Know? The Crucial Role of Monitoring in Understanding Our Water". Register at https://qrco.de/bfq7oQ for this free event. We will hear from speakers:? -Jill Hoffmann, White River Alliance -Melinda Dalton, U.S. Geological Survey -Michaela Halvorson, North Dakota Department of Water Resources -Ted Grantham, UC-Berkeley, and Lucy Andrews, California Department of Water Resources We hope to see you there!

Just like the report cards of our youth, the White River Report Card is an assessment and communication tool that helps us understand how the river, and its relationship with the communities along it, is doing. Through a stakeholder engagement process, we selected things to measure (we call these indicators) that reflect the diverse values, interests, and uses of the river. These indicators are grouped into three categories: water, land, and community. Each indicator was judged against a goal, resulting in a grade. While this is the first report card for the White River, it is modeled on similar initiatives for waterways across the world, including the Mississippi River, Chesapeake Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico here in the United States. Check out our findings at

This World Water Day, we're focusing on providing clean, safe water for ourselves and the future generations to come. Interested in ways you can help protect and conserve our water resources? Check out https://lnkd.in/gjiq9XAu to learn more.

Last week, we hosted our Trained Individual Certification Watch Party at Flix Brewhouse. We screened training videos and held live quizzes throughout the day to identify areas that needed further clarification. Participants could submit answers and take the final certification test on their mobile devices by the end of the event. Missed this in-person opportunity to get certified? No worries! You can still take the course at your own pace on our website:

This morning, our Executive Director, Jill Hoffmann, was the plenary speaker at the 36th Annual Indiana Lakes Conference in Noblesville. She was excited to share strategies for addressing regional water issues with such an engaged audience. Our Water Quality Manager, Kelly Brown, will also be presenting at the conference today. If you're attending, be sure to visit our table to learn more about our Clear Choices Clean Water program and how you can help protect our water resources.

Make your voice heard! ? House Bill 1037 would block any local community in Indiana from having construction-site stormwater rules that go beyond the state’s general permit. Here’s a link to the bill: https://lnkd.in/gEQNMXKQ? ? We believe that local communities need the flexibility to address the potential impacts of water running off from construction sites. Furthermore, the state’s general permit doesn’t cover a construction site that’s less than 1 acre. Taking away local authority would strip the last line of protection from impacts of a large number of construction sites in Indiana. ? House Bill 1037 passed the House on a split vote. It’s now in the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee, which is scheduled to hear it on Monday morning, March 24th. ? If you agree that HB 1037 is a bad idea, please express your thoughts to members of the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee. They are: Senator Rick Niemeyer, Chair [email protected] Senator Scott Baldwin [email protected] Senator Eric Bassler [email protected] Senator James Buck [email protected] Senator Justin Busch [email protected] Senator Cyndi Carrasco [email protected] Senator Dan Dernulc [email protected] Senator La Keisha Jackson [email protected] Senator David Niezgodski [email protected] Senator Greg Taylor [email protected] Senator Andy Zay [email protected]

Our team's talent runs deep! ?? Huge congrats to London Heist?, our Community Outreach Coordinator, whose incredible work (an abstract painting based on microscopic brain imaging) will be featured as a mural at the Indianapolis Airport for the next 2 years! ?? We're lucky to have your creativity on our team, London! Way to go!

Pet waste can transmit viruses and parasites, along with bacteria like E. coli. Humans who come in contact with pet waste could get sick. Do your part and pick up your dog’s poo!