Mission

To improve water quality in the St. Joseph River Watershed by promoting economically and environmentally compatible land uses and practices.

The Initiative, a non-profit partnership, exists to protect, restore and enjoy the St. Joseph River and its watershed, which stretches across 694,400 acres through six counties in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. Since its inception in 1996, the Initiative has met its goals and is emulated by other watershed projects throughout the country.

History

Drinking Weed Killers
The impetus for creating the Initiative began with the publication of Weed Killers by the Glass, published by the Environmental Working Group in 1995, which brought to light the problem of herbicides found in Fort Wayne, Indiana's tap water. In the report, a single sample of tap water taken on June 1, 1995 contained nine different herbicides. Fort Wayne had the second highest level of atrazine in its tap water of all the cities identified in the report.

Origin
Citizens concerned about this report organized a partnership with various agencies within the St. Joseph River's three-state watershed. In March 1996, the newly formed group brought together local and state natural resource professionals and political leaders to share information and to discuss issues and solutions to water quality issues. At the “Conference on the St. Joseph,” participants provided the guidance and motivation to drive the development of a strategic plan.

Formation
After the “Conference on the St. Joseph,” the group formed a steering committee to develop the organizational structure of the St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative.

The Initiative undertook a three-year baseline water quality study in 1996 to:

Determine the current water quality conditions,
Identify priority areas with distressed water quality on which to focus conservation efforts, and
Establish baseline points on which to measure future improvements in water quality. Water samples were collected at the mouths of each of the major tributaries where they joined the St. Joseph River.

The steering committee also developed a strategic plan, which outlined the mission and vision of the Initiative. The target issues in the watershed were defined and strategic planning points were identified to address the target issues.

Fund Raising
The steering committee raised funds through donations from three agri-chemical companies and a Section 319 grant (EPA funds administered by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management) to hire a public outreach coordinator. A public outreach coordinator was hired in February, 1998 to begin the educational and outreach efforts and to oversee the day-to-day operation of the St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative.

Governance
The first Board of Directors was formed in April, 1998 and was incorporated in October, 1998. On January 21, 1999 the Internal Revenue Service designated the Initiative as a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization.

Sub-Watershed work begins
In the winter of 1999, the three-year water quality data were reviewed and analyzed with the help of the US Geological Survey and Purdue University. The study results were used then to select two sub-watersheds of the St. Joseph Watershed in which to begin work.

Map of watershed

One watershed. 3 states, 6 counties, 9 subwatersheds, 265,000 people, 694,400 acres.

Location
The 694,400 acre St. Joseph River watershed is located in northeast Indiana, northwest Ohio, and south-central Michigan. Indiana occupies 56% of the watershed, while Michigan and Ohio each occupy 22%.

With its headwaters in Hillsdale County, Michigan, the St. Joseph River flows southwest through Williams County, Ohio; Defiance County, Ohio; DeKalb County, Indiana; and Allen County, Indiana, before converging with the St. Mary's River in Fort Wayne, Indiana to form the Maumee River in the Western Lake Erie Basin. Both Noble County and Steuben County in Indiana contribute water to the St. Joseph River, through the Cedar Creek and Fish Creek tributaries.

Maps

St. Joseph River and its nine sub-watersheds

St. Joseph River county and urban areas

St. Joseph River as part of Maumee and Western Lake Erie Watersheds

Land Uses

The watershed is primarily agricultural, with approximately 64% in cropland and 15% in pasture or forage. Woodlands and wetlands are found on 10%, while the remaining 11% consist of urban, farmsteads, airports, golf courses, and other land uses. Click here for detailed image

Population
The majority of the St. Joseph River Watershed is rural, with a population of approximately 65,000 (excluding Ft. Wayne). Fort Wayne is the largest city in the watershed with over 200,000 residents. Auburn, Indiana is the second largest city and Montpelier, Ohio is the third largest. The population is increasing throughout the watershed, especially in southern DeKalb and Noble Counties and northern Allen County. Small 5-10 acre parcels are numerous in these areas. In all three states, industry is claiming areas along interstate and major state highways.

Soils and Geology
The topography of the watershed varies from rolling hills in Hillsdale, Williams, Noble, and Steuben Counties to nearly level plains in DeKalb and Allen Counties. The St. Joseph River follows the Fort Wayne moraine and flows past numerous low bluffs and terraces. This indicates that the river was once much wider and deeper. Much of the St. Joseph River bed is composed of sand and gravel deposits. The average slope of the river's bottom is 1.6 feet per mile.

Soils in the watershed were formed from compacted glacial till. The predominate soil textures are silt loam, silty clay loam, and clay loam. Soil associations include Mini-Morley, Morley-Glynwood-Blount, and Blount-Pewamo. Erosion and over-saturation are the major soil limitations.

Water Supply
The St. Joseph River serves as the drinking water supply for the 200,000 people of Fort Wayne and New Haven. Fort Wayne's Three Rivers Filtration Plant processes 34 million gallons of water daily from the St. Joseph River. The filtration plant also operates two large reservoirs: Cedarville Reservoir in the St. Joseph River and Hurshtown Reservoir. Together these reservoirs store over 1 billion gallons of water.

Office location/maps

St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative
3718 New Vision Drive
Fort Wayne, IN 46845

Phone: 260-484-5848 ext. 3

Fax: 260-484-5080

The Initiative office is housed in the Allen County USDA Service Center building, just east of the I-69 / DuPont Road interchange (exit 116). Turn north on Parkview Plaza Drive, then right at New Vision Drive. We're in the 2nd row of buildings on the south side of New Vision Drive.

Staff

Executive Director position – Vacant

Partners and Corporate Sponsors

As partners in protecting the water quality of St. Joseph River, these groups ensure that our efforts are coordinated and share their unique areas of expertise in discipline, location, and focus.

Soil & Water Conservation Districts of:

Natural Resources Conservation Service of: