As the Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District looks ahead to a new year, the conservation opportunities will be greater than ever before, according to SWCD program administrator Darci Zolman.

On Feb. 6 the district plans two locally led conservation meetings, asking for input from the public.

"The meetings are held every other year," Zolman said Monday. "This is our third one.

"In the past, people who live at the lakes have expressed concern about lake water quality. As a result we've focused on grants to help with water quality."

The district has received Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lakes and Rivers Enhancement grants to construct conservation buffers and sponsor Hoosier Riverwatch training sessions to monitor lake water quality.

"The community is asked to identify natural resources needs and prioritize areas of concern, as well as set goals to meet those needs," Zolman said.

Conservation buffers are needed on all county lakes, she said, and accesses to federal clean water funds have allowed the district to hire a buffer construction specialist.

Two sessions will be held Feb. 6 in the Kosciusko County Community Foundation building, 102 E. Market St., Warsaw. The first session is from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and the second session is from 7 to 9 p.m.

Previous locally led meetings have allowed a diverse group of citizens to have a voice in natural resource programming in the community.

For more information about locally led conservation, call the SWCD office at 267-7445, Ext. 3. Copies of information gathered at previous meetings are available on request. [[In-content Ad]]