9th Annual St. Joseph River Watershed Council Meeting

Join the Friends of the St. Joe River for dinner and social time at the 9th Annual St. Joseph River Watershed Council Meeting at the Sturges-Young Auditorium in Sturgis, Michigan.

Down The Drain...

Managing Water in a Changing Landscape

Water management in Indiana and Michigan is changing. There are rising concerns about water quality, streambank erosion, flooding, and much more. Drainage officials that have historically worked to ensure drainage of agricultural land are now being asked to consider their regulated drains as part of a larger drainage network. That network has multiple users wanting the streams and drains to provide a wide range of functions. The variety of potential issues that can develop has created a need for more integrated management that considers both water quality and water quantity, as well as the changing landscape. Robert Barr and Matt Meersman will discuss how drainage officials are meeting these new challenges.

Robert Barr is a research scientist at the Center for Earth and Environmental Science at IUPUI.  He specializes in fluvial geomorphology and hydrology and his work focuses broadly on what is required to achieve and maintain healthy stream systems in a continually changing landscape. Matt Meersman is President of the Friends of the St. Joe River Association and works as a Watershed Coordinator for the Van Buren Conservation District. He recently developed a drain apportionment methodology that is being utilized in Van Buren County to offer incentives to landowners who use conservation practices.

Meeting Agenda

5:00 - 6:00 p.m. - Registration/Social Time (Cash Bar Available)
                             Auction Bidding Begins
6:00 - 6:30 p.m. - Welcome/Opening Remarks
6:30 - 6:45 p.m. - Award Presentation
6:45 - 7:45 p.m. - Dinner (Auction Bidding Continues)
8:00 - 8:45 p.m. - Down The Drain Presentation
8:45 - 9:00 p.m. - Questions & Final Comments
                             Auction Check-Out

A Silent Auction will take place from 5:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. Items will include hand painted rain barrels, guided canoe/kayak trips, fresh local maple syrup and much more!
 

Download event flyer here

Contact fotsjr.outreach@gmail.com for more information