How Community Projects Involving a Unique Watershed Feature Can Help Water Quality Planning, Awareness,

and OutreachA Case Study of the Tulip Trestle

Project

Why Do a Community Project?

Increased awareness

• Captures the attention of the community

• Illustrates problems

• Demonstrates solutions

Improved effectiveness of outreach efforts

• Increases the level of interest in the community

• Increases enthusiasm

• Motivates the community to participate

Improved water quality planning

• Illustrates BMP practices

• Demonstrates results

• Attracts funding/partners/volunteers

Additional Benefits of Choosing a Unique Watershed Feature as a Site for a Community Project.

• Already has a high awareness/interest in the community

• Can be viewed as a greater benefit to the entire community

Choosing a Unique Watershed Feature for a Community Project.• Can be natural or man made featureExamples:

• Must be accessible/visible to the publicExamples:

• Must be well known and familiar to the community.Examples:

Summary

• Doing a community project increases interest, awareness, and the effectiveness of water quality planning.

• Doing a community project involving a unique feature in your watershed only increases the benefits.

Introduction to the Tulip Trestle Project

• Located in rural Greene County• Landowner donated 7 acres of land near the

Tulip Trestle for a prairie restoration project and a viewing area with parking lot.

• WTWO and WTHI in Terre Haute did stories on the projects at the Trestle

• Additional projects planned• Interest and participation in the Plummer

Creek Steering Committee increased