Elkhart County Soil and Water Conservation District

11/11/2026

🇺🇸 Happy Veterans Day! Today, we honor those who have served our country and the families and friends who supported them. Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and dedication to protecting our freedoms.

As a reminder, our office is closed for the rest of the week. We’re observing Veterans Day today and attending Hamilton County’s Pay Dirt event November 12–13.

We’ll see you next week!

11/10/2026

I know...we keep saying it, but it's that important! 🍁 Please keep your storm drains clear of debris, especially leaves. Not only does it create a flooding hazard, it also puts things into our waterways we don't want, that mess with the ecosystem.

Fall is the season when our storm drains get clogged with falling leaves! Most of the time, storm drains are maintained by the people who live near them. If you have drainage issues, you can always contact your city or local municipality to report your concerns. In the meantime, you can clean up visible debris and leaves while you do lawn maintenance. Take the pledge to adopt a storm drain at https://indiana.clearchoicescleanwater.org/pledges/storm-drains/

11/10/2026

📅 Our office will be closed November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. Thank you to all who have served our country!

We’ll also be closed November 12–13 as our team heads to Hamilton County for their second Pay Dirt event. We’re excited to join them for more learning, collaboration, and conversations about protecting our land and water!

Learn more about Hamilton County’s Pay Dirt: https://www.hamiltonswcd.org/paydirthamilton.html #/

We’ll see you next week during our normal business hours!

11/09/2026

Our November/December issue of Grass Roots for Conservation is now available! 🌱

Explore how watershed research, local partnerships and practical tools are helping turn information into action—from rain gardens in your yard to what’s in store for Pay Dirt 2027.

Didn’t receive a copy? Email [email protected], and we’ll send you one!

11/06/2026

At long last… SAVE THE DATE! 🎉 Pay Dirt returns February 23–25, 2027!

You read that correctly—our next event will be THREE DAYS! Mark your calendars and get ready for Pay Dirt 2027 at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds in Goshen, IN 🌱

More details are coming soon, but trust us—you won’t want to miss this!

11/06/2026

We know Halloween is technically over, but spiders hang out with us all year long. Learn more about this invasive spider that has been found in Indiana.

A new invasive spider has been identified in Indiana! 🕷️ Learn more about the Joro spider, including its biology, ecology and potential impact on the environment, during a free Purdue Extension webinar on November 12 at 6 p.m. ET. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/bdexhume

11/05/2026

🍂 Our November Conservation Connection is out, and it’s packed with October highlights and exciting things ahead!

Catch up on what we’ve been doing, explore ways to care for our land and water, and see what’s coming next. There’s plenty to dig into!

📬 Check it out: https://www.elkcoswcd.org/mailpoet-email/423cfb9c3ddb-fall-into-your-november-conservation-update-%f0%9f%8d%81/

11/05/2026

🍂 Fall leaves belong out of our storm drains!

Rain can wash loose leaves over drain grates, blocking water flow and causing water to back up into the road. Leaves that wash through enter our waterways, where decomposing leaves release excess nutrients and use up oxygen that fish and other aquatic life need.

Raking leaves to the roadside for pickup? Keep piles at least 3–5 feet away from storm drains—never over or right beside them! Follow your community’s leaf pickup guidelines, too.

What goes into our storm drains can flow directly into local waterways. Help keep both clear!

Prefer to remove leaves instead of leaving them as wildlife habitat? Learn more about leaf pickup and disposal options throughout Elkhart County and its communities: https://www.elkcoswcd.org/keep-fall-leaves-out-of-elkhart-county-waterways/

11/04/2026

Want more information as to why leaving your leaves is helpful! Here you go...just make sure you clear them from your storm drains!