Listed below are projects adopted by Historic Hoosier Hills RC&D Inc. that operate under the area and long range plan of work. Projects are formed to address needs and opportunities within the HHH area. They will end upon completion of the project or become independent organizations to carry on their goals.
Community Development
Franklin County Water Main Extension Committee - is currently seeking funding to extend a municipal water system to develop economic growth as well as provide municipal water to the county fairgrounds, established business, and future businesses to Franklin County.
South Eastern Indiana Media Arts Center (S.E.I.M.A.C.) - is a group that is currently pursing funding to develop a media arts center to benefit local artists and residents of Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland Counties.
Project Phoenix - is a new project committee of Historic Hoosier Hills that was formed in 2008. The group is based in Jefferson County and mission is to provide compassionate support to families who have lost their home due to a tragedy by offering free temporary housing and by helping them connect with additional resources to help restore normalcy to their lives as quickly as possible. Their initial goal is to purchase or have donated a 3-bedroom home that they could fix up as necessary and then maintain fully furnished and ready at anytime to house a family who has lost their home or been displaced due to fire, flooding or other damage to their home or apartment. For more information about the project you can email project_phoenix@verizon.net or view their website at www.projectpnx.org.
Audubon Park - Jefferson County
McKay Cemetery - Jefferson County
Hayden Waste Water Treatment - Jennings County
Jefferson County Genealogicial Society - Jefferson County
Horse Feathers Therapeutic Farm - Ripley County
Conservation Education Committee - Throughout the year this group of educators develop educational seminars and workshops for educators throughout Southeast Indiana.
Denver Siekman Environmental Park - this project committee has of HHH have over 150 volunteers that dedicate their time to the development of a 47 acre environmental park in Rising Sun. The park is used for numerous educational activities and events. To learn more about the park phone Janie Eldridge at 812-427-1230 or email denversiekmanep@yahoo.com.
Red Wolf Sanctuary - is dedicated to the preservation and continued existence of North American wildlife. Their focus is the education of future generations, teaching them the vital part each species plays in the maintenance of a healthy eco-system. Their goal is to expose visitors to the wonders of nature and of the wildlife that lives in their very own country and ensure that our children and grandchildren will have the same opportunity to help save the living past for the future to enjoy. For more information phone 812-438-2306 or email info@redwolf.org.
Water Alliance for Vital Eco-Systems (WAVES) - is a team of natural science educators that is committed to developing a series of field based natural science workshops for young people and their parents. Through making the natural sciences more accessible to inquisitive minds, we strive to instill a sense of responsibility for preserving the natural foundations of life on earth - our soil, water and air. WAVES was established in 2001. For more information email Cynthia Merrill at kidsincreek@gmail.com.
Leadership Development
Ripley County Youth Archery Club
Chicks on the Farm
Southeast Indiana Historic Film Project
Clark County Museum
Fish & Wildlife
Laughery Valley Fish & Game Club - The goal of the organization is to develop a 52 acre tract of land into a multipurpose outdoor educational facility to promote conservation and the wise use of our natural resources.
Some of the programs that are offered include Hunter Education, shooting sports instruction and wildlife management.
Update: The Laughery Valley Fish and Game Club is not taking new memberships at this time and the shooting range is open to members only.
Forestry
Woodland Committee -This HHH resource committee works to assist and educate anyone involved in the woodland industry with workshops, seminars and field days.
Rural Matter/Conservation
Batesville Wastewater Project - The Little Laughery Creek stream bank adjacent to the City of Batesville, Indiana Wastewater Treatment Plant has eroded. The eroded stream bank is creeping close to the property perimeter fence and if it continues to erode will threaten the wastewater treatment outfall and equalization basin emergency overflow spillway. The work associated with this project consists of the installation of A-Jacks concrete armor units at the toe of the Little Laughery Creek, filling in eroded areas, placement of topsoil, seed and mulch, and the installation of a reinforced turf mat along the east stream bank at two locations where shown on the plans. The work also consists of the removal of some concrete chunks and riprap at the Batesville Wastewater Treatment Equalization Basin emergency overflow spillway and replacement with a concrete block mat.
Plant a Tree for You & Me - is a joint project of Crawford, Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jefferson, Ripley and Scott County Soil & Water Conservation Districts in cooperation with Historic Hoosier Hills RC&D.
The goals of this five-year project are to plant 100,000 trees in the seven county area, and to help people learn to manage and take proper care of existing trees and those that they plant.
Regional No-Till Committee - is comprised of Ripley County Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, local agri business representatives and other interested farmers in Ripley County. The committees main purpose is to promote no-till conservation farming in Ripley County and surrounding counties. The committee holds multiple workshops and field days throughout the year.
Clark/Floyd Landfill Methane Recovery
George Rogers Clark Land Trust
Forage & Livestock Committee
Tourism
Historic Sternwheeler Preservation Society - Switzerland County is home to a unique non-profit that operates a vintage paddlewheel boat on the Ohio River. Located in Lamb, Indiana the sternwheel towboat, Barbara H, is the oldest operational vessel of its kind, and is a National Historic Landmark.
Heritage Trail of Madison - when completed the project will connect the hilltop with downtown Madison and give walking and biking access to Madison's historic district from the Madison State Hospital grounds and from Clifty Falls State Park. The group formed in 1996 and has worked tirelessly to build support for the trail, secure partners and cooperation from the city and property owners.
Jefferson Proving Ground Heritage Partnership - was formed in 1996, after the former Army ammunition testing facility closed, in order to promote and foster an appreciation of the sacrifices and contributions made by people for the protection of our country. Over its 12 years as an HHH committee, the group hosted a variety of historical seminars, conducted tours on the proving ground (now Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge), and has developed and marketed a number of publications, both reprints and new published books.
John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail - The project began in 1996 when a committee of Civil War historians, published Civil War authors, and Morgan’s Raid enthusiasts first met as a project committee of Historic Hoosier Hills RC&D, Inc. The group was chaired by Richard Skidmore and included Lora Cahill, Dave Taylor, Larry Ligget, Eric Losey, Clara and Dick Lewis, Ken Knouf, and Elbert Hinds. County representatives were: Maxine and Mike Klump, Dearborn County; David Craig, Harrison County; Elbert Hinds, Jefferson County; Mike Ochs, Jennings County; Dan Goris, Ripley County; Joe Gibson, Scott County; and Ron Ewing, Washington County. The group agreed on five products which were needed to accomplish their goal of "identifying, interpreting and promoting the July 1863 Raid ("The Great Raid") of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan through southeastern Indiana. With the financial support of the Civil War Preservation Trust, an experienced proposal writer was secured and an application for Transportation Enhancement Act (TEA –21) funds was submitted and approved. With additional funding support from the Indiana Department of Commerce, Tourism Division's Tourism Information Promotion Fund, the Harrison County Community Foundation, the Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County, the Ripley County Tourism Bureau, the Dearborn County Community Foundation, the Scott County Commissioners, Jennings County Commissioners, and Washington County Commissioners, the products were financed. Several donations were also received from various Civil War organizations, individuals, and groups. We are deeply appreciative for all of the financial support. Many hours of time by committee members went into the development and refinement of the five products, which we offer on this site for your information and enjoyment.
Madison Area Bicycle Club - Is promoting bicycling in all its forms and at all skill levels, including transporation, recreation, fitness sport, and social interaction. Our club includes road, touring and mountain biking enthusiasts with a full spectrum of cycling abilities. Most of our members are casual riders who ride for the enjoyment, excerise, companionship and the abundant natural beauty of our area. For more information visit: www.madisonareabicycleclub.org
Versailles Historical Society
Watersheds
South Laughery Creek Watershed - The South Laughery Creek Watershed Project was created to educate citizens of the watershed about conservation through community involvement while utilizing leadership, teamwork, and resources effectively. The watershed is made up of approximately 120,000 acres in 4 counties, including Dearborn, Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland. South Laughery Creek is about 22 miles long in length stretching from the Versailles Lake in Ripley County to the Ohio River just west of Aurora in Dearborn County. Many small tributaries help make up the watershed area with approximately 25 being named.The goal of this project is to provided education to the residents of the watershed and help them to practice the best management practices. Cost-share programs are available to help promote conservation on the land. For more information contact Duane Drockelman at duane.drockelman@hhhills.org or Kim Jolly at kim.jolly@in.nacdnet.net or phone 812-689-4107. Click here to view a list of free DVDs and CD-Roms that South Laughery Creek Watershed has available.
Central Muscatatuck Watershed - is a regional initiative in Southeastern Indiana working to improve and sustain water quality in a five county area including Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Ripley and Scott Counties. The project was recently awarded a 319 grant funded by IDEM and sponsored by Historic Hoosier Hills RC&D for implementation. For more information contact Casie Auxier or Steve Franklin at casie.auxier@hhhills.org or steve.franklin@in.nacdnet.net or phone 812-689-4107.
Indian Creek Watershed - The ICW Project was created by concerned citizens who desired "To lead efforts to better the natural resources of the ICW for present and future generations". That has, in fact, been adopted as the groups' 'Mission Statement'. The 'Vision' of the group states: "A watershed with a healthy natural resource base that will improve the quality of life within our community". ICW flows some 15 miles from its' beginnings near Avonburg to the Ohio River, just West of Vevay. It consists of nearly 44,000 acres and is the largest of seven watersheds within Switzerland County. Cost-Share programs are being developed to help stakeholders with the cost of putting conservation on the land with the goals of improving water and soil quality! For more information contact Cary Louderback at cary.louderback@hhhills.org or phone 812-689-4107.
Indian - Kentuck Watershed - New project as on July 26,2010. Funding for the project has been submitted through IDEM's 319 program. Committee meetings generally held quarterly. Contact Historic Hoosier Hills for additional information.
Sand Creek Watershed - The Lower Sand Creek Watershed project includes the MJennings County portion of the watershed of Sand Creek, a major tributary of the East Fork of White River. The project is sponsored by the Jennings County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and includes about 34,500 acres and is mostly agricultural land. For more information contact the Jennings County SWCD at 812-346-3411 extension 3.
Southeastern Indiana Watershed - New project as of July 26,2010. Funding for the project has been submitted through IDEM's 319 program. Committee meetings generally held quarterly. Contact Historic Hoosier Hills for additional information.
Tanners Creek Watershed - This watershed project started when the Dearborn County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) held a series of locally led meetings in the county. One of the resource concerns identified at the meetings was water quality and the need to address nutrient and sediment contamination in surface water runoff. For more information regarding the Tanners Creek Watershed contact Heather Wirth at heather.wirth@in.nacdnet.net or phone 812-926-0128 extension 3.
Hogan Creek Watershed - The Hogan Creek Watershed Project was initiated in 2005 by the Dearborn County Soil and Water Conservation District. Although improving our environment is a life-long commitment, we continue to challenge ourselves and meet new goals everyday. We invite the community to help us achieve the outlined goals of this local project and help make a significant difference in the watershed by 2015. For more information regarding the Hogan Creek Watershed contact Heather Wirth at heather.wirth@in.nacdnet.net or phone 812-926-0128 extension 3.
Friends of Muscatatuck River Society - Jennings County
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Historic Hoosier Hills RC&D
1981 S. Industrial Park Road, Ste. 1
PO Box 407
Versailles, IN 47042
ph: 812-689-4107
fax: 812-689-3141
Last Updated : June 3, 2011
Copyright 2006, Historic Hoosier Hills RC&D
USDA & HHH are Equal Opportunity Providers & Employers
