Protecting the Public Water Supply at the Watershed Level
The herbicide atrazine is used on more than 80% of corn acres in Indiana. In response to the potential for cancellation of atrazine in watersheds used for drinking water if atrazine concentrations become too high, Purdue Extension worked with the Indiana Pesticide Watershed Work Group consisting of representatives from local, state and federal agencies, the pesticide industry (Syngenta), public water systems, crop consultants and farmers to create and distribute county-based maps of watersheds used for public water supply. The maps were used in presentations to approximately 10,000 pesticide applicators as part of the Private Applicator Re-registration Program, to help them be aware of sensitive watersheds affecting drinking water and take steps to reduce atrazine loss to surface water. The maps are available on the web at http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~frankenb/Indiana/map, to provide easy access to watershed locations that are used for drinking water in Indiana.

In addition, Purdue Extension is working with Veolia Water, which runs the largest water system in Indiana serving approximately 800,000 people, to identify potential solutions to this issue, which cost them $25,000 at the peak of atrazine treatment in summer 2006 ($800,000 total for atrazine treatment in 2006).

Safe Water for the Future
Purdue University has improved and continues to maintain the “Safe Water for the Future” website. The site features "Drinking Water FAQs" and other information that people often ask for. The site also includes a new downloadable brochure for public water systems to use in wellhead protection efforts.

Drainage Water Management
The concept of drainage water management, which was virtually unknown in the state a few years ago, has reached a significant number of people. This new awareness has been facilitated by the Agricultural Drainage Management Systems (ADMS) Task Force, a national partnership of ARS, NRCS, CSREES and Land Grant University researchers. They held a drainage water management field day at the Davis Purdue Agriculture Center, which exposed dozens of contractors to improved drainage water management. They also produced an educational video of the field day, which has been popular with contractors. It (as streaming video), and other drainage water quality resources can be viewed at http://www.ecn.purdue.edu//SafeWater/Drainage/..

Atrazine in Drinking Water
The Pesticide Watershed Work Group is an interagency work group whose mission is to promote pesticide stewardship in Indiana, in order to protect water quality and retain the ability to use pesticides. The group works with representatives from a number of public drinking water systems that use surface water sources. A new concern is potential water quality impacts of soybean rust fungicides.

Indiana's Watershed Leadership Academy
The Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy was created to increase the capacity of watershed leaders to develop scientifically-sound watershed management plans that active involve, engage, and are supported by the community. These groups are playing an increasing role in protecting and restoring water quality. Fifty-four emerging watershed leaders have participated in the Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy. As graduates, professional and volunteer watershed leaders are using what they learn to enhance stakeholder involvement, educate their communities more effectively, and make changes on the land to restore water quality. Many participants say they have used what they learned in the Academy to become more effective in their watershed activities. For example, a 2007 participant wrote: “I had an opportunity to speak with 400 citizens at a public hearing with information gathered for one of the modules. Nobody had been exposed to the information before.” With a steering committee representing 20 Indiana agencies, organizations, and companies concerned about watershed management, the Academy has emerged as a key training program to enhance the skills of people working to improve water quality in Indiana.
The Indiana Watershed Leadership Web site, at http://www.purdue.edu/watersheds, provides information on all aspects of watershed management in Indiana, including the Academy.

Connecting People and Watersheds via the World Wide Web
Purdue Extension has created a prototype website called the Atlas of Indiana Watershed and River Organizations. This GIS-based website elevates awareness and visibility of watershed organizations across Indiana, connects citizens who are interested in learning more about their watershed and potentially participating with active watershed groups, and informs local and statewide decision makers about the need for watershed support in active and inactive areas of the state. We are currently working with state agencies to expand contact information.