Western Lake Erie Basin Initiative

The Western Lake Erie Basin was made a priority area by USDA because of an increase of algal blooms in the area over the past five years. Increased levels of phosphorus in surface water contribute to algal blooms which diminish water quality and are harmful to fish and other aquatic wildlife. Agricultural land in the Western Lake Erie Basin was determined to be one of the sources of increased phosphorus in surface water due to water and wind erosion.

The USDA has allocated $280,000 in financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for farmers in the Indiana portion of the Western Lake Erie Basin priority area.  Farmers have until April 27, 2012 to apply for funding at their local NRCS office. 

Western Lake Erie Basin Water Resources Protection Plan (PDF; 672 KB)

The priority area includes parts of Adams, Allen, Dekalb, Noble, Steuben, and Wells counties. The financial assistance is available for producers to implement selected conservation activities that help prevent nutrients and sediment from agricultural land from entering Lake Erie, with an emphasis on phosphorus reductions. 

Full Size Indiana Map (PDF; 780 KB)

Western Lake Erie Basin Initiative Full Area Map (PDF; 342 KB)

For a list of practice guidelines and payment rates, please refer to the 2012 WLEB practice guidelines.

2013 WLEB Practice Information (PDF; 164 KB)

2013 WLEB Ranking Questions (PDF; 11 KB)

For More Information about the WLEB Program, please contact:

Jill Reinhart, ASTC Special Projects

Phone:  317-295-5883

< Back to Programs Homepage...