In 1996, the Dearborn County SWCD developed a long range plan of work with emphasis on water quality issues. Due to increasing urban development, an opportunity to increase no-till acres, and elevated levels of fecal coliform during high flow periods, the South Laughery Creek watershed was chosen for evaluation.

In the spring of 1999, the Dearborn and Ohio County Soil and Water Conservation Districts entered into a joint venture to perform water testing on lower Laughery Creek. Test results revealed high E.Coli levels during periods of high water flow. Action steps were taken by the Dearborn County Soil and Water Conservation District to further investigate and secure funding to study the South Laughery Creek Watershed.

The DCSWCD successfully submitted an application in the fall of 2002 to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for a Clean Water Act Section 319 grant to engage in a two-year assessment study of the South Laughery Creek Watershed. In the fall of 2003, the DCSWCD was awarded the 319 grant and began the assessment phase of the program.

Since the South Laughery Creek watershed lies within four counties (Dearborn, Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland), each county SWCD board was contacted for comments and discussion about the formation of the watershed project. The SWCDs led efforts to establish a steering committee of local landowners, farmers, businesses, and other stakeholder to determine the focus of the project and future planning efforts.

The first stage of the project was to identify water quality, land use, and natural resource characteristics within the watershed. This phase was designed to involve stakeholders while trying to identify threats to local water quality resources, developing strategies to protect these resources, and providing an examination of issues and concerns facing residents within the watershed. This living document may be used as a guide by local decision makers, partners, and educators for implementation purposes and technical assistance efforts.