Highest Environmental Achievement Awarded TWF
This prestigious award recognizes the Clear Choices program which empowers Hoosiers to make personal, every day choices that result in cleaner, safer water.
Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Thomas Easterly presented the award to TWF Executive Director Lyn Crighton, Tuesday October 3 during the 20th Annual Conference of the Association of Indiana Solid Waste Management Districts.
Clear Choices Clean Water is an ongoing pledge-based social marketing campaign aimed at increasing awareness about the impact individuals have on the quality of local waters. The Clear Choices Clean Water campaign has already resulted in the prevention of 6.9 million gallons of untreated wastewater from reaching our streams and lakes each year through increased septic system maintenance. Likewise, individual residential pledges related to phosphorus-free lawn fertilizers, native plants and pet waste have led to the prevention of 113,440 pounds of the nutrient phosphorus from entering our waters. Preventing this amount of phosphorus subsequently prevents the production of over 51.5 million pounds of algae in our lakes and rivers.
The Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence recognizes Indiana’s leaders who have identified and implemented innovative environmental practices into their programs and facilities. The awards program celebrates efforts that implement exemplary environmental projects with measurable results.
“Improving the environment involves local innovation, enthusiasm and a commitment to change,” said Easterly. “The extraordinary achievements of these organizations benefit our communities and our environment.”
Since 1997, the Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation has worked in Kosciusko, Whitley and Noble counties to protect and improve water quality in 50+ lakes and streams in the Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed. Examples of local lakes served include Barbee, Crooked, Big, Goose, Loon, Ridinger, Webster, and Tippecanoe. TWF achieves success through innovative educational programs, voluntary conservation solutions on the land, and water quality monitoring.
The Governor’s Award recognizes the positive, cumulative impact that numerous individual actions such as Clear Choices pledges can have on protecting and improving local, regional and national water quality. Clear Choices Clean Water pledges can be made to pick up pet waste, maintain septic systems, use phosphorus free fertilizers, and plant native plants as part of local landscapes at www.ClearChoicesCleanWater.org.