LaPorte County Soil and Water Conservation District

10/15/2026

We love teaching students about the water cycle! 💧

10/13/2026

10/13/2026

We’re so thankful for our community and local sponsors for helping us make events like Kankakee River Days happen!

10/08/2026

Meet our newest tenant! 🐸

Somebody read the sign. This gray treefrog has claimed the Big Bluestem marker in the native prairie outside our office and has been sunning there like he owns the place. As far as we're concerned, he does.

Gray treefrogs are masters of disguise. They shift from pale gray to mottled brown to green depending on temperature, light, and mood. Today's warm October sun has him nearly white. He's no bigger than a quarter, with sticky toe pads that let him climb anything, and he eats mosquitoes, moths, aphids, and beetles all summer long.

His winter plan is even more impressive. When temperatures drop, he'll tuck into the leaf litter and let his body partially freeze. His own natural antifreeze protects his cells until spring thaw. Then he'll head to a nearby pond, and you'll hear his loud, musical trill on warm May evenings.

Amphibians are sensitive to pollutants and habitat loss, so a frog moving into the garden means the habitat is working. Native plants bring insects, insects bring frogs, and frogs bring birds. That chain starts with what we put in the ground.

Want to invite treefrogs to your yard? Plant natives, leave some leaf litter in fall, skip the pesticides, and keep a fishless water feature or rain garden nearby.

10/05/2026

Hey LaPorte County!!

It’s that time again to help us recognize someone from our county as Farmer of the Quarter!

Please either fill out this form or email our educator at [email protected] to nominate a farmer (or gardener!) that goes the extra step to use methods and/or techniques that help our environment!

https://forms.gle/P18iUwxUgXqdqWbc8

10/01/2026

🏆 The LaPorte County Soil & Water Conservation District's Native Habitat for Pollinators Stewardship Program has received the 2026 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence in the Land Use and Conservation category. 🌱

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management announced the award September 10 at the Indiana Partners for Sustainability Conference in Indianapolis. Program lead Paul Vicari accepted it alongside Stormwater Management Board President Connie Gramarossa and SWCD Administrative Manager Chris Havens.

Vicari is LaPorte County's MS4 Stormwater Management Director. He developed and led the program in his separate role as County Conservationist for the District. Since 2023, the program has established 50 acres of native habitat across 11 sites. Each site replaces turf and invasive plants with deep-rooted natives, which means less runoff, cleaner water, and new habitat for pollinators.

Find the full story in the images below!

09/30/2026

I Didn't Know That!: Leave the Leaves

09/29/2026

💙 thank you, Indian Trail Elementary!

09/25/2026

We had a wonderful last day for Kankakee River Days at Kingsbury FWA! Even though we wouldn’t be at the river this year, students were still introduced to their local watershed and learned how they can help take care of it!

09/25/2026