This is our searchable library of references and other resources of interest to our members and friends. If you know of an online reference or other online resource that we don’t have in our library, please feel free to share it with us here.
- Central Indiana Watersheds
- IDEM Hoosier Riverwatch
- IDEM Water Monitoring
- IDNR Water Resources Updates (updated monthly)
- Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
- Indiana Clean Lakes Program
- Indiana Lakes Management Society
- Indiana Water Quality Report (www.scorecard.org)
- Indiana Watershed Planning Guide
- Microplastic Pollution in Indiana’s White River: An Exploratory Study
ABSTRACT. Plastic material is now a ubiquitous source of aquatic pollution. Microplastics, tiny plastic
pieces often not visible to the naked eye, are a growing environmental concern in both marine and freshwater
ecosystems. While many studies have documented the abundance and danger of microplastics in global
oceans, little research is available on microplastic presence and impact in riverine ecosystems. This
exploratory study aims to build on the findings of recent freshwater microplastic studies by reporting on the
occurrence and types of microplastic pollution found in the West Fork White River in central Indiana. Fifteen
surface water samples were collected from three bridge sites along the river over a four-month period (August
- November 2015) and analyzed using established NOAA laboratory methods. Analysis revealed various
microplastic particle types in the White River, with synthetic fibers being the predominant type collected. A
total of 146 plastic pieces were collected across all sites and collection periods, with an average microplastic
concentration of 0.71 items m3. Surprisingly, there were no significant differences in microplastic
concentrations among sites of differing population density. Further, a local wastewater treatment plant
had no effect on particle type or abundance. These findings contribute to current gaps in microplastic research
on freshwater, especially fluvial, environments. This contribution may guide researchers in better
understanding the extent to which these synthetic particles are polluting U.S. surface waters as a whole. - National Resources Defense Council: Testing the Waters – Great Lakes Supplement
- USEPA Surf Your Watershed
- USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program
- USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program – Publications
- Wikipedia: Clean Water Act