The Elkhart River Restoration Association, Inc. was founded June 16, 1983 to study the needs of
the Elkhart River and its watershed. As a not-for-profit corporation the association works with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the Army Corp. of Engineers, the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), and local officials to improve the river.The original officers were Harold Weaver,
President and Director, Frank Yoder, Secretary and Director.
Other Directors were James Siegmann,
Frank Kummeth, J. Lawrence Burkholder, Larry Beachy, Max Chiddister, Max Kercher, and Daniel Sherman.
1982
|
Held local home meetings around Pond area to:
a) Clean up Goshen Pone to improve water quality
b) Clean Elkhart
River around Goshen
area
c) Reduce flooding in Goshen
d) Repair old Dam
|
1983
|
Incorporated June 16 as non-profit corporation in the
state of Indiana.
Elected Board of Directors and Officers.
Set Goals.
Held meetings with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Indiana Department of
Natural Resources (IDNR).
|
1984
|
Hired Ten_Eck Engineering for
study of the Elkhart River.
Held meetings with county officials of LaGrange, Noble, Kosciusko
and Elkhart.
|
1985
|
IDNR shows interest in helping of river clearing and
snagging.
IDNR officials float river and promise a report.
|
1986
|
IDNR floats the river for survey and report.
Right of Entry forms need to be signed by property owners along river before
work can begin.
Goshen Dam springs leak and is not repairable.
|
1987
|
Emergency declared at leaking dam.
No funds are available from State or Federal Agencies.
New dam extension is built with draw-down tubes with local funds:
|
Elkhart County
Park Deptartment
|
$325,000
|
|
City of Goshen
|
55 ,000
|
ERRA - Engineering
|
25,000
|
ERRA - Donations
|
40,000
|
IDNR Grant in 1990
|
50,000
|
Total Cost
|
$495,000
|
Contract let for clearing of north and south branches of
Elkhart River.
Hired Lawson-Fisher for water quality study of Goshen Pond.
|
1988
|
Completed clean up of north and south branches of Elkhart
River.
Goshen Pond drained to inspect old dam and banks.
|
1989
|
Hired Lawson-Fisher to engineer new Dam and Pond area.
Applied for new funding to continue river cleaning.
|
1990
|
Funds requested from Indiana Lottery Agency for
$2,250,000 to build new dam and dredge the pond.
River cleaning complete to Benton Dam.
|
1991
|
Work started on new dam in fall.
River cleaning complete to Waterford
bridge.
Permits and consents obtained from all property owners through the City of Goshen.
|
1992
|
New dam completed in December.
Held meetings with IDNR and other agencies for additional funding to
complete cleaning of the river.
|
1993-1995
|
We are still awaiting finding release from IDNR to clean
the river through the City of Goshen. We have been told this will happen in 1996.
|
1996
|
Agreement signed by Elkhart County Commissioners to IDNR
to budget $15,000 annually for clearing and cleaning of the Elkhart River
by the Elkhart County Park Department.
|
1997
|
Requested assistance from IDNR to repair river banks to
control water flow into old gravel pit at Miller's Manor Addition along OxBow Drive.
Again requested funding from Budget Committee of Legislators to complete
river cleaning from Goshen to
the St. Joe River
in Elkhart.
River cleaning completed through the City of Goshen.
|
1998
|
ERRA
|
1999
|
ERRA
|
2000
|
ERRA
|
2001
|
ERRA
|
2002
|
ERRA
|
2003
|
Officers: Roger Miller – President
Harold Weaver – Vice President
David Troup – Treasurer
Gene Stutsman – Secretary Cleanup from the Goshen Dam to the St. Joe River
not completed but funds are available ERRA again pursuing to have this work completed. Senator Riegsecker
makes contacts and provides valuable assistance in restarting the process.
|
2004
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Harold Weaver – Vice President
Nelson Bushong – Treasurer
Gene Stutsman – Secretary April 27 and 28 - The IDNR floats the river from the Goshen Dam to the
St. Joe River, marking 27 locations for clean-up work.
July 28 - Pre-Bid meeting held for clean-up work.
August 6 - Contract for clean-up work awarded.
|
2005
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Harold Weaver – Vice President
Nelson Bushong – Treasurer
Gene Stutsman – Secretary ERRA applies for an EPA 319 grant to develop a watershed management plan.
|
2006
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
Nelson Bushong – Treasurer
Gene Stutsman – Secretary November 22 the 319 grant contract is signed by the Indiana Department of Environment Management and ERRA.
|
2007
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
Nelson Bushong – Treasurer
Tim Cataldo – Secretary
|
2008
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
Daragh Deegan – Treasurer
Tim Cataldo – Secretary WMP approved February 22, 2008
First Rain Barrel auction held during Goshen's First Friday
|
2009
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
Daragh Deegan – Treasurer
Tim Cataldo – Secretary ERRA assists the Indiana Silver Jackets to develop a report on the Waldron Lake flooding
Contracted with the City of Elkhart to perform a Biological Assessments on Select Sites of the
Elkhart River and Two Tributaries in and Around Goshen, Indiana to determine Water Quality and
Aquatic Life Health. Assessments to be performed in 2009 and 2010.
Held second Rain Barrel auction during First Friday
|
2010
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
Daragh Deegan – Treasurer
Tim Cataldo – Secretary City of Elkhart to performs second Biological Assessments on Select Sites of the Elkhart River and Two Tributaries in and Around Goshen, Indiana to determine Water Quality and Aquatic Life Health.
Held third Rain Barrel auction during First Friday
|
2011
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
Daragh Deegan – Treasurer
Tim Cataldo – Secretary ERRA Receives Award Notification of $397,000 Great Lakes Commission (GLC) Grant. ERRA holds Kick-off meeting for the GLC Grant
Held fourth Rain Barrel auction during First Friday
|
2012
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
Daragh Deegan – Treasurer
Tim Cataldo – Secretary ERRA Stocked the Elkhart River with approx. 2,800 Walleye. 1/2 above the Goshen dam and 1/2 below the dam.
Held fifth Rain Barrel auction during First Friday
|
2013
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
Daragh Deegan – Treasurer
Gordon Lord – Secretary Work on developing a draft Goshen Dam Pond dredging plan to have quoted. Elkhart River Festival set for May 18, 2013. Held 6th annual Rain Barrel Auction as a part of First Friday events.
|
2014
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
Daragh Deegan – Treasurer
Gordon Lord – Secretary ERRA
|
2015
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
Daragh Deegan – Treasurer
Gordon Lord – Secretary
|
2016
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
Daragh Deegan – Treasurer
Ryan Sensenig – Secretary ERRA.
|
2017
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
Daragh Deegan – Treasurer
Ryan Sensenig – Secretary ERRA
|
2018
|
Officers: David Troup – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
Daragh Deegan – Treasurer
Ryan Sensenig – Secretary ERRA
|
2019
|
Officers: Nancy Brown – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
David Troup – Treasurer
Jason Kauffman – Secretary ERRA
|
2020
|
Officers: Nancy Brown – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
David Troup – Treasurer
Jason Kauffman – Secretary ERRA.
|
2021
|
Officers: Nancy Brown – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
David Troup – Treasurer
Jason Kauffman – Secretary ERRA
|
2022
|
Officers: Nancy Brown – President
Milt Thomas – Vice President
David Troup – Treasurer
Jason Kauffman – Secretary ERRA
|
2023
|
Officers: Nancy Brown – President
Jonaathan Schramm – Vice President
David Troup – Treasurer
Jason Kauffman – Secretary ERRA
|
2024
|
Officers: Jonathan Schramm – President
TBD – Vice President
David Troup – Treasurer
Jason Kauffman – Secretary ERRA
|