(Indianapolis, IN) - Another La Porte County Soil and Water Conservation District recently earned statewide recognition for its conservation efforts.

In September eight Indiana organizations were announced as recipients of the 2026 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. The awards are the state’s most prestigious environmental recognition awards. According to a statement from Indiana Department of Environmental Management, “They are reserved for the most innovative, sustainable, and exemplary programs or projects that positively impact Indiana’s environment and demonstrate measurable environmental, economic, and social benefits.”

La Porte County’s Soil and Water Conservation District was honored in the Land Use/Conservation category for restoring native pollinator habitat across La Porte County through the Native Habitat for Pollinators Establishment Program. Launched in 2023, the program met its 50-acre goal by creating diverse native pollinator habitats across 10 sites in nine sub-watersheds spanning the Lake Michigan and Kankakee basins.

IDEM cited numerous initiatives and praised La Porte County’s collaborative approach in strengthening pollinator habitat, watershed health, and conservation leadership across the region.