FarmSolutions

Indiana is home to more than 10 million acres of cropland, nearly all of which lie within the Mississippi River watershed—one of the largest and most critical river systems in the world. These waters serve millions by providing drinking water, supporting commerce and recreation, and sustaining diverse ecosystems.

As an organization, one of our core commitments is to promote agricultural practices like no-till and cover cropping that improve soil health and water quality. However, while we understand the benefits anecdotally and at a field level, we aim to better quantify how these practices impact water systems at scale.

This project is an opportunity to analyze and synthesize water quality data collected by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and other agencies. By applying data science techniques, we hope to uncover meaningful patterns, correlations, and potential causal relationships between land use and water health—empowering smarter decision-making for agriculture and the environment.