News & Updates All »
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
Monday, January 11, 2021
Governing Body: Goshen Economic Development CommissionDate and Time of Meeting: January 19, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. (or at the end of the Board of Public Works Meeting, whichever comes later)Place of Meeting: City Court Room/Council Chambers, Goshen Police & Court Building, 111 East Jefferson Street,... more
NOTICE OF MEETING
Thursday, January 7, 2021
Governing Body: Goshen Community Relations CommissionDate of Meeting: January 11, 2021Time of Meeting: 7 p.m. EDTPlace of Meeting: Online only—via Zoom Pursuant to the provisions of the Open Door Law and Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(2)(D), the Goshen Community Relations Commission will hold a public... more
Notice of Public Hearing
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Notice of Public Hearing on Proposal to Establish the Annual Tax Rate for the City of Goshen Cumulative Capital Development Fund The Goshen Common Council will hold a public hearing at its meeting on January 19, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. at which City of Goshen taxpayers may be heard concerning a proposal... more
Upcoming Events All »
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
Monday, January 18, 2021
All City offices will be closed due to the holiday.
Board of Aviation
Monday, January 18, 2021, 2:00pm
Board of Works & Safety & Stormwater Board
Tuesday, January 19, 2021, 2:00pm
Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81003119370 Or Telephone: (312) 626-6799 or (929) 205 6099 Webinar ID: 810 0311 9370 Dial *9 to "raise hand" and speak during public comment
Water Quality Data
Since 2008 Elkhart County and the City of Goshen have conducted research into the pollution levels of the waterways in Elkhart County. Water samples are taken on a regular basis from the Elkhart and St. Joseph Rivers, along with several local lakes and a selection of streams and canals which flow into one or both rivers. A full list of sampling sites can be found here.
Understanding Water Quality Indicators
Samples are analyzed for various indicators of water quality, including E. coli content, suspended sediment, chemicals from fertilizer runoff, pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. Unnatural levels of suspended sediment, industrial chemicals, dissolved oxygen, temperatures, and pH can directly affect the ability of fish and other aquatic life to breathe, feed, and reproduce. Excess fertilizers specifically can cause harmful algal blooms, which you can read more about here. E. coli is a bacterium which can cause abdominal infections when ingested and usually enters waterways in stormwater containing fecal matter. While it does not generally hurt aquatic life, the presence of too much E. coli can make a body of water unsafe for human contact due to the risk of infection from even a small dose.
Sites are sampled at least 3 years in a row to identify trends in these water quality indicators. These trends are useful to identify high risk bodies of water with elevated levels of a pollutant or unnatural and unhealthy levels of dissolved oxygen, pH, or temperature. Once identified, these waterways can be prioritized for needed intervention. Monitoring trends also allows us to document the success or failure of programs to improve water quality and can suggest a shift in strategy if results are not seen.
Our Water
Many waterways in Elkhart County contain elevated levels of E. coli. The Elkhart River regularly tests above safe levels and most of its tributaries contain even higher levels, with the exception of Christiana Creek. For this reason, it is not recommended to swim in the Elkhart River or its tributaries after a heavy rainfall, when E. coli levels are highest. Outside of these times, showering after swimming is recommended to wash off potential residual contaminants. Heaton Lake and Simonton Lake also contain somewhat elevated levels of E. coli but are usually within safe limits and are regularly used for recreation.
Exact levels of E. coli in each waterway naturally vary from day to day and year to year, depending on rainfall and other factors. However, there has been no sustained decrease in E. coli levels since sampling began.
Raw data is provided for each year along with graphs and reports when available. Note: most of the data and graphs are also provided in an appendix of that year's report.