"It'll look like a flower garden, a perennial flower garden," said Eric Kurtz of the Elkhart County Soil and Water Conservation District, the county office helping manage the grant program.

Some $180,000 in grant funding was made available by federal environmental authorities through the program, though $68,000 has been earmarked. The money may be tapped by Goshen and Elkhart homeowners in the Elkhart River watershed as well as farmers operating in 14 potentially problematic areas within the watershed.

The funds may be used for rain gardens, green roofs and pervious paving. Green roofs are gardens planted on rooftops that help minimize rain water runoff while pervious paving is a type of asphalt that allows rain water to soak through to the soil below.

Eligible farmers, meanwhile, may use grant funding for a wide range of programs meant to prevent sediment, nutrient and e-coli problems.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 31, though the pertinent development doesn't have to occur until warmer weather, and grants may be used to cover up to 75 percent of eligible project costs. Application information may be found at www.elkhartriveralliance.org.

Alternatively, interested homeowners may contact Kurtz for more information at eric.kurtz@in.nacdnet.net. Farmers interested in the agricultural grants may contact Lynette Black at lynette.black@in.nacdnet.net. Both may be reached by calling 533-3630, ext. 3.