The Pigeon Creek Watershed Development Commission: still the only such entity in Indiana

WNIN | By Tim Jagielo

Published September 23, 2025 at 6:18 PM CDT

Pigeon Creek Watershed Development Commission President Linda Freeman is also full-time elected Vanderburgh County Surveyor. Here, she helps lead the Monday, Sept. 22 meeting at the County Civic Center, and listens to VP Karan Barnhill.

The four-member group is here to work on watershed issues at the local level; recently approved the purchase of a work vehicle, shifted officer positions and approved a new budget

The Pigeon Creek Watershed Development Commission is a relatively new government entity created to oversee the development and management of watersheds at the local level.

According to the Indiana DNR, they can create strategies and implement projects that improve water quantity and quality in the watershed.

The commission met on Monday at the Vanderburgh County Civic Center with a packed schedule.

This included spending approval of just over $38,000 for a 4X4 work truck, passing a new budget and working out lots of procedural details.

Commission Attorney Craig Emig helped the board correctly swap officer duties between Treasurer Cheryl Musgrave and VP Karan Barnhill. Going forward, Musgrave will serve as VP, not Treasurer/Secretary.

The commission held its first meeting last fall. As the first of its kind in Indiana, they’re still finding their way administratively, while making progress.

To fund their operations they’ve assessed $7 dollars for residential properties along the watershed, appearing on county tax bills.

Pigeon Creek Watershed Development Commission Executive Director Justin Dickson was hired in May. The commission is still working out exactly what his responsibilities will be. He, along with board members, recently attended the Indiana Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management conference, learning from various workshops.

In May they hired an executive director in Justin Dickson, who said his responsibilities are still being clarified.

“I am curious as to all of the board members, how they view the executive director's position,” he said at the meeting. “Be it administrative, be it anything field related.”

He suggested his role hasn’t been defined consistently between the board members. They discussed where a better more specific job description was needed.

The four-person commission includes Vanderburgh County Surveyor Linda Freeman, county appointee Musgrave, Karan Barnhill as city representative and Kristi Johnson, representative for the Indiana DNR who comes from Indianapolis every meeting.

As their development plan is being created by a contractor, Musgrave said the Commission is seeking public feedback on possible projects.

Areas of concern and possible action include logjams and industrial water contamination.

The whole watershed is known to the state as HUC-8, as in Hydrologic Unit Code. It includes parts of Gibson County to the North and Henderson County to the south and Posey and Gallatin to the West. Currently, Vanderburgh County is the only member county of the commission, though others can join.

Support independent journalism today. You rely on WNIN to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Give to grow our local reporting today. Donate