Martin County Comprehensive Plan Final Prepared for: Martin County Board of Commissioners 129 Main Street P.O. Box 600 Shoals, Indiana 47581 Phone: (812) 247-3731 Prepared by: Bernardin, Lochmueller and Associates, Inc. Engineering, Planning, Surveying, Environmental Studies, Water/Wastewater 6200 Vogel Road Evansville, Indiana 47715 Phone: (812) 479-6200 Draft Final Plan published: May 8, 2009 Martin County Advisory Plan Commission public hearing and adoption: July 23, 2009 Martin County Board of Commissioners adoption: August 13, 2009 Acknowledgements Martin County Board of Commissioners Paul George, President David Lett, County Attorney Dan Gregory, Member Nancy Steiner, Clerk-Treasurer John Wininger, Member Martin County Advisory Plan Commission Dan Gregory, President (County Commissioner) Louise Parsons, Member (citizen) Walt Waggoner, Vice President (citizen) Paul Sanders, Member (County Surveyor) Nathan Albright, Member (citizen) Jonathan Stevens, Member (extension educator) Kenny H. Frye, Member (citizen) John Stoll, Member (County Council) Robin Haulk, Member (citizen) Nancy Steiner, Non-Voting Secretary Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Bernard Butcher Dan Gregory Jonathan Stevens Darrell Courtright Aaron Jones David Strange Kenny Frye Paul Sanders Walt Waggoner Paul George Gene Shaw Southern Indiana Development Commission Greg Jones, Executive Director Matt Sward, Development Specialist Bernardin, Lochmueller & Associates, Inc. David Ripple, Project Manager Matt Schriefer, Planner II Erin Mattingly, Planner I Eric Swickard, Deputy Project Manager Laurie Miller, Planner I The plan was funded in full with State funds through the Interstate 69 Community Planning Grant Program of the Indiana Department of Transportation with the assistance of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Table of Contents Martin County Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................ES-1 Chapter 1: Introduction A. FOUNDATION ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Comprehensive Plan 1. Interstate 69 Community Planning Program ....................................................................................... 1 2. Purpose ............................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Organization ........................................................................................................................................ 1 3. Planning Process ................................................................................................................................ 2 4. Planning Period ................................................................................................................................... 2 5. Planning Area ...................................................................................................................................... 2 B. USE ............................................................................................................................................................... 2 1. Review of Land Use Change Proposals ............................................................................................. 2 a. Consistency with Future Land Use Map (Test 1) ...................................................................... 3 b. Consistency with Development Review Guidelines (Test 2) ..................................................... 3 c. Exceptions to General Consistency Tests ................................................................................. 3 2. Foundation for Land Use Controls ...................................................................................................... 3 3. Basis for Capital Improvement Programs ........................................................................................... 4 4. Other Uses .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2: Community Setting A. LOCATION .................................................................................................................................................... 5 B. HISTORIC ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 1. History of Martin County .................................................................................................................... 5 2. Historic Sites and Structures ............................................................................................................... 8 C. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................................................ 10 1. Relation to Community Growth ......................................................................................................... 10 2. Agricultural Lands ............................................................................................................................. 10 3. Ratings for Septic Tank Absorption Fields ......................................................................................... 12 4. Soils .................................................................................................................................................. 12 5. Forest Lands ..................................................................................................................................... 12 6. Terrain and Topography .................................................................................................................... 12 a. Karst Topography in the Crawford Upland .............................................................................. 17 7. Groundwater Resources ................................................................................................................... 17 a. Groundwater Availability ......................................................................................................... 17 b. Aquifers ................................................................................................................................... 17 c. Wells and Wellhead Protection ............................................................................................... 19 8. Streams and Floodplains .................................................................................................................. 21 9. Wetlands ........................................................................................................................................... 28 10. Conservancy District ....................................................................................................................... 28 11. Water Use ....................................................................................................................................... 30 12. Wildlife Habitat and Threatened and Endangered Species ............................................................ 30 13. Managed Lands and Natural Areas ................................................................................................ 36 14. Recreation Areas ............................................................................................................................ 41 15. Recreation and Tourism .................................................................................................................. 42 16. Mineral Resources .......................................................................................................................... 42 a. Coal ......................................................................................................................................... 42 b. Gypsum ................................................................................................................................... 45 c. Abandoned Sand and Gravel Pits and Quarries ..................................................................... 45 17. Permitted Waste Disposal & Storage .............................................................................................. 45 D. SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS .................................................................................................................... 49 1. Population Characteristics ................................................................................................................ 49 a. Existing Population ................................................................................................................. 49 Table of Contents | i b. Projected Population................................................................................................................49 2. Demographic Characteristics ............................................................................................................ 51 a. Male/Female Population ......................................................................................................... 51 b. Age .......................................................................................................................................... 51 c. Education ...............................................................................................................................