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Getting Farmers Creek off the list |
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Almost 90 percent of the land in the Farmers Creek drainage area is classified as highly erodible. The sediment and nutrients that wash from that steep land have lowered the quality of water in the creek to a level that falls below state standards set for supporting aquatic life. After two fish kills within a 3-year period caused by manure-laden runoff, the creek was added to Iowa’s impaired waters list. The Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District––with assistance from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)––began the Farmers Creek Watershed Project in 2005 with a primary goal of reducing sediment and nutrient delivery to the creek by 40 percent. The plan has been to provide information and education, as well as technical and financial assistance, to landowners to help them step up the application of soil conservation measures. The measures are intended to improve water quality to the extent that the stream can be removed from Iowa’s impaired waters list. Since 2005, landowners have invested more than $200,000, IDALS has contributed more than $285,000, and $362,000 of USDA. Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds have been used to improve the land and water. Among the practices, grade stabilization structures, grassed waterways, and animal waste storage facilities have been built. Also, trees and shrubs have been planted, contour buffers have been established, and improved grazing is being used on steep lands. |
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One in a series of summaries of watershed projects in Iowa carried out by local conservation districts, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Division of Soil Conservation, and other partners. |
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