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Cleaner water in the Iowa Great Lakes Infiltration-based practices keep pollutants on the land, out of the Iowa Great Lakes |
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The idea of using low impact development (LID) practices to manage stormwater and improve water in Iowa’s Great Lakes became reality after the Dickinson County Soil and Water Conservation District secured grant monies for a series of seminars in 2004 and 2005. County government leaders, conservation groups and individuals, developers, engineers and design professionals have embraced LID practices, and become leaders in conservation development. The City of Okoboji, one of the seven Great Lakes communities, was the first in Iowa to have a low impact development ordinance. Now, more than 100 rain gardens or biocells have been installed by residents and businesses to keep polluted waters out of the Great Lakes. An estimated 1 million visitors a year will have the opportunity to learn about LID principles at an educational plaza demonstration area at the Arnolds Park Amusement Park. Featuring bio-retention cells, pervious concrete, modular paver blocks and infiltration-based practices that intercept and treat run-off from a four-acre parking lot, the demonstration project removes pollutant loads and reduces the volume of run-off into West Lake Okoboji. Support and leadership in LID is a continuation of the technical assistance and grant funds the Dickinson SWCD and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship have offered for many years to improve land and water in the area through Iowa Great Lakes Watershed Projects. |
Urban conservationists Wayne Petersen from IDALS and Steve Anderson of the Dickinson County SWCD (above) work with both urban and agricultural landowners to improve the water in Iowa’s Great Lakes.
A rain garden (above) is pretty, but also functional as it filters runoff from streets, making water that may reach the lake cleaner. Similar filtering goes on with wetlands created on farm lands (below) that drain to the lakes.
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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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