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Project name: West Tarkio
Watershed size: 32,780 acres
Year began: 2001
Year Complete: 2007
SWCD Contact: Page
Phone: (712) 542-5484
Purpose: Reduce soil erosion
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Soil and Water Conservation District(s): Page, Montgomery
Other partners: Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Iowa State University
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Farmlands and public infrastructure both benefit from the combination of landowner and public funding of conservation measures in the West Tarkio Watershed Priority Area.
More than 113 miles of new terraces, 15 water and sediment control structures, a grade stabilization structure, 35 miles of filter strips, and other practices combine to keep farm fields productive and to slow runoff and flooding in the area.
From 2002 through mid-2008, landowners contributed at least $1.5 million to construct conservation measures including terraces, to more than match government cost-share funds available.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) contributed $919,770 in cost-share funds through the Page and Montgomery Soil and Water Conservation Districts to 88 cooperating landowners.
Landowners have been so willing to invest in conservation that since 2007, the allocations of cost-share dollars to landowners have been primarily based on a ranking system that gives priority to the landowners and operators who are using best management practices such as no-till systems, nitrogen usage rate, contour farming, headlands, filter strips, contour buffers, waterways, and wildlife plantings.
The conservation practices applied will cut potential soil loss by 13,537 tons a year. That’s more than half the original goal of 25,000 tons, and doesn’t consider soil loss reductions coming from no-till farming methods.
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West Tarkio Watershed landowners have received tehnical assistance from Richard Larson (above) and other IDALS technicians and financial assistance to build more than 113 miles of terraces. Project coordinator Ron Sanson (below, left) talks with Kirk Johnson. Johnson and his neighbors have also contributed more than $1.5 million to establish conservation measures in the watershed.
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