Winneshiek SWCD named 'outstanding soil and water conservation district'
The Winneshiek County Soil and Water Conservation District is being awarded the Outstanding Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) of Iowa for its fiscal year 2008 activities today (Tuesday) in Ames. The Winneshiek SWCD is governed by five District commissioners. They are, above, from left, front row: Wilbur Stoen, Dan Leidahl and John Olds and back row Dwayne Hauber and John Lubke.
The Winneshiek County Soil and Water Conservation District is being awarded the Outstanding Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) of Iowa for its fiscal year 2008 activities today (Tuesday) in Ames.
The award will be presented at the 63rd annual conference of the Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI). A commissioner from the Winneshiek County SWCD will represent Winneshiek County and the state of Iowa at the National Association of Conservation Districts' (NACD) annual meeting Jan. 31 to Feb. 3, 2010, in Orlando, Fla.
Winneshiek County SWCD has also received the Outstanding Conservation District of Iowa award in fiscal years 1998 and 1992. After winning the Outstanding District of Iowa award, a county SWCD is ineligible to apply for five years.
"Winneshiek County is one of the most active counties in Iowa and in the utilization of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. This has resulted in a lot of conservation on the ground and protection of the natural resources in Winneshiek County," said District Conservationist Todd Duncan in the application for the award submitted to CDI in July.
The Winneshiek SWCD is governed by five District commissioners: Wilbur C. Stoen, Dan Leidahl, John Olds, Dwayne Hauber and John Lubke. Assistant Commissioners are Obert Sacquitne, Lillian Bruvold, Dave Roslien, Walter Langland, Lyle Luzum and Donna Rasmussen.
Accomplishments
Major accomplishments included in this award are:
The recognized (priority) Watershed Projects in Winneshiek County including: Bear Creek, Coldwater and Pine Creek, Upper Iowa Basin - FLEVAL (feedlot evaluation), Lake Meyer, Ludlow Creek, Nutting Creek and Yellow River Headwaters.
All Winneshiek County producers in priority and non-priority watersheds achieved 7,354 tons/year of sediment loading reduction by establishing the following practices in 2007-2008: Seven water and sediment control basins, 46,800 feet of waterways, 26,900 feet of terraces, 935 feet of stream bank protection, 55 acres of filter strips, four grade stabilization structures, four waste storage facilities, 25 acres of critical acre plantings and 325 acres of cover crops.
Additional accomplishments include strip cropping on 364 acres, diversions of 630 feet, timber site preparation for natural regeneration -- 28 acres, timber stand improvement -- 121 acres, and tree and shrub establishment -38 acres.
The Winneshiek County SWCD communicates with county residents and demonstrates leadership for soil and water conservation in various SWCD had a booth at the Winneshiek County Fair where seven staff members explained karst topography and shared information about conservation programs available to both rural and urban landowners and operators. In addition, 100 fourth and fifth grade grocery bag contest entries were on display for "Soil & Water Stewardship Awareness."
During the Winneshiek County SWCD Annual Awards Banquet, 125 guests attended. The following awards were presented: Overall Grocery Bag Contest Winners -- Teresa Hageman, Duncan Glock, Nicole Kuboushek and Megan Andera; Scholarship Award Winner -- Kara Sanders; Outstanding Conservation Farm - Pat and Amy O'Regan; Izaak Walton League Windbreak Award - David and Pat Bouska; Young Farmer/Conservationist (Harris Bruvold Award) -- Matt & Jolene Nierling; Woodland Owner of the Year -- Miles and Sue Schulte; Distinguished Service to Conservation (Roy Schultz Award) -- Brad Johansen.
An event was held at Lake Meyer Watershed to announce $100,000 allocated for land treatment practices for this public fishing lake in Winneshiek County, with 55 farm landowners and civic leaders of Calmar in attendance.
During Soil and Water Stewardship Week, Winneshiek County churches are encouraged to visit the CDI Web site and print the litany and church program inserts. Businesses throughout Winneshiek County displayed the fourth and fifth grade grocery bag contest entries.
Seventeen tenth grade ag science students practiced contour layout with hand levels, self levelers and the laser level on aerial photos and contour maps with three staff members during ag science field day.
Three staff members and 122 students focused on wildlife, trees, and macro invertebrates at the 11th annual 7th grade field day Sept. 28 for Adopt-A-Stream field day.
"Today is the day to be a part of Conservation's Power" was the theme of our 14th annual grocery bag decorating contest introduced by three NRCS staff members to 473 students in 25 fourth and fifth grade classes in February 2008.
Ninety "top of their class" students were honored with 37 teachers and conservation commissioners and staff at the May 1, 2008 grocery bag contest awards breakfast.
NRCS technician Barb Exey served on the first conference in Northeast Iowa with 105 participants learning about farm marketing, value-added production, and personal enrichment at the Women Adding Value to Agriculture event.
Twenty-nine Luther College biology students toured the DNR Trout Hatchery and completed watershed projects, showcasing the development of sound soil and water conservation practices during the annual conservation tour.
Winneshiek County SWCD was a sponsor for the Women, Land and Legacy meetings held in September and October of 2008 with 35 in attendance at each of the two meetings.
Winneshiek County SWCD's annual report is placed in the Decorah Newspapers with articles and pictures highlighting the past years activities and achievements.
The Winneshiek County SWCD provided local ag science instructors and the Envirothon team members with an updated soils CD and instructed the teams on how to use the CD.
Presentations of watershed projects and conservation issues were given to Lions Clubs, Garden Clubs, and a regional realtor meeting.
Partners
Winneshiek County SWCD encourages participation with partners. A six-county contractor meeting with five other Soil and Water Conservation Districts was held. Winneshiek County SWCD participates with adjacent counties in Iowa and Minnesota in joint watershed projects. Information is exchanged with partners for conservation projects in planning, implementation and cost share assistance, including Pheasants Forever, Trout Unlimited, Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
NE Iowa RC&D partnered with the Winneshiek SWCD in the following projects:
• Utilizing the FLEVAL computer feedlot tool to calculate and predict bacteria loading and run-off from open feedlots in the Upper Iowa River Project and then calculate reductions achieved from feedlot best management practice installations.
• They also partnered with the Winneshiek SWCD in the Yellow River Headwaters and Trout River Watershed Project in hosting landowner meetings, conducting landowner surveys, land assessments and stream corridor conditions in order to gauge interest and priorities for a full scale watershed project. This project culminated in a successful grant application to fund a watershed project in the Yellow River Headwaters.
• TCRP Outreach Project was partnered with to provide focused outreach to landowners in Winneshiek County. Promoting the "Trees on Conservation Reserve Program" resulted in over 150 acres of highly erodible land (HEL) enrolled in the TCRP program.
Winneshiek County Supervisors are invited to the District's VIP luncheon at Luther College with state legislators, cooperating agencies, and SWCD Commissioners and staff.
Winneshiek County provides funds for technical assistance to the Winneshiek SWCD and to the Bear Creek watershed maintenance fund for PL-566 structures. They also serve as a sponsor of the Bear Creek Watershed project.
Best management
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages wildlife habitat through native grass plantings and improved water quality on producer's land as best management practices. Private landowners are assisted by the DNR in woodlot forestry development with 121 acres enrolled in timber stand improvement, and 38 acres in tree plantings with 63,000 tree and shrub seedlings planted in the spring of 2008 in Winneshiek County.
Burn plans and actual burnings are a cooperative project on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land to rejuvenate native grasses for improved erosion control and improved wildlife habitat. The Winneshiek County SWCD provides the planning and major funding source for private trout stream water improvement and stream stabilization as requested by the DNR fisheries biologist.
All partner groups serve on the Local Conservation Advisory Board. This annual brainstorming provides input into the direction of the programs to assist landowners in Winneshiek County.
