Carroll County Celebrates 1000 Miles of Buffers

Conservationists from central and western Iowa recently celebrated 1,000 miles of buffers in Carroll County.  Meeting at the Larry Greving family farm near Willey July 18, thirty-five buffer boosters celebrated the milestone and the benefits they offer to the environment. 

Buffers are areas of vegetation placed to slow rainwater runoff and filter out sediment and chemicals before reaching rivers, lakes and streams.  Grassed waterways, filter strips, riparian buffers and wetlands are all practices that can be used to slow and filter runoff.  They also provide habitat for wildlife.

Sponsoring the 1,000 miles of buffers celebration was the Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District.  Attending were local landowners and representatives of organizations that included the Conservation Districts of Iowa, Pheasants Forever, Lake Panorama Association, Iowa Division of Soil Conservation, and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency.    

“Buffers in particular have been a valuable (environmental) tool,” said Bill Ehm, Director of the Iowa Department of Agriculture’s Division of Soil Conservation.  “The DNR says that of the 71,000 miles of streams in the state, we have buffers installed on 20 to 25 percent of them.  Buffers financially work well for producers.”

A number of federal programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) can be used to install buffers.  There are other programs as well.

The Lake Panorama Association, made up of 1,700 property owners in Guthrie County, offers landowners financial support for the use of buffers because they have a direct impact on lake water quality.  Through an erosion control department, the Lake Panorama Association works with upstream farmers to install buffers and other practices to improve water quality and  reduce the amount of dredging that needs to be done on their 1,400 acre man-made lake.   

Lake Panorama is located on the Middle Raccoon River and drains over two hundred square miles of land from Carroll, Greene and Guthrie Counties. 

According to John Judson, a watershed consultant with the Lake Panorama Association, the benefits of buffers are clear.

“We know how much silt is moving through the system because Lake Panorama calculates it,” Judson said.  “From 1993 to 2001 there was a 40 percent reduction in sediment going into Lake Panorama or 225,000 fewer cubic yards of silt per year going into the lake.  That equals 50 miles of silt carrying dump trucks, parked bumper to bumper, that was not entering Lake Panorama each year. 

Judson added, “That’s a big deal and we can put real numbers on it.”

Another organization that supports buffer development is Pheasants Forever.  PF Habitat Chair, Kenny Snyder, told the group that buffers are a passion of his.  Snyder, who lives north of Glidden, has seen what they have done for water quality. 

“There was a 2 inch rain event on my farm,” said Snyder.  “Think of the visual of 6 inches of soil moving and being stopped by the buffer.  Then, think what 1,000 miles of buffers means for water quality in the county.”  He added, “The rivers are cleaner now because of buffers.”

Snyder also likes what buffers mean for hunting opportunities and the tourism dollars they bring to the local area.  “With 1,000 miles of buffers and three hunters per mile on a Saturday that’s 3,000 pheasant hunters enjoying quality of life,” Snyder said. 

Improving pheasant habitat improves quality of life.  It also means a boost to the local economy.”    

Astor Boozer, USDA-NRCS Assistant State Conservationists, told the group, “We have so many issues with our streams and lakes the buffers are a tool to benefit the landscape.  We have a great staff and great relationships with our partners.”

Participants also recognized the conservation contributions of the Larry Greving family.  Noted were conservation measures that included planting native grass mixtures, trees and food plots, opening their farm for an annual pheasant youth hunt, and constructing a wetland that has been monitored for nitrate removal.