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Success StoriesBuffer Bonus from Bear CreekValuable information on conservation
buffers is still flowing from Bear Creek in Story County, Iowa. A
riparian buffer first established in 1990 on the Ron Risdal farm has
been studied extensively for ten years; ten major findings have been
gleaned from the research at the site. Thorough monitoring by scientists
at Iowa State University and the ISU Agroecology Issues Team of the
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture has found buffers in that
location can:
Research is now extending up and down the creek; 14 buffers have recently been planted or committed for planting along the 14 mile length of Bear Creek in Story and Hamilton Counties. Nearly half the farmers along Bear Creek are or will be using streamside buffers. Most are participating in USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program to plant the buffers. On June 16, 1998, Bear Creek was designated a National Research and Demonstration Area by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Countless tours have been conducted at Bear Creek to leaders of more than 50 conservation and farm organizations in Iowa. More information is available on the web at www.buffer.forestry.iastate.edu Signs of Conservation SuccessIowa NRCS is working to inform the public
about conservation while they travel along the state’s major
interstates, highways, and byways. In the spring of 2001, Iowa NRCS produced and installed 75 large wetlands restoration signs on restoration sites across the state. The goals of this sign project are to celebrate 100,000 acres of restored wetlands in Iowa, highlight the value of wetlands, and recognize the contributions of private landowners, NRCS, and the conservation partnership. Iowa NRCS conducted a brief Geographic information systems (GIS) analysis—cross-referencing wetland restoration easement sites with Iowa’s road network and Iowa Department of Transportation traffic counts. The new 8 ft wide by 4 ft high signs were placed on easement areas near the most highly traveled roads in the state. The first wetlands sign was installed at
the Bristol Wildlife Area in Greene County, Iowa, and was unveiled at a
Private Lands Conservation Tour in June, 2001. Dedication of the other
74 signs began in the summer of 2001 and is ongoing. Field offices were
encouraged to plan events, invite local media to attend,
and organize group photos of landowners and partners with the signs. Iowa NRCS plans to order more signs and to eventually have a sign on every USDA sponsored wetlands restoration site. Two central Iowa conservation districts are calling attention to conservation buffers with signs as well. The Dallas County SWCD is recognizing landowners and raising awareness of the benefits of filter strips along county highways. District personnel are working with county supervisors, local businesses, agencies, and organizations to erect signs on buffer strips along heavily traveled roads. Since spring of 2000, they have erected ten signs on buffers including one at a water works where well heads are protected from pollution. The Greene SWCD is undertaking a similar program, and has put up 4 new signs in strategic locations. More buffer signs are planned. For more info on Buffer Signs in Dallas
County, Iowa— For more info on Buffer Signs in Greene
County, Iowa— Inner City Residents Learn Conservation Practices They Can UseTwenty-three inner city Des Moines residents traveled to rural Adams County to tour gardens and yards and learn conservation techniques they can use on their own. Sponsored by 1000 Friends of Iowa, the Adams County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Adams County Backyard Conservation Team, and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, the residents learned about proven farm conservation practices and how those practices can be used to improve their own yards and gardens. Adams County, located 90 miles southwest
from Des Moines, was chosen for the tour because of its very active team
of backyard conservation volunteers and their public information
programs. Sheila O’Riley, state secretary and Richard Spraugue,
District Conservationist of the Adams County Soil and Water Conservation
Service, arranged the tour and picnic for their Des Moines guests. The Des Moines residents saw conservation practices farmers use to preserve soil and water quality, learned of the benefits of applying conservation practices and discussed the benefits of the Backyard Conservation program. At their Adams County stops, visitors saw those same land conservation practices applied on a small scale to yards and gardens. Favorites included a container garden on a concrete driveway, a strip garden along a back fence loaded with strawberries and herbs, and backyard with a small wetland. The Urban – Rural Conservation Tour was the first of a four-step, yearlong program to help this Des Moines inner city area improve their yards and gardens. It was designed to introduce the urban landowners to proven farm conservation techniques, show what is possible to do in small yards and gardens, and demonstrate how they can be successfully applied in urban areas. Additional steps include planning, planting, care, and enjoyment of their yards and gardens. The Des Moines and Adams County gardeners will use practices and help from the Backyard Conservation Program found on the web at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov. More Info: Dick Tremain (515)284-4262; dick.tremain@ia.nrcs.gov Private Lands Conservation Promoted in Iowa CitiesThe Adams County Soil and Water
Conservation District is having great success promoting backyard
conservation among the city residents in this predominantly rural Iowa
county. Starting two years ago, the Adams County Backyard Conservation
Team has grown to more than 50 members , logging over 4,300 hours as
Earth Team Volunteers. "Area yards and gardens definitely show the
improvement," according to district secretary Sheila O’Riley.
"In fact, yards and gardens in this county now look so good that
the conservation team members have a new goal. They want to make Adams
county The Backyard Conservation Capital of Iowa!" The Adams County Backyard Conservation Team is a diverse group that is passionate about conservation, wildlife, and gardening. Members plan public monthly meetings built around the Backyard Conservation Program sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts, NRCS, and the Wildlife Habitat Council. The meetings focus on one of the ten backyard conservation practices that have been proven successful on farm size fields. They get practical how-to information to improve the environment on their city-sized plots. For example, in Corning it appears neighbors are engaged in a friendly gardening competition. One woman has transformed her backyard completely into garden that’s both colorful and bountiful. Across the street, a neighbor has arranged annuals and perennials on her side yard terraces to highlight her proudly displayed "Backyard Conservationist" sign. Down the alley lives a woman that has arranged 30 different sized planters into a garden that’s carefully placed on her concrete walkways and driveway. Across town is a retired couple that has landscaped their backyard of miniature plants around outdoor model train sets. Ten miles away in Prescott, a family has transformed their backyard to use nine of the ten backyard conservation practices promoted by the Backyard Conservation Program. The owners believe they’ll fix that "shortcoming" next year when they add terraces behind their wetland. When District Commissioners discussed the backyard conservation idea, they originally saw the program as an opportunity to increase the public’s recognition of the district. The commissioners and Natural Resources Conservation Service staff developed a marketing plan to find volunteers to promote the program and set it in action. District Secretary, Sheila O’Riley, was selected as the coordinator, volunteers signed up and the team started to make improvements—one yard at a time. The Backyard Conservation Team became very active at home and in the community. Since being formed, they have held garden tours, demonstrations, had booths at the county fair, and conducted public information programs using a weekly newspaper column and the internet. Working with state office NRCS staff, the Adams County Team has been able to spread the backyard conservation message on television, radio and in gardening magazines. Want to know more? Contact Sheila O’Riley at 641-322-3116. Know Who To Talk To…It Makes All The DifferenceWebster County, Iowa may have one of the highest concentrations of buffers in the country thanks to the aggressive efforts of Gary Smith, NRCS District Conservationist. Smith recognized the potential for filter strips along the Webster County’s hundreds of miles of drainage ditches, as well as understanding who he needed to convince if the program was going to be a success. Smith first talked to the Webster County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Farm Service Agency County Committee about his idea to promote filter strips along the drainage ditches. He emphasized that the program had the potential to cut drainage ditch maintenance costs and to increase wildlife habitat. He came away with both groups in full support of his efforts. He later approached the Webster County Board of Supervisors and reasoned with them that the filter strips are an excellent way to keep farm machinery from the banks of the drainage ditches. He also explained that a 30-foot wide or wider grass filter on each side of the ditch would prevent soil erosion caused by farming operations or from knocking soil into the ditch. He made a good case for how the buffers would help keep farm chemicals from the drainage waters. The board of supervisors overwhelmingly agreed, and began to publicize the idea in local news media as well as personally promoting the idea with farmers in the county. Once the program started to receive recognition, the local chapter of "Pheasants Forever" joined the effort and pledged $10 per acre as an added incentive to farmers who planted warm season grasses in the filter strips. Thanks to his efforts and the county’s word-of mouth campaign, more than 2,200 acres of filter strips were established along drainage ditches in this flatland county in north central Iowa, creating a win-win situation for the farmer and the environment. For more information on how they make it work in Webster County, Iowa contact Gary Smith, District Conservationist, NRCS, at 515-284-4262. Urban Conservation SuccessesContact: Brad Harrison (515) 993-3413 Dallas County, Iowa is changing from a rural to an urban county thanks to the western expansion of the state’s capital city of Des Moines. To meet the challenge, the county soil and water conservation district and the NRCS are changing their traditional service delivery methods to include working with builders and developers so they can do a better job employing land conservation measures and keeping soil on construction sites. To accomplish this, the district has established a two-part outreach program called "Meet and Remind." The district wants to prevent soil loss before it occurs. This proactive approach is the "meet" portion of the outreach program. District Conservationist Brad Harrison and his staff encourage city and county planning staffs and developers to meet with a trained conservationist at the development site before any soil is turned. They all walk the land, view environmentally sensitive areas and discuss erosion control measures. Conservation and pollution prevention plans follow. District staff then keeps track of the development project. If an obvious urban pollution problem is observed, the staff moves to "remind" the developer. A digital picture is taken and a letter is prepared pointing out the problem to the developer and recommending they contact the district for help solving it. Harrison says the program has been very successful. Construction site soil erosion is noticeably down and planning staffs and developers appreciate the technical assistance his staff provides. Harrison also notes, that when he meets with developers before construction begins, he has an opportunity to promote better land use and green development. As a result of these early meetings, one 200-acre project will include a wetland and a native prairie area that wasn’t on the original plan. That, he believes, is great way to serve the landowner and better the environment. The Meet and Remind program is growing along with Dallas County. In fiscal year 2002, the district expects to work with 10 to 12 developers that are turning 1200 acres of Dallas county into homes and businesses. Shelby Wetland: A rural Community Turns Lemons into LemonadeThe residents of Shelby, Iowa, a small rural community in Southwest Iowa, worked together to turn a piece of wasted land into a recreation area. Several years ago a group of Shelby bike enthusiasts were developing a new bike path just outside of town. In order to complete the path, plans called to cross an old wet pasture area owned by Alvin Jensen. At the same time, Jensen was looking for an alternative for the pasture that was too wet for crops and cattle. Reverend Stan Neilson (now deceased), an active and well-respected member of the Shelby community, saw the big picture. He brought all of the parties together to turn their individual problems into a joint opportunity. Neilson contacted the local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office in Oakland, Iowa. Together, Neilson and the NRCS staff visited with Jensen about the possibility of entering the pastureland into the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP). In September of 1999 Jensen entered 20.3 acres into a permanent easement in the WRP. Over the next year, Jensen, the City of Shelby, NRCS, and several other partners including the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries and Wildlife Division and the East Pottawattamie Soil and Water Conservation District worked together to complete the wetland restoration. In April 2000 Jensen deeded the Shelby Wetland over to the City of Shelby, which now maintains the wetland. Mel Hursey, past Mayor of Shelby, who served the community for 10 years, provided leadership for the project when Reverend Neilson passed away. Hursey says the wetland and bike trail have been positive for Shelby. "Working on this project was a really good experience. Our local government and the federal government worked well together to do something to benefit our community," says Hursey. "The wetland provides a beautiful area to view wildlife, birds and natural grasses. It's a good learning area for kids and a nice place for people to exercise. This time of year I see a lot of people out biking and walking the trail." Greg Mathis, District Conservationist for the NRCS in Oakland, who has been involved in the project from the beginning, agrees that the project has been good for the community, as well as the natural resources. "This was a win-win situation for everyone involved," says Mathis. "The Shelby Wetland is used by teachers and students for outdoor education, by wildlife watchers, and by people biking, walking, and rollerblading," says Mathis. "The wetland also helps to improve water quality by filtering sediment and chemicals, and to reduce flooding. The community of Shelby took advantage of a unique opportunity to improve natural resources and create a nice recreation area for its residents to enjoy." For more information on Shelby Wetland contact Greg Mathis, greg.mathis@ia.usda.gov, 712.482.6408
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Day held in Polk County Iowa. Two Des Moines 9th grade
students with disabilities recently shadowed Thomas for half a day as part of an
annual mentoring program designed to help disabled students learn about various
career fields. The students, interested in conservation, were teamed with
Snyder Thomas who works out the Ankeny field office. They learned about many
field conservation practices, names of plants and discussed a number of NRCS
careers. Disability Mentoring Day is part of a national program designed to
bring students and job seekers with disabilities into the workplace where they
can learn firsthand about career opportunities. On the web:
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