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Middle Iowa Watershed

Introduction

The total estimated area in the Middle Iowa Watershed is 1,059,105 acres. This watershed is located in parts of Story, Marshall, Grundy, Tama, Jasper, Poweshiek, Benton, Iowa, Linn, and Johnson Counties in central and eastern Iowa.

Physical Description

The Middle Iowa Watershed is predominantly in the Iowa River Loess and Till Plain. The topography is mostly rolling to hilly with some broad uplands that are level to undulating. Upland soils are mostly deep medium texture soils that formed in loess under prairie vegetation. Some steep upland side slopes formed under forest vegetation. Floodplain soils are silty and clayey and range from poorly drained to moderately well drained.

Land Cover/Use

Land Use

Total Acres

Cropland

634,788

Pasture

267,405

Forest

99,848

Developed

37,267

Water

10,884
Other 1,106

Total

1,059,105

Common Resource Acres and Resource Concerns

This area consists of silty soils on ridge tops and highly dissected side slopes with drainage ways and streams. Glacial till soils dominate the steeper side slopes. Native vegetation was prairie on the ride tops with thin bands of timber in the valleys and ravines. Common crops are corn and soybeans with some hay. Swine and poultry operations are numerous.

Resource concerns are soil erosion, soil quality, nutrient management, water quality and wildlife habitat.

Tier II Focus:
  • Wildlife Habitat
  • General Habitat Assessment Model

2008 CSP Enhancements

Payment Schedule

Watershed Facts

  • There are 2,781 farms in the Middle Iowa Watershed.
  • The watershed contains the Meskwaki Indian Settlement, a 7,000 acre tribally owned settlement with a population of about 580.

Map of Middle Iowa Watershed

Middle Iowa Watershed
Click on map for full screen version (PDF, 877 KB)

County Maps in Middle Iowa Watershed

Latest News

For General and Application Information, visit the Iowa CSP home page. For national CSP information, visit the NRCS national CSP web page.

Program Contact

Tom O'Connor
Resource Conservationist
Phone: 515-284-4353

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