A Watershed Approach
The Poweshiek County Soil & Water Conservation District is committed to find balance between human activity and riparian habitats. Over the years, we contributed to improve the health of the watersheds of Walnut Creek, Lake Ponderosa, Holiday Lake, Arbor Lake, Diamond Lake, and the English River. Since 2012, we have focused our efforts on The Little Bear Creek Watershed.
The Poweshiek County Soil & Water Conservation District is committed to find balance between human activity and riparian habitats. Over the years, we contributed to improve the health of the watersheds of Walnut Creek, Lake Ponderosa, Holiday Lake, Arbor Lake, Diamond Lake, and the English River. Since 2012, we have focused our efforts on The Little Bear Creek Watershed.
The Little Bear Creek Watershed The hydrology of the landscape has been dramatically modified to give place to agriculture and urban areas since settlers first arrived in the Little Bear Creek valley. The watershed comprises about 29,000 acres. Most of the area consists approximately 70% of agricultural land but is also includes urban communities such as Brooklyn, Grinnell, and Malcom. The landscape is hilly, and the soils are prone to erosion. The creek is on the list of Iowa Impaired Waters because it can only sustain limited aquatic life.
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The Little Bear Creek Watershed Project In 2012, we set the objective of reducing annual sediment delivery in the Little Bear Creek by 25% over a period of 15 years. We are reducing sediment delivery by 9,000 tons every year. We will achieve our goal by educating the watershed residents about soil health & water quality, and by helping them access financial assistance for installing cost-effective and sustainable practices & technology. |
Success Stories
Since the beginning of the project, annual sediment delivery was reduced by almost 2,600 tons/year. Producers and landowners' efforts resulted in the installation of many acres of grassed waterways, thousands of feet of terraces and basins, hundreds of acres taken out of production for wildlife habitat, and thousands of acres planted in cover crops. In urban areas, residents increased water infiltration by installing native landscaping, rain gardens, permeable pavers and bioswales. We are proud of being part of their success stories!
Roger Van Ersvelde's Bioreactor In 2017, Roger Van Ersvelde installed a bioreactor in one of his fields to remove nitrates/nitrites from tile water coming from 50 acres of his land. He received financial support from the Iowa Water Quality Initiative. We have been sampling the water coming in and out of the bioreactor. Andrew Graham, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Grinnell College, graciously agreed to analyze the samples. So far, the results indicate that the nitrogen removal rate is around 30%. |
Sandy Moffett's Native Prairies Over the years, Sandy Moffett converted 125 acres of his crop lands into tallgrass prairie. He wanted to create pollinator and wildlife habitats on his land because he loves nature and enjoys hunting. Recently, he took advantage of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to create three constructed wetlands in his native prairies. Shallow wetlands provide flood control, sediment deposition and nitrogen removal. |
A Green Campus in Grinnell
When Grinnell College designed a new addition to the complex for Humanities and Social Studies in 2017, they did not hesitate to include several water protection practices and structures to mitigate the runoff from impervious surfaces. The new building features a green roof and a large rain collection cistern. Several infiltration basins, permeable pavers, and rain gardens collect, filter and slowly release rainwater. They chose to plant native plants and shrubs instead of horticultural varieties to provide habitat to birds and beneficial insects. |
Pheasant Hunting in Prairie Strips Sustainable agriculture makes a lot of sense for the Van Arkel Family. Like many other producers of the Little Bear Creek Watershed, they must deal with hilly obstacles. These areas are difficult to farm and have a low productivity rate. They made the decision to convert the steepest slopes into native prairie contour strips. Diversified native prairie contour strips are very effective at controlling erosion, and they provide wildlife habitat. "I enjoy hunting for pheasants in prairie strips", said Zach Van Arkel, "I walk along the field while my dog tracks and retrieves the birds." |
Our Partners
This project would not be possible without friends!
Thanks to our partners for their involvement and generous contribution.
Thanks to our partners for their involvement and generous contribution.
Poweshiek County Soil and Water Conservation District
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The Poweshiek County SWCD is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
All services, information, and assistance are offered without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.
All services, information, and assistance are offered without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.