Polk Soil & Water Conservation District

2014 Annual Report

Contact Information 1513 N. Ankeny Blvd. STE 3 Ankeny, IA 50023 Phone: (515) 964-1883 ext. 3 E-mail: info@polk-swcd.org www.polk-swcd.org

In the short life of the Easter Lake Watershed Project a lot of progress has already been made. Many of Year 1 (FY14) project goals were met and exceeded. In March 2014, the District received an additional $80,000 funding from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) which was used to fund 8 more permeable paver driveways. These 10 driveways served as a very visible kickoff creating interest and momentum. In fiscal year 2014 ten permeable driveways, 1 rain garden, 28 rain barrels, 15 soil quality restorations, and 1 acre of native turf/native landscaping were installed. In total, 31 project sites were completed with these environmental benefits:

Sediment reduction of 18 tons/year

Phosphorus reduction of 24 lbs/year

Treatment of 1,170,264 gallons of stomwater/year

Total suspended solid reduction of 3,190 lbs/year

Nitrogen reduction of 8 lbs/year

A monitoring program tracks the impacts of the installed best management practices. Flow meters on 4 storm sewer outfalls entering Easter Lake track the volume of stormwater discharge and determine stormwater reductions as infiltration practices are installed in. The reduction in discharge will be used to document the effectiveness of BMPs at the sub basin scale. By installing practices in these research areas, coordinators hope to see a significant decrease in the amount of stormwater entering the lake.

With nearly 10,000 residents in the watershed, education plays an important role for this project. A project kickoff event was held on May 18th and over 600 watershed residents attended. That interest led to 114 site visits. Residents take pride in the lake and are interested in learning more about what they can do to help. A legislative event was also held in October, 2013 where legislators, city councilman, county supervisors, and others attended to hear about the restoration plans for Easter Lake. Project coordinators held 32 public events with 1000 people attending. Other outreach activities include educational packets delivered to targeted areas, resulting in a large response for technical assistance. The Trash Bash, county wide clean up effort, featured three cleanup locations around the watershed and 50+ volunteers, filling 3 dumpsters with trash from the lake, creek, and watershed.

Assistant Commissioner Elaine Ilvess teaches kids about watersheds at the Easter Lake Kickoff Event.

Water quality in Easter Lake is dependent on the health of the watershed.

Stop in and work with us!

Whether you are urban or rural, farmer or gardener, business owner or homeowner, student or parent, our staff can help you to protect Iowa’s natural resources. Office Hours: Monday- Friday 8:00 A.M.-4:30 P.M.

Rain barrels are a great way to harvest water from your own home! They can be used to wash your car or water your flowers and gardens. Barrels are available for $105 from the Polk SWCD as well as a variety of accessories. Stop into our Ankeny Office or give us a call and for more information.

Like our Facebook pages! Polk Soil & Water Conservation District Easter Lake Watershed Project Big Creek Lake Watershed Project

Contact Information 1513 N. Ankeny Blvd. STE 3 Ankeny, IA 50023 Phone: (515) 964-1883 ext. 3 E-mail: info@polk-swcd.org www.polk-swcd.org

Eleven Watershed Management Authorities (WMA’s) have organized in Iowa to improve water quality and promote flood control in watersheds across Iowa. WMA’s bring together Soil and Water Conservation Districts with local units of governments and other stakeholders.

Funding was initially available through the Iowa Economic Development Authority and DNR to help form the initial WMA’s. In the past year, three WMA’s were organized in Central Iowa. The Urban Conservationist at Polk SWCD played a key role in helping to organize these WMA’s. The Des Moines metro communities have seen the value of working together to develop watershed management plans and unifying policies that will improve and protect water quality in the region. These watershed scale planning efforts have also shown these communities the benefit of working with farmers to make improvements on the agricultural lands.

Polk County SWCD Commissioners, urban conservationist, and conservation staff have been integral in the leadership and technical assistance in the three recently formed WMA’s. Polk SWCD staff conducted initial assessments on these watersheds. Land use, and tillage, and more than 80 miles of stream were assessed on Walnut Creek, Fourmile Creek, Mud Creek, Camp Creek, and Spring Creek.

The WMA’s are actively developing watershed management plans and working to fund and implement high priority goals. Fourmile Creek WMA is using $4.3 million SRF sponsored project funding to implement riparian buffers, floodplain buyouts, and stream stabilization projects.

Get Your Rain Barrel Today!

Polk SWCD Mission Our mission is to provide leadership to help people improve, conserve, and sustain natural resources while educating them about the importance and practicality of maintaining our environment and quality of life.

Commissioners Chip Mathis, Chair, Elkhart Twp.

Jane Clark, Vice Chair, Walnut Twp.

Cindy Valin, Treasurer, Lee Twp.

Dan Beougher, Washington Twp.

Sherrie Taha, Des Moines Twp.

Assistant Commissioners

Elaine Ilvess

Ray Meylor

Russ Paul

Ryan Peterson

Lisa Walters

Field Office Staff Paul Miller, District Conservationist

Jason Foss, Soil Conservation Tech.

Pam Schwartz, State Secretary

Jennifer Welch, Urban Con.

Zach DeYoung, Easter Lake Coord.

John Swanson, Outreach Coord.

Watershed Management Authority

2014 Polk Soil & Water Conservation District Scholarship Winner

2014 Scholarship Recipient Kirsten Wedewer of Ankeny was presented with a $300.00 scholarship at the Polk County Fair. The Polk SWCD offers a scholarship to a graduating Polk County student who is pursuing programs of study in any field of agriculture or natural resources. Criteria used in judging the yearly applications is scholastic achievement and leadership which includes service, character and self-motivation. Applicants are also eligible for four other scholarships of up to $4,000 presented by Conservation Districts of Iowa.

Kirsten is a 2014 Ankeny High School graduate and will be first attending DMACC for her general education requirements and then transfer to Iowa State University to pursue an environmental science degree.

To apply for the 2015 scholarship, visit www.cdiowa.org. Providing technical assistance.

Polk Soil and Water Conservation District Financial Report

Fiscal Year 2014 July 1, 2013- June 30, 2014 1M Budget (Operating Funds) Total Allocation $2,150.00 Commissioner Expense $ 774.76 Office Expense $ 377.19 Dues+ Award Expense $ 998.05 Remaining $ 0.00 Conservation Practice Funding Source Spent/Obligated Total (Including Leveraged Funds) Iowa financial Incentive Program $ 40,644.00 $ 81,288.00 REAP- Practices $ 16,645.15 $ 69,634.33 REAP- Forestry $ 1,350.00 $ 2,700.00 Environmental Quality Incentive Program $134,253.20 $268,506.40 Easter Lake Watershed Project $230,461.11 $279,184.80 Polk County Conservation Board $ 32,992.66 $ 43,990.21 DNR 319 $ 85,573.45 $ 96,632.93 Watershed Protection Fund $ 80,000.00 $106,666.66 Water Protection Fund $ 2,000.00 $ 2,000.00 DNR Lakes Restoration $ 29,895.00 $ 29,895.00 Big Creek Lake Watershed Project $175,239.77 $198,088.41 DNR 319 $129,636.82 $139,492.45 Watershed Protection Fund $ 12,459.10 $ 16,612.13 DNR Lakes Restoration $ 9,935.85 $ 11,039.83 DNR Publicly Owned Lakes $ 23,208.00 $ 30,944.00 Four Mile Creek Watershed Project $ 36,671.00 $ 64,039.06 Watershed Protection Fund

Total $635,264.23 $963,441.00

Practice Amount Acres with Improved Soil Quality 2,653 acres Conservation Systems Planned 2,518 acres Cover Crops 1,012 acres Wildlife Habitat Applied 187 acres High Tunnels 2 Residue Management Mulch Till 446 acres No Till 450 acres Grassed Waterways 6.9 acres Water & Sediment Control Basins 8 Terraces 350 feet Continuous CRP Contracts (15) 178 acres Streambank Stabilizations (1) 107 feet Rain Gardens (5) 1,292 sq. ft. Permeable Paver Driveways (13) 14,753 sq. ft. Soil Quality Restorations (19) 198,413 sq. ft. Bioretention Cells (1) 1,400 sq. ft. Native Landscaping/Turf (4) 33,690 sq. ft.

Through FY 2014 the Big Creek Lake Watershed Project successfully installed five water and sediment control basins and over 2 acres of grassed waterways. The project also successfully installed a streambank stabilization project. The project is continuing work to stabilize two more sections with severe erosion. The environmental benefits of FY 2014 Big Creek practices:

Sediment reduction of 501 tons/year

Phosphorus reduction of 660 lbs/year

Nitrogen reduction of 1,003 lbs/year

During Fall 2013 a Cover Crop Field Day was held near Big Creek Lake, which marked the 2nd year of DNR row crops being planted with cover crops. This field day helped promote the practice and 375 acres of fields were planted in the watershed. In FY14 project coordinators tried to do a varied approach to education and outreach including mailings, door hangers, newsletters, and press releases. Events held included woman landowner meetings, Big Creek Appreciation Day, Conservation Management Workshop, and the cover crop field day.

High bacterial levels at the Big Creek beach from the resident goose population is a major water quality issue. To reduce the population, a dog service continues to chase geese off the beach area. The numbers of geese loafing at the beach continue to decline after the third year of dog service. Next year project coordinators will work with local cattle producers to promote stream exclusion and pasture management plans. These include alternate water sources, stabilized crossings, and paddock rotations. These will further help reduce the amount of bacteria entering the lake from cattle. FY 2014 marked the 4th year of the project and coordinators found increased interest from landowners to use conservation practices in the watershed. Moving forward, the Polk SWCD and the Big Creek Lake Watershed Project will continue working to improving water quality in Big Creek Lake.

Local contractors building water and sediment control basins in the Big Creek Lake Watershed.

Polk SWCD Accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2014 Practices Applied with Polk SWCD Assistance

Native turf and rain gardens built in Des Moines

Cereal rye cover crops planted near Big Creek Lake

Urban Conservation Report WATER QUALITY FUNDING The Urban Conservationists are playing an integral role in implementing a new water quality program. The Water Resource Restoration Sponsored Project program, operated through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF), has created a new and significant funding source (about $10 million per year) for watershed-based water quality projects. Cities and wastewater utilities partner with conservation and watershed organizations to conduct watershed assessments and construct practices that will have long-term benefits for Iowa’s water quality. Practices can be installed on public or private land, inside corporate limits or outside. Most of the new sponsored projects feature work in urban watersheds, with technical assistance and project review provided by the Urban Conservationists. The urban conservationist provided project guidance and technical assistance on SRF water quality sponsored projects to fifteen communities around Iowa. PAVER RESEARCH The urban conservation program is involved in a project to research and monitor permeable paver systems with a grant from the State Soil Conservation Committee. Monitoring wells were installed on a driveway in Polk County. The wells monitor movement of water in the rock chamber below the pavers. Flow meters monitor water leaving the rock chamber. Groundwater recharge and runoff reduction will be calculated. Water samples will be analyzed to determine the effectiveness of permeable pavers to reduce pollutant loads. Oxley Creek Watershed A management plan provided guidelines and an approach for implementing projects that reduce flooding, protect water quality and guide future development. A source water protection plan was created, new ordinances developed, and applications submitted for project implementation. SRF funding was obtained for stream stabilization and bioswales to protect water quality and will be constructed in 2015.

Fourmile Creek tributary stream stabilization project featured on the urban conservation tour.

Pavers manage stormwater and keep it from running off. Research will document runoff reductions and water quality improvement.

Big Creek Lake beach benefits from the goose removal dog service.