Turkey River Watershed Management Authority

The Winneshiek County and the SWCDCorey Meyer

Watershed Projects Coordinator

8 Communities rest within the watershed, 6 public water supplies, 4 municipal waste systems, Turkey River considered high quality water resource

129,545 acres (11.96% of the total) watershed lay in portions of Winneshiek County: 14 HUC 12 designated watersheds

Hummocks, trout, CCOMM, dairy cows, bluffs and kayaks…

Our influence on the Turkey River

Historically this diverse watershed has had strong participation in programs, though few designated watershed projects have been deployed within it

The forgotten watershed… “when is it our turn…”

Many family farms that have been passed on for generations, very close to the land

Our NRCS/District office has 12 individuals working on conservation practices

Turkey River and Us

369 Producers received $1,229,264 to rehabilitate croplands in Winn. Co.

Almost 5 years later, some lands are still showing the effects of the floods

Enrollment in conservation practices saw steep rise, now there seems to be a wane in some programs

The flood that shook the culture of conservation…

maybe

Watershed project started with the inception of the lake

1998 Lake listed on 303(d) List, TMDL completed in 2005; sediments / nutrients

37 acres 33 acres; over ½ of acre feet silted in … with nutrient loading leads to hypertrophic conditions

Over 40 years of watershed project BMP’s – 75% cost-share

1590 acres watershed, 73% watershed working lands, 9% urban

12 Landowners of Ag Land, operated by 8 individuals

2.6 of 3.5 miles of feeder streams have protected buffers / filters

Since FY2008 $202,426.31 invested thru BMP placement

Additional 1097 t/y sediment reduction

Lake Meyer Watershed Project

Conservation Practices Amount InstalledContinuous CRP (Filter Strips) 64.3 AcresManure Storage Systems 3 UnitsTerraces 35,876 FeetGrade Stabilization Structure 6 UnitsSediment & Water Control Basins 5 UnitsGrassed Waterways 4,606 FeetStormwater Interceptors(Bio-Swales) 3 UnitsStormwater Wetlands 2 Units

Targeted BMP’s have been positioned to ensure longevity and function of lake to be a hub of recreation and educational learning

142 Active CSP contracts, 29 completed since 2005

13 Active EQIP contracts, 42 completed since 1996

Strongest BMP’s include: Terraces, Grade Sta-bilizations, Nutrient Management, Sediment Basins, Contour Buffers, Riparian Buffers

More Conservation…

30 acres of hard runoff from Calmar increases runoff problem; literally millions of gallons of water are sent running down streets , 20% of runoff is impermeable surfaces

City passed ordinance to exclude grass clippings and other “hurtful” substances from being deposited into the storm sewer system

Completed Vision Iowa process that included many urban BMP’s (rain gardens, pervious paving, curb cuttings/runoff boxes, etc…) that would mutually benefit community and watersheds

School District has went to no phosphorus lawn fertilizer on their sports complex (14 acres)

Urban Conservation

Over 423,0000 gals of runoff – 15.6 Acres of impervious surfaces

1.0 ac shelterbelt 2.2 ac short/tall grass native

prairie reestablishment Pollinator Garden 3.3 ac Oak Savanna Rain gardens, bio-swales, soil

amending, turf grass mitigation

The district is making a determined effort to educate the public that urban areas also impact our local waterbodies

NICC Urban Conservation Project: Your

Neighborhood

$85,098 was secured through a Iowa Fish Habitat Grant to construct a Rock Chute Wetland

Strain 788 t/y of sediment and 1024 lbs of phosphorus

WIRB grant was applied for to assist

Further installation of urban conservation practices and I&E is ongoing

Ongoing watershed work

Expanding into the watershed…

4 watershed have been recognized by the district for additional focus: Bohemian, Brockamp, Wonder and Burr Oak

Farmer participation, concerns from water sampling findings, ecological significance, greatest opportunity to have impact within watershed

Winneshiek County Soil Water Conservation District Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship – DSC Natural Resources Conservation Service Iowa Department of Natural Resources Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors Winneshiek County Conservation Board City of Calmar South Winneshiek Community School District Winneshiek Pheasants Forever Turkey River Watershed Alliance Turkey River Watershed Management Authority Iowa Flood Center Northeast Iowa RC&D

Partners