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Turkey River Watershed Management Authority

Turkey River Watershed Management Authority . The Winneshiek County and the SWCD Corey Meyer Watershed Projects Coordinator. Our influence on the Turkey River . 129,545 acres (11.96% of the total) watershed lay in portions of Winneshiek County: 14 HUC 12 designated watersheds.

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Turkey River Watershed Management Authority

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  1. Turkey River Watershed Management Authority The Winneshiek County and the SWCD Corey Meyer Watershed Projects Coordinator

  2. Our influence on the Turkey River • 129,545 acres (11.96% of the total) watershed lay in portions of Winneshiek County: 14 HUC 12 designated watersheds • 8 Communities rest within the watershed, 6 public water supplies, 4 municipal waste systems, Turkey River considered high quality water resource • Hummocks, trout, CCOMM, dairy cows, bluffs and kayaks…

  3. Turkey River and Us • 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

  4. The flood that shook the culture of conservation… maybe • 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

  5. Lake Meyer Watershed Project • 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

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

  7. More Conservation… • 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

  8. Urban 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)

  9. NICC Urban Conservation Project: Your Neighborhood • 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

  10. Ongoing watershed work • $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

  11. 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

  12. Partners • 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

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