March 2015

Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation District 2014 annual report In partnership with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Division of Soil Conservation, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 2950 Southland Drive, Ste. 2 Waterloo, IA 50701 Phone: 319-296-3262 Fax: 1-855-246-1553

Check out our website: www.blackhawkswcd.org Office Staff Shaffer Ridgeway, District Conservationist Julie Falcon, Soil Conservationist Elaine Hammer, Soil Technician Leslie Grundy, State Secretary Shane Wulf, Watershed Coordinator

The Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation District was founded in 1945 to promote protection, maintenance, improvement and wise use of our soil and water within Black Hawk County.

Black Hawk Soil and Water District Commissioners

Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioners, left to right.. Sherman Lundy, Assistant Commissioner Dustin Sage, Commissioner Lanny Schwartz, Assistant Commissioner Jennifer Trent, Commissioner Paula Even, Vice-Chair, Co-Treasurer Ellen Myers, Assistant Commissioner Jeri Thornsberry, Chair Lee Bader, Treasurer Tolif Hunt, Assistant Commissioner ,not pictured Vern Fish, Assistant Commissioner, not pictured

Thank you Sherman Lundy for your Years of Service as a Black Hawk Soil and Water District Commissioner! The Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation District congratulates Sherman for his 11 years of service as a District Commissioner. Sherman’s last day as a Commissioner was on December 31, 2014, but he will remain active on the board as an Assistant Commissioner. Lundy was very influential in increasing the number of conservation practices installed in Black Hawk County designed to protect our farmland against soil erosion and to improve water quality. He has also been and will remain an advocate for urban conservation practices throughout the county.

Black Hawk SWCD Welcomes New Commissioner Jennifer Trent Jenny Trent is currently a Waste Reduction Specialist at the Iowa Waste Reduction Center at the University of Northern Iowa. Jenny graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Master of Arts Degree from the Department of Geography studying Quaternary soils and glacial tills. New to the commission, Jenny is passionate about sustainable land management as well as creating interest in food waste composting to amend soils and improve nutrient content, ward off plant disease, increase water-holding capacity, and to prevent erosion and turf loss. Jenny's interests also include the multifaceted conservation benefits of planting native prairie species within row crops. She is currently involved in the regional Pollution Prevention (P2) Roundtable and serves on both the Promotional and Technical Sub-Committees for the National Steering Committee of the Small Business Ombudsman/Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs. Jenny currently lives near Waterloo with her husband, three children, two dogs, five cats, and six chickens.

Message from the Chair Jeri Thornsberry Summer Tour Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation District is hosting the joint State Soil Committee meeting for Northeast Iowa on Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Plans are underway to showcase the variety of conservation practices we have installed in rural and urban areas. Sherman Lundy, SSCC Chair and Assistant Commissioner and Paula Even, Commissioner and CDI Region 4 Director are Co-chairs of this event.

Summary of Accomplishments Your Soil and Water District begins this new year with some great accomplishments. Our two watershed projects, Dry Run Creek and Miller Creek, have shown impressive results. Here are some highlights. Dry Run Creek Watershed Improvement Project In Dry Run Creek managed by our former Watershed Coordinator, Ashley Kittle, a lot has happened this year. Ashley meets monthly with an Advisory Board to help guide the project and look for new funding avenues and future locations to install conservation practices in the watershed. We are excited about a new partnership with UNI’s GeoTREE department that will look at all the urban conservation practices installed in the watershed and total their water quality improvement benefits. Over the past 11 years, more than 80 water quality improvement practices have been installed. We anticipate some impressive and encouraging numbers regarding the overall improvement of water quality! Welcome Josh Balk - New Dry Run Creek Watershed Coordinator On March 16, 2015, Josh Balk joins our team as the new Dry Run Creek Watershed Coordinator. He graduated from UNI with a BA in Earth Science. Most recently he was the project manager assistant with TestAmerica, Inc. He has had many experiences in the world of conservation practices and is looking forward to promoting urban conservation practices. Former coordinator, Ashley Kittle accepted a position as the Working Group Coordinator at the Tall Grass Prairie Center at UNI effective February 10, 2015. She will be working with rural landowners and agricultural service providers to form a working group around the topic of on-farm prairie restoration for conversation purposes. Some of her primary roles will be to form a network of on-farm demonstration sites across eastern and central Iowa with contrasting prairie establishment practices, conduct workshops, create educational materials and technology resources for agricultural audiences, create a working group among technical services providers and monitor demonstration sites for monarch use. Miller Creek Water Quality Improvement Project Miller Creek Water Quality Improvement Project managed by Watershed Coordinator, Shane Wulf, has made impressive strides in getting the message about the seriousness and value of the Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals. Shane meets regularly with producers in Miller Creek and issues a quarterly newsletter. To date, 1,100 acres of a combination of nitrification inhibitors and winter hardy and non-winter hardy cover crops have been installed.

An additional 1,850 acres of strip-till/no-till, nitrification inhibitors, and cover crops have already been approved for 2015! Also planned for 2015 is the installation of two bioreactors and one saturated buffer. Participating producers and landowners in the Miller Creek and Headwaters Miller Creek Watersheds are showing the public that the voluntary Nutrient Reduction Strategy will be a success! Creating a soil health management system with the right mix of conservation practices allow producers to improve both the health of their soils and the health of their bottom line. Continued on page 3…. 2

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One way to decrease costs is to improve the organic matter in our soils. Shane has an offer for you regarding a free Haney Soil Health Test. Check out the notice in this newsletter. Regional Conservation Partnership Program with Cedar Rapids Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is a new, comprehensive and flexible program authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. This program is designed to build strong and diverse partnerships, multiply the federal conservation investment and target conservation goals on a regional or watershed scale. RCPP is a radically different approach to investing in natural resource conservation that empowers local communities and demonstrates the importance of strong public-private partnerships in delivering local solutions to natural resource challenges In January, NRCS awarded the Middle Cedar Partnership Project a RCPP grant. The City of Cedar Rapids is taking the lead on this project and the District is one of the ten partners. This RCPP project proposal seeks to increase implementation of select in-field and edge-of-field conservation practices by partnering with Iowa’s second largest city, Cedar Rapids, with local producers and conservation groups. This RCPP project will expand the scope and reach of the current Miller Creek Water Quality Improvement Project. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Our intern, Jack Dee, a student at UNI, processed 104 contracts protecting almost 3000 acres in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Enrollment process has changed a bit. Contact the office for details. SWCD Website Earlier this year we redesigned our District’s website. Check it out at http://blackhawkswcd.org/ Students in the Communications Arts Department at Wartburg College created the new design. Watershed Management Authority Black Hawk SWCD Commissioners are very active in three Watershed Management Authority projects: Upper Cedar River WMA (Sherman Lundy and Ellen Myers), Upper Wapsipinicon River (Dustin Sage and Lee Bader) and Middle Cedar River WMA (Sherman Lundy and Jenny Trent). The Middle Cedar agreement is under negotiation now. What is a Watershed Management Authority? In 2010, Iowa lawmakers passed legislation authorizing the creation of Watershed Management Authorities—a mechanism for cities, counties, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and stakeholders to cooperatively engage in watershed planning and management. The WMA is formed by an intergovernmental (Chapter 28E) agreement by two or more eligible political subdivisions within a specific eight-digit hydrologic unit code watershed. A board of directors governs the WMA, which may undertake the following activities: -Assess and reduce flood risk -Assess and improve water quality -Monitor Federal flood risk planning and activities -Educate residents of the watershed regarding flood risks and water quality -Allocate moneys made available to the Authority for purposes of water quality and flood mitigation Here are some multiple benefits to cooperating with other jurisdictions within a watershed: -Conduct planning on a watershed scale, which yields greater benefits for water quality improvement and flood damage reduction -Faster multi-jurisdictional partnership and cooperation -Leverage resources such as funding and technical expertise -Facilitate stakeholder involvement in watershed management Continued on page 4 3

Continued from page 3.. Conservation Planning As the year unfolds, more and more conservation planning will become an integral part of our conservation efforts. Planning expedites approval of funding. We are all in this together—your Soil and Water District Commissioners, State and Federal and County employees and most important you—the landowners and producers of Black Hawk County. Together we can make a difference. Once again your Commissioners lobbied lawmakers in Des Moines for more conservation funding. Currently members of our office staff, Shaffer Ridgeway, Julie Falcon and Leslie Grundy, support not only Black Hawk County but Bremer County as well. Throughout the state, other districts have similar sharing agreements. The State is down in the number of technical assistants and district secretaries who serve as our District coordinators for projects. Sherman Lundy, Chair of State Soil Conservation Committee and Black Hawk Assistant Commissioner and Alex Schmidt, Commissioner in Johnson County, presented our conservation funding request to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee. Commissioners from all over the state crammed into the committee room. Standing room only!! Lundy and Schmidt explained that the Water Quality Initiative Projects (Miller Creek is one of these projects) are an integral component of the Nutrient Management Reduction Strategy. This strategy was specifically developed to reduce the nutrients in the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Zone and bring together Iowa’s urban and rural sectors where water quality concerns divide communities. The recently filed Notice of Intent to Sue in Federal Court by the Des Moines Water Works against upstream rural counties regarding nitrate levels in wells that supply drinking water to 500,000 customers in the Des Moines area demonstrates the seriousness of this issue. All Iowans, the EPA and our downstream neighbors are looking to us to lead this reduction of nutrients by aggressively installing conservation practices. We can do this together!

Jeri Thornsberry of Black Hawk SWCD Receives Ken Wagner Award Jeri Thornsberry, Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Commissioner in Black Hawk County, received the Ken Wagner Award on September 3, 2014 at the 68th Annual Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Districts Commissioners Conference at the Sheraton Hotel in West Des Moines. The Ken Wagner Award is given annually to an outstanding beginning soil and water conservation district commissioner of 5 years’ experience or less. The award is given in memory of Ken Wagner who was instrumental in the development of Iowa’s soil conservation district program. He was a soil conservation district commissioner with the Johnson County Soil Conservation District and was a member of the State Soil Conservation Committee from 1948 to 1961. Jeri is a very active commissioner with an eye towards marketing conservation. Jeri tells the story of conservation in the local newspaper, District newsletter, before local government boards, and service groups. Her efforts have enabled the District to put forth a significantly more polished and cohesive message to the media and the public. Her zeal during public presentations and the promotion of conservation and the District is well known in the community. During her time as Finance Chair, Jeri improved the layout of the District’s monthly financial reports which has helped to produce audit reports clear of accounting issues. Jeri has written two grants for the District. She also worked with staff to submit Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation District’s work on Dry Run Creek for the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. The District received the award for Special Recognition in Water Quality. Jeri has demonstrated conservation to youth and revamped the District’s hiring process contributing to the District’s exceptional staff. Jeri is also active with Conservation Districts of Iowa, serving on the board, committees and attending every regional meeting and annual conference since she began as a commissioner. 4

Vince Sitzmann, Field Services Bureau Chief, Division of Soil Conservation In the U.S., Iowa ranks number one in the production of eggs, pork, soybeans, and corn, and number two in beef. If Iowa were a country, it would be the third largest producer of corn in the world. That’s pretty amazing considering Iowa is only 36 million acres in size with only 25 million acres dedicated to row crop production. These are impressive numbers by any standards, but equally important is the conservation ethic Iowa farmers subscribe to. Farmers throughout the state spend millions of dollars annually out of their own pockets to install conservation practices on their land, which makes them leaders in conservation implementation as well as leaders in ag production. Two years ago, Iowa unveiled the Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS). This was the first plan of its kind in the nation, aimed at reducing nutrient losses to the Gulf of Mexico. The strategy was pioneered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University, and the Iowa DNR. It incorporates the best science and research we have available and it was built for Iowa. Shortly after the Nutrient Reduction Strategy was released, implementation of the plan was launched and is known today as the Water Quality Initiative (WQI). Over the past two years we continue to see exciting momentum for the WQI. Iowans are engaged, new partnerships are expanding, and farmers are implementing conservation practices they’ve never tried before. The Nutrient Research Center at ISU has been established with the purpose of pursuing a science based approach to nutrient management research. The Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) partnership between the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, and the Iowa Pork Producers has been established, each committing one million dollars annually over the next five years to advance the implementation of the WQI. The Iowa Legislature has also committed 16.8 million dollars over the last two years to support conservation and water quality improvements both in special project areas and for statewide practice implementation. We have made great strides through the voluntary approach to conservation, but we have to keep the momentum growing by exploring more and different types of conservation practices on the landscape. We have new and emerging technologies in addition to our traditional conservation practices that will improve our nutrient management efforts. I would encourage everyone to evaluate their farming operation and ask yourself if there is more you can do on your farm. Solving water quality issues is something everyone has to be a part of if we are to continue our leadership role in ag production and conservation implementation. If you are interested in learning more about the NRS or the WQI you can visit www.cleanwateriowa.org or stop into your local SWCD to learn how you can be part of this important initiative.

Haney Soil Health Testing Orlando “Lanny” Schwartz, Assistant Black Hawk SWCD Commissioner The recently developed Haney Soil Health Test provides a much more complete picture of soil health and nutrient availability than traditionally used tests. First, it measures the health of the soil microbes necessary to transfer nutrients from soil to plant. Then, in addition to measuring quantities of unbound nutrients as traditional tests do, it also measures organically bound nutrients. Organically bound nutrients are available to crops, and knowledge of these quantities may allow producers to reduce nutrient inputs and save significant money! The Haney Soil analysis pr ovides a r ecommendation for nutr ient inputs and suggests suitable cover crops to increase microbe health and nutrient retention. For more information please visit: www.wardlab.com. FREE Haney Soil Health Tests and sample r esults ar e available now to Black Hawk County producers and landowners! Limited number…first come, first served! Contact Shane Wulf at 319-296-3262 x305 if you are interested in this opportunity to help determine your soil health and possibly cut input costs.

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Leaving A Legacy By Dan Borchardt Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist As we look back at the last few years, we have seen a lot of changes in the landscape around us. We have witnessed an increase in crop production paired with the poor weather conditions which has resulted in the loss of critical wildlife habitat, increased soil erosion, and deteriorating air and water quality. For the first time since 1974 Iowa’s woodland acres have decreased in recent years according to a Forest Service analysis. Our challenge is to find a balance on the landscape that will conserve our natural resources while maintaining profitability on the land. Diversifying farming practices with crop rotation, no-till and strip-till farming practices, cover crops, set aside programs and other conservation practices are essential for the health of the landscape. In recent months there has been an increased interest in returning wildlife habitat to the landscape and installing conservation practices to control soil loss though the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). With falling commodity prices producers have been looking at the bottom line and deciding that those acres with lower production may serve a better purpose. Some of the options are structural practices designed to capture and control the water leaving the land to minimize soil loss. Examples include grassed waterways and terraces. Other CRP practices such as Pheasant Recovery SAFE (State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement) and Pollinator Habitat have enabled landowners to set aside blocks of habitat on areas of their farm that may have issues with wet or dry soils. Regardless of the practice there has never been a better opportunity to consider changes that can both improve the health of the land and maintain a sustainable farming operation in the future. Many factors may influence land management decisions. Maximizing profits is one major factor. Soil rental rates for CRP have increased, allowing land to be set aside and input cost to be lowered, while providing a steady income on those acres. Soil loss, soil health, and nutrient loss are also extremely important factors influencing profitability and the health of the land. Another important factor is longer term yet easy to overlook considering the quality of the land passed on to future generations. Current soil losses on the landscape are not sustainable. Pollinator populations such as monarchs and honeybees are decreasing. The skyrocketing cost of providing safe, clean drinking water has been front page news in recent weeks. The time is now to consider all of the above factors and to make changes to improve air and water quality, reduce soil erosion, and increase wildlife habitat, while sustaining farming operations. If we don’t maintain and put forth effort to improve our land, how can we ensure our children and grandchildren will have the opportunity to farm the land, enjoy a day in the field with the trusty old bird dog, smell a wildflower, hear the song of the bluebird, or watch a monarch butterfly migrate in the fall? Our challenge is to take what we have been given and make it better - to leave a legacy for all future generations to enjoy! Landowners interested in learning more about these programs can meet with a private lands wildlife biologist to discuss future options and plan ahead. Contact Dan Borchardt, Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist with Pheasants Forever to schedule a farm visit at 641-430-3354 or [email protected] or contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for assistance.

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TAKE THE CONSERVATION CHALLENGE By James Gillespie, Division Director IDALS/DSC I don’t know you personally and you probably don’t know who I am, but more than ever we need to come together, as landowners, farmers, and urban folks, and challenge ourselves to do something more for conservation this year. It seems that there are lots of challenges out there like getting fit and healthy, taking the ice bucket challenge, running or walking for different causes, taking a pie in the face, kissing a pig or things like that. Well, my challenge for you is to do something new this year for soil and water conservation, and together we will make environmental improvements in Iowa. When you have done your new thing this year, share it. Post it to Facebook, Twitter (using hashtag #1newthingforwater) or other social media accounts. Tell your friends and neighbors. Show others what you are doing and encourage them to do something as well. Sharing your conservation efforts will get others involved in the challenge. There are numerous reasons to participate in this challenge. We have so many valuable resources in Iowa to protect. We demand a lot from our resources; to produce food, fiber, recreation and a great place to live and work. We choose to live in Iowa because it provides the quality of life we are looking for. Don’t we want to insure that it is going to be preserved for future generations of Iowans? What I personally plan to do in this challenge is to seed down some areas on my property to native grasses and forbs, use cover crops in my garden ( I don’t farm any ground), and talk to everyone I can about the importance of soil and water conservation. Thank you for considering this challenge and if you have questions or need technical assistance please feel free to contact your local field office. You are also welcome to contact me at [email protected].

REAP Money Available, the Resource Enhancement And Protection Program Considering the kind of winter we’ve been having, now is the time to think seriously about planting a windbreak, adding to an existing windbreak, planting a few acres to trees, make improvements on your timber or establish some habitat for the wildlife we like to have here in Iowa. We can assist you with any of the following practices: Farmstead Windbreak – Must be a minimum of 3 rows – 2 rows conifer trees and 1 row shrubs or 3 rows conifer trees. Cost share is 75% of actual cost not to exceed an actual cost of $25/tree and $4/shrub. The maximum amount of cost share is $1500/windbreak. Field Windbreak – Minimum of 1 row trees or shrubs. Cost share is 75% of actual cost not to exceed $450/acre. Tree Planting – There is a 3 acre minimum for this practice. Cost share is 75% of actual cost not to exceed $450/ acre which includes establishing ground cover, trees and tree planting operations, weed and pest control and mowing, disking and spraying. Timber Stand Improvement - This has a 5 acre minimum. Cost share is 75% of actual cost not to exceed $120/ acre for thinning, pruning crop trees, releasing seedlings or young trees . If you have considered doing any of these practices, now is the time to give our office a call and we will be happy to assist you in planning your project. Applications for cost share are available at our office or on line at https:// idals.iowa.gov/FARMS.

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Cost Share Available! Looking for Partners to Install Conservation Practices Do you live in the Dry Run Creek Watershed? If so, funding is available for both urban and rural conservation practices. We are looking for interested partners concerned about water quality in the Dry Run Creek Watershed. In 2002, Dry Run Creek was designated an impaired waterway by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, citing biological concerns, abnormal flow, excess sedimentation and high bacteria levels. Since 2004, the Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation District has been conducting a watershed improvement project with grants received by the Iowa Division of Soil Conservation, Iowa Watershed Improvement Review Board, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. These funds are used to supplement landowners for conservation practices. The most significant issue facing the Dry Run Creek Watershed is the contribution of rapid runoff from urban hard surfaces connected to the storm sewer system. This causes storm surges in the stream, which was out habitat, to erode banks, and contribute to flash flooding. To address rapid runoff which impacts the stream we can install urban infiltration based practices. This year (as of July 1, 2014), we have installed two rain gardens, 80 acres of cover crops, a 1000 lineal foot streambank on UNI’s campus, two bioretention cells on UNI’s campus and the City of Cedar Falls’ first permeable paver alley project. The permeable paver alley was so successful we are currently planning two additional permeable alleys in the Watershed for this coming year. Additional projects to be installed this spring and early summer are a permeable paver parking lot at the Wesley Foundation, a grassed waterway, three bioretention cells and a streambank restoration project with the City of Cedar Falls. Rural conservation practices are equally important and equally needed. Rural conservation practices can stabilize streambanks and can prevent sediment and nutrients from entering the creek. If you are interested in learning more about receiving cost share on a conservation practice please contact the District at 319-296-3262 ext. 3. Funding is limited so call now! You may be eligible for up to 75% cost share on the estimated or actual cost, whichever is less, for your water quality improvement practices. Technical and financial assistance will be provided. We will work with you to determine the best option for your location. Possible Cost Shareable Conservation Practices: Rural:  Grassed Waterways  Filterstrips  Riparian Buffers  Streambank Stabilization Urban:  Rain Gardens/Rain Barrels  Permeable Pavers/Pavement  Bioretention Cells/Swales  Soil Quality Restoration  Streambank Stabilization

Dry Run Creek Watershed

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Miller Creek Water Quality Improvement Project 2014 Year in Review! In January 2014, Black Hawk SWCD was awarded the Miller Creek Water Quality Improvement Project from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The three year, one-half million dollar Miller Creek Project contains the Miller Creek and Headwaters Miller Creek Watersheds. These watersheds encompass over 42,000 acres in south central Black Hawk and north eastern Tama Counties. The projects supports the voluntary Nutrient Reduction Strategy by intending to increase all producers and landowners collective knowledge of conservation practices designed to improve water quality by reducing nutrient runoff from non-point sources. The practices included in the project are no-till/strip-till, cover crops, nitrification inhibitors, nitrogen application rate management, bioreactors, saturated buffers, and drainage water management. Cover Crops were the most popular practice in 2014 and we cost-shared nearly 1,100 acres. Fall applied nitrification inhibitors were another popular practice with 800 acres obligated. Two denitrification bioreactors and one saturated buffer are planned to be installed in late spring of 2015. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the practices, we have partnered with the Iowa Soybean Association to offer free edge-of-field performance evaluations to producers and landowners in the Miller Creek and Headwaters Miller Creek watersheds. Participants receive annual reports of nitrate and dissolved phosphorus run off from their tile outlets. Another evaluation method offered to producers and landowners to try in 2014 was the Haney Soil Health Test. This test measures both inorganic and organic nitrogen content, soil organic matter, soil microbial health, pH, and other valuable data. Although we have only collected one year of data, we have begun to see a correlation between soil health and tillage management. No-tilled and strip-tilled fields are resulting in higher overall soil health scores. The main factor to achieve a good soil health score is high soil microbial activity and regular carbon-nitrogen ratios. The District will be hosting a field day in June 2015 with Lance Gunderson, Soil Health Specialist of Ward Laboratories, if you are interested in learning more about the test and our preliminary data. The District makes a great effort to ensure numerous outreach and education activities are available to producers, landowners, and the general public. We have hosted webinars, conducted workshops, and have been featured in a number of newspapers and newsletters.

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Continued from page 10... One unfortunate headline that has recently been featured by the media is the lawsuit with the Des Moines Waterworks and their intent to sue Buena Vista, Calhoun and Sac Counties for high nitrates in the water. The City of Cedar Rapids is taking a different approach and reached out to the District and a large group of other partners to work cooperatively to tackle this problem. The City was recently awarded the Middle Cedar Partnership Project from the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Over 2 million dollars were awarded from NRCS and 2.3 million dollars in match were gathered by Cedar Rapids and its partners. This project supporting the Miller Creek Water Quality Improvement Project provides us with an opportunity to continue to demonstrate to regulators that our nitrogen and phosphorous runoff concerns can be solved in a voluntary manner. We look forward to what is to come in 2015!

Story by Shane Wulf, Black Hawk SWCD

SOME FRIENDLY REMINDERS Elaine Hammer, Soil Technician If you’re thinking about tiling this spring, remember to request a wetland determination from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) office as soon as possible BEFORE tiling. If you just built waterways or terraces last fall and seeding didn’t get done, it can be done around late February to late March. Avoid planting end rows along the side of a waterway, as they often divert water from the waterway and contribute to gully development. Mow waterways as needed to maintain a healthy, vigorous sod at a height of 6-8 inches. For wildlife benefits, delay the first mowing until after nesting birds have hatched which is from May 15 to August 1. For terraces, perform regular cleaning of inlets for underground outlets. Repair or replace any inlets damaged by farm equipment. Remove any built up sediment around inlets to ensure that the inlet remains the lowest spot in the terrace. For any conservation practice, repair any broken subsurface tile lines adjacent to waterways or part of a terrace system. If you’re approved for construction work this spring or summer, remember to give our office a call to get on the work list and scheduled for layout and design. Most importantly, remember to call us at 319-296-3262 or stop in for any questions that you may have.

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BLACK HAWK SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS, Awards Honor Conservation-Minded Farmers, Teachers, Landowners Black Hawk SWCD is pleased to recognize this years award winners for their outstanding contribution to conservation in Black Hawk County…    

Lee and Debra Rottinghaus, Windbreak of the Year Award Robert and Diane Peterson, Urban Conservation of the Year Award Hilary Iehl, Teacher of the Year Award Russell and Sherry Wright, Conservationist of the Year Award

The District presented these awards to the honorees at the 2015 Black Hawk Corn Growers’ Association Annual Banquet in Waterloo on February 23. Jeri Thornsberry, Chair of BHSWCD, stated that “We are so pleased to recognize citizens who not only continue to support conservation practices but also instill this knowledge in our young students as well. Promoting sustainable agricultural practices in rural areas while also expanding conservation practices in urban areas is key to supporting the governor’s Iowa Water Quality Initiative.” Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2016 award cycle. To nominate an individual or an organization, contact [email protected]. Black Hawk Soil & Water Conservation District is one of 100 SWCDs across Iowa promoting the protecting and preservation of Iowa’s most precious resources – her fertile soil and clean water.

State Money For Conservation State cost share funds are available for permanent and management practices to control erosion and reduce sediment such as terraces, grassed waterways, and structures. The local soil and water conservation district (SWCD) sets priorities for funding of these practices. These funds are managed by the Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation Board of Commissioners. The cost share rate is approximately 50% of the actual cost or the estimated cost, whichever is less, with a maximum amount of $5000 that a person can receive. Applications are at our office and are also available online. Please call our office if you have any questions about this and we will be happy to help you.

Urban Runoff Facts - Storm water from streets, parking lots, and other paved surfaces (known as urban runoff) carries pollution directly into our waters - The impervious surface of a city block can generate five times more runoff than a wooded area of the same size. - In a natural environment, 50% of the rain fall is absorbed in the ground, 40% is evapotranspired and 10% runs off; in an area of 75%-100% impervious surface (such as many urban areas) 15% of the water is absorbed in the ground, 30% is evapotranspired and 55% runs off. - When it rains, sediment, oil, grease, toxic chemicals from motor vehicles, pesticides and fertilizers from lawns, pathogens and bacteria from pet waste and leaking septic systems, road salts and heavy metals run off city streets untreated into our rivers, lakes, and bays. http://water.epa.gov/aboutow/owow/waterqualityfacts.cfm 11

Fiscal Year 2014 Financial Report: July 1, 2013—June 30, 2014 BLACK HAWK SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT REPORT OF DRY RUN CREEK FUNDS JULY 1, 2013 – JUNE 30, 2014

BLACK HAWK SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT REPORT OF REVOLVING FUNDS JULY 1, 2013 – JUNE 30, 2014 REVOLVING FUNDS Beginning Balance July 1, 2013 Receipts Expenses Balance June 30, 2014

54,722.02 + 12,358.51 - 8,690.16 $58,390.37

DRY RUN CREEK Beginning Balance July 1, 2013 Receipts Balance June 30, 2014

BLACK HAWK SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT REPORT OF 319 FUNDS JULY 1, 2013 – JUNE 30, 2014

Balance June 30, 2014

424.60 + 67,033.92 - 59,085.93 $8,372.59

IM FUNDS Beginning Balance July 1, 2013 Receipts Expenses Balance June 30, 2014

BLACK HAWK SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT REPORT OF TECHNICAL FUNDS JULY 1, 2013 – JUNE 30, 2014

Balance June 30, 2014

3,879.77 + 14.637.67 -8,554.80

66.32 + 2,000.09 - 2,066.41 $0.00

BLACK HAWK SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT REPORT OF MILLER CREEK WQI FUNDS JULY 1, 2013—JUNE 30, 2014

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Beginning Balance July 1, 2013 Receipts Expenses

$16,271.60

BLACK HAWK SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT REPORT OF 1M FUNDS JULY 1, 2013 – JUNE 30, 2014

319 Grant Beginning Balance July 1, 2013 Receipts Expenses

16,215.25 +56.35

MILLER CREEK Beginning Balance July 1, 2013 Receipts Expenses

+16.825.83 -11,614.23

$9,962.64 Balance June 30, 2014

 Did you know you begin to feel thirsty when your body losses 1% of water  Did you know hot water freezes quicker than cold water  Did you know sound travels 3 times faster through water than in air  Did you know a banana contains 75% water  Did you know rain contains vitamin B12  Did you know sponges hold more cold water than hot

$5,211.60

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Water pollution is the major cause of various diseases like cholera and typhoid.

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On an average 250 million people worldwide succumb to diseases related to water pollution.

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In America, 40% of the rivers and 46% of the lakes are polluted and are considered unhealthy for swimming, fishing or aquatic life. See more at: http://www.conserve-energyfuture.com/various-water-pollution-rWXzA.dpuf

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REASONS TO GIVE After working with landowners on projects, sometimes we are asked if there is a charge or fee or they are very happy with the assistance we have given them and would like to show their appreciation. Any services that NRCS staff provides are free because we are a government agency but there is a way that people can show their appreciation. Donations can be made to the Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation District which is located in the same office as the NRCS. They are a group of 5 elected commissioners and 4 assistant commissioners that work to provide educational programs, conservation tours, displays at local events, office equipment, newsletter, annual awards to local producers and much, much more. This would be a great way to support your local conservation programs and show appreciation for what our staff loves to do-make our customers happy and conservation a success!

PLEASE CONSIDER A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO HELP OUR LOCAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS. THANK YOU. Jeri Thornsberry, Chair Paula Even, Vice-Chair & Co-Treasurer Lee Bader, Treasurer Dustin Sage, Commissioner Jennifer Trent, Commissioner

We would like to thank the following individuals for last year’s contributions:   

Jeri Thornsberry Sherman & Beverly Lundy Orlando Schwartz

I want to support the Black Hawk Soil & Water Conservation District. I have enclosed a check to join the 2015 Contributors Club at the following level: ___________Sponsorship Level ($25—$49) ___________Stewardship Level ($50—$74) ___________Conservationist Level ($75 & above) ___________Other amount $____________ Name (s) _____________________________________ Phone______________________ Address_________________________________ City______________________ State_______________ Zip Code________________ E-Mail_________________________ Please make checks payable to: Black Hawk SWCD 2950 Southland Dr, Ste. 2 Waterloo, IA 50701

YOUR HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

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