 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…

 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

 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

 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, invested thru BMP placement  Additional 1097 t/y sediment reduction Conservation PracticesAmount Installed Continuous CRP (Filter Strips)64.3 Acres Manure Storage Systems3 Units Terraces35,876 Feet Grade Stabilization Structure6 Units Sediment & Water Control Basins5 Units Grassed Waterways4,606 Feet Stormwater Interceptors(Bio-Swales)3 Units Stormwater Wetlands2 Units

 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

 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)

 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

 $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

 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