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We’re all in this together

(Note: this article is the twelfth (and final) in a series written by free-lance writer Larry Stone featuring the Cedar River Watershed)

From catastrophic floods in 2008 to record drought and low flows in 2012 – Is it any wonder that we still don’t know what to expect from our rivers?

But maybe we’re learning. Iowans in the Cedar River valley have taken the initiative to look more closely at their watershed, and to search for ways to live in harmony with the Cedar.

For example, conservation boards in Iowa’s 23 Cedar River counties last year launched an education project with the theme “We’re All in This Together.” The goal is to help people become more aware of land use in the watershed, and to suggest actions that individuals or groups can take to begin to solve perceived problems.

The Cedar River Watershed website – accessible at www.mycountyparks.com – includes a variety references, such as how to use buffer strips, research on innovative farming practices, questions about permeable pavement, and advice on rain gardens and rain barrels.

You’ll also find facts about the watershed. (Did you know that 73% of the land is in row crops?) There are case studies of how some farmers have reduced erosion and runoff, and explanations of what determines soil quality. Audio and video clips are available to use as Public Service Announcements.

For more information, or to schedule a PowerPoint program, contact the Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board at 641-423-5309.

Natural lands in the Cedar watershed provide significant, measureable ecological benefits, according to an analysis by American Rivers and Earth Economics. Land cover – forest, riparian buffer, wetlands, rivers and lakes, urban green space, and even some agricultural sites – obviously determines the type and value of the benefits.

Those “ecosystem services” range from recreation to wild game and foods, to fresh water to forest products to erosion control to flood reduction. A 2012 study estimated those values for the Middle Cedar River above Cedar Rapids at between $548 million and $1.9 billion annually. For details, visit www.eartheconomics.org

Who in the Cedar Valley can forget 2008? The book, “A Watershed Year: Anatomy of the Iowa Floods of 2008,” edited by Cornelia Mutel, brings together experts who consider the causes, urban and rural impacts, responses by governments and individuals, and ecological implications of the record-breaking floods. University of Iowa Press. www.uiowapress.org

With the preponderance of agricultural land in the Cedar watershed, the federal Farm Bill could have a major effect on land use and on the river. Even urban residents – who may think the Farm Bill doesn’t pertain to them – might want to lobby Congress to be sure the Farm Bill addresses watershed issues. Are there incentives that promote soil conservation, perennial crops, and practices that protect water quality?

State legislators also should hear from constituents about river and water quality, soil conservation, stream buffers, public land management, and recreation. Are YOU on a first-name basis with your state senator and representative?

Farmers hoping to reduce runoff and erosion should investigate Iowa State University’s Science-based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairies (STRIPS) research. Scientists found that planting narrow strips of prairie in fields of corn or soybeans can dramatically reduce runoff, soil erosion, and nutrient loss, as well as providing wildlife habitat. http://www.nrem.iastate.edu/research/STRIPs/

Several groups have formed to manage lands in tributary watersheds. The Dry Run Creek Watershed Improvement Project began in 2004. Partners include the Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation District, Cedar Falls, the University of Northern Iowa, and state and federal resource agencies. Urban projects have involved bioretention cells, permeable pavement, and rain gardens. Farmers have used filter strips, grassed waterways, prairie plantings, and conservation tillage. The Black Hawk SWCD provides technical and financial assistance.

http://blackhawkswcd.org

The Indian Creek Watershed Group, in Linn County, strives to increase awareness of watershed issues – such as flood risks, water quality, and recreation – with homeowners, developers, farmers, and other residents. Initial suggestions included restrictions on floodplain development, more soil conservation efforts, educational programs, and more watershed planning.

http://iowacedarbasin.org/community/indian-creek-pilot-project

The Cedar River Watershed Coalition includes a mix of citizens, farmers, business representatives, and government officials. The 20-plus collaborators range from American Rivers to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The group’s focus is reducing flooding and improving water quality through better land management. A website – www.iowacedarbasin.org – offers ideas and resources to encourage conservation. Meetings are open to the public.

As more people become more aware of their roles in their watershed, they’re also coming to the realization that “we’re all in this together!”

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