NEWS
WEST POTTAWATTAMIE
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
West Pottawattamie County Soil and Water Conservation District celebrates 82nd Annual Soil and Water Conservation Week!
West Pottawattamie County Soil and Water Conservation District
celebrates 82nd Annual Soil and Water Conservation Week!
We are excited to celebrate the 82nd Annual Soil and Water Conservation
Week from April 30th to May 7th, 2023!
The 2023 Soil and Water Conservation Week (SWCW) theme is "One Water",
to raise awareness of how important it is to protect our water resources
in Iowa and nationwide.
This week is an opportunity to recognize conservation and sustainability
practices underway on Iowa's landscape and bring attention to the
ongoing work by farmers, landowners and urban residents to protect the
state's soil and water resources.
We join Iowa's 100 Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Iowa
Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service and other who provide leadership in
soil health, soil conservation, water quality and the protection and
enhancement of Iowa's natural resources.
"Much has been accomplished in the last 82 years of conservation work in Iowa", states Ramona Nitz, President of Conservation Districts of Iowa, the statewide organization that supports Iowa's elected Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioners who work within our local communities to provide resources that assist landowners in caring for the land. "We celebrate these accomplishments during this week and seek to communicate the opportunities all Iowans have to become involved in conservation through their local Soil and Water Conservation District."
We will be doing a lot to celebrate this SWCW! This past month multiple schools and students of different grade levels have been working on their submissions for the CDI Poster Contest! We will also be celebrating Arbor Day by planting trees with 5th graders and leading a group for Mulch Madness. Plus, a Conservation Trailer event with 2nd graders, and at Treynor Elementary School. Additionally, we will be helping Pottawattamie County Conservation with their Homeschool in the Hills event this week! Thank you to everyone involved in each of these events for helping us spread the word on conservation and land stewardship!
This Soil and Water Conservation Week is sure to be a great one!! If you'd like to learn more about SWCW, how we will be celebrating, or how you can celebrate, you are welcome to contact us through Facebook message, call us at (712) 328-2489, or come to the field office and visit with us!
2022 Annual Report
The West Pottawattamie 2022 Annual Report is Now available! With offices open since last spring we have seen a lot more interest in conservation programs. A district Education Coordinator was also hired for both East and West Pottawatattamie SWCDs in 2022 with hopes of providing more education and outreach within the County.
Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist Quarterly Report January - March 2023
"Spring is in the air and folk are bust planning for the next growing season. I have been working with who will not only be planting crops, but also planting habitat in the Conservation Reserve Program in the upcoming months. The most popular CRP practices I am seeing are native seeding filterstrips and other upland bird habitat practices that.......
The February 2023 Women, Land & Legacy Newsletter has been released! In this month's edition you can read about the newest WLL chapter, who the WLL state team members are, how gender affects successions and transfers of Iowa Farms, and upcoming opportunities with Women, Land & Legacy!
To read the WLL Newsletter click the box below!
Women, Land and Legacy
-February 2023 Newsletter
State Cost Share Funds Now Available for Soil Health and Water Quality Practices
Farmers and landowners can now sign up for cost share funding through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to adopt soil health and water quality conservation practices. This program includes planting cover crops, transitioning acres to no-till / strip-till soil management, or applying a nitrification inhibitor. Cost share funding is limited to 160 acres per farmer or landowner, and will be available in July. However, farmers can start submitting applications immediately to their local Soil and Water Conservation District Offices!
Black Locust Control In Natural Areas
By Jason Anderson, Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist, PF
Black locust is an aggressive tree that can quickly take over grasslands and is a problem for many landowners in southwest Iowa. Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is a medium-sized hardwood tree native to the eastern United States. The tree has attractive flowers and foliage which led to it being cultivated and planted for landscaping, allowing it to escape and spread throughout the country. Black locust ...............
Pottawattamie County Bridges Stream Sign Project
This project will help educate and identify some of the major streams and watersheds in Pottawattamie County. Over the past three years, 57 stream signs have been added at bridges throughout our county. This project has been successful because of cooperation and contributions of many partners, including both East and West Pottawattamie Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Pheasants Forever
Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.
How do we achieve this mission across more than 45 U.S. states and parts of Canada? Through the dedicated efforts of our:
-149,000 members
-Diverse staff including more than 150 wildlife biologists
-More than 700 local chapters
Want to Become a Commissioner? Here's How!
If you're qualified to vote in a Pottawattamie County general election, you're an eligible candidate for election to the East Pottawattamie County Soil and Water Conservation District board. Each district is governed by five commissioners who are elected at a general elections on a nonpartisan basis for four-year terms. only one commissioner may reside in any single township. You'll need a nominating petition from the county Auditor or SWCD office.
