Secretary Perdue, Iowa Leaders Visit Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here Tour Stop in Hardin County
Campaign encourages all Iowans to take an active role in improving water quality
DES MOINES, Iowa (Sept. 3, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will join the Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here Tour stop in Hardin County today. The state and federal leaders will participate in the Conservation Field Day hosted by Iowa Corn to learn about the nutrient-reduction wetland installed on Heath Stolee’s farm. This is one of 41 conservation wetlands that are currently under development in Iowa.
“Efforts to improve water quality and soil health are happening all over Iowa. We have more partners and landowners engaged in conservation projects than ever before,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “We know there’s still more conservation work to do but I’m confident we’re on the right track. I’m excited that Secretary Perdue is here today to see some of the progress we’re making.”
“Iowa farmers are committed to improving water quality. Not only do we depend on water to grow our crops, but our families drink it and enjoy Iowa’s lakes, rivers and waterways,” said Iowa Corn’s Animal Agriculture and the Environment committee chairman Ralph Lents. “Iowa Corn communicates opportunities like the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program to farmers through our Stewardship Advocate program and other outreach to farmers like today’s field day.”
Stolee is a veteran farmer who is working with public and private partners to install the wetland, which will capture water and filter nitrates from field runoff and tile drainage systems. A portion of the installation costs will be funded through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), which is a partnership between the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The wetland project spans 55.7 acres, including a 15.5 acre shallow pool of water. When it’s complete, the wetland will treat nitrogen runoff from 1,893 acres of agricultural land. Over its lifetime, the wetland will remove more than 1,744 tons of nitrogen from the subsurface drainage tile in the watershed and provide a wildlife habitat.
The Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here stop will be streamed live on the Iowa Corn Facebook page from 11 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
About the Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here Campaign
The Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here campaign, created by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and Newsradio 1040 WHO, aims to raise awareness about the conservation work underway across Iowa, and encourages all Iowans to get personally involved in water quality activities.
The Big Show will visit locations throughout Iowa showcasing the people and practices that are having a positive and measurable impact on water quality. The conversations with farmers, landowners, business operators and conservation leaders will be broadcast Wednesdays on The Big Show airing 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on WHO and 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on WMT.
The implementation of conservation practices isn’t limited to rural areas. Urban residents can do their part by keeping leaves, grass clippings and other yard debris out of the street and gutters and slowing runoff and recycling rainwater through rain barrels, rain gardens and swales. Cleaning up oil, anti-freeze and fertilizer spills to prevent them from running into the storm drains, seeding pollinator habitat and properly disposing of paints, solvents and metals also have a positive impact on water quality.
Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here campaign partners include Agri-Drain, Hagie Manufacturing, Heartland Co-op, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Montag Manufacturing, and The Nature Conservancy.
To learn more about the campaign and conservation practices that can be implemented, go to CleanWaterIowa.org/CleanWaterStartsHere.