DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey on Friday highlighted Soil and Water Conservation Week, which runs from April 30 to May 7. The week is an opportunity to recognize the important conservation practices placed 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.
“Iowans in our towns and on our farms continue to engage in water quality and soil conservation efforts. This week is an opportunity to celebrate all the work that has been done and highlight the efforts currently underway to prevent erosion and improve water quality,” Northey said. “It is vital that we preserve the soil and water resources that help make Iowa agriculture so productive and such a key driver of our state’s economy.”
On Wednesday, May 3, there will be a field day and ribbon cutting ceremony for a number of urban water quality projects that have been installed in Rockwell City. The projects, undertaken by the City, will capture storm water and utilize innovative methods to remove contaminants and improve the quality of the runoff prior to its discharge into the storm sewer system. The events will start at 9 am with a tour at Featherstone Park (large camping cabin on south end) and will also include a ribbon cutting for the downtown square improvement project at 11:30 am at the Rockwell City town square.
On Thursday, May 4, Gov Terry Branstad and Northey will visit a farm in the Big Creek watershed where four saturated buffers were installed last fall and a bioreactor and oxbow restoration project will be built later this year. Branstad will also sign a proclamation recognizing April 30 – May 7 as Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week during the event. The farm is located at 2155 290th St, Madrid.
Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week is in coordination with the National Stewardship Week, sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts. This year’s Stewardship Week theme is “Healthy Soils are Full of Life.” More information about the activities that will be held during Soil and Water Conservation Week in Iowa can be found at www.iowaagriculture.gov/conservationweek.asp.
