DES MOINES – The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities and Iowa Storm Water Education Program last week recognized Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey with its “Outstanding Efforts in Urban Stormwater Management” award and Rich Maaske, a new Urban Conservationist with the Department, with a “Lifetime Achievement Award.” Both awards were presented at the Storm Water Conference in Coralville.
"We are pleased to be able to recognize those in Iowa that are involved in urban conservation issues. Congratulations to Secretary Northey on his recognition of the need for addressing urban conservation issues in Iowa. I am looking forward to partnering with the urban conservationists in providing the necessary resources to Iowa cities to help make a difference in improving and protecting water quality in Iowa." Pat Sauer, Administrator, Iowa Storm Water Education Program, Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities.
“I’m honored to be recognized and look forward to continuing to work with all interested groups in taking steps to protect our water quality,” Northey said. “The award for Rich is also well deserved and we are excited to have him on staff as we continue to work to make sure runoff from both urban and rural areas isn’t carrying soil, sediment and chemicals into our waterways.”
The nomination of Northey praised him as the, “catalyst at the state level to get technical assistance around the state of Iowa working on Urban Conservation issues.”
“Secretary Northey was voted into office in 2006 and throughout his campaign talked about the need for urban conservation in Iowa and that to improve water quality in Iowa we need to address all issues both urban and agricultural. In August of 2007 Secretary Northey stayed with his campaign pledge and announced that the Iowa Department of Agricultural and Land Stewardship would be creating four Urban Conservation position around Iowa.”
“The Urba Conservationists are there to work on water quality and quantity issues, assist with construction site erosion and sediment control, work with local governments on ordinance improvements, coordinate local public educational meetings, assist with design on post construction water quality practices and other urban water and soil conservation situations. Secretary Northey is also planning to expand the program in the next few years…”
The Department now has five urban conservationists on staff, with four located in the rapidly developing communities of Council Bluffs, the Iowa Great Lakes, Iowa City, and Des Moines. They are also available to provide technical assistance expertise to communities across the state.
The new conservationists will be able to provide information and technical assistance on soil and water conservation methods to land development professionals, city officials, government agencies, and private landowners.
The award from Maaske recognizes his 34 years of service in the field of soil and water conservation. The last 10 years he has worked as an urban conservationist in western Iowa providing assistance to counties, cities, developers, home builders, home owners and home buyers on issues dealing with urban erosion problems.
He has developed programs that have greatly improved erosion and sediment control on construction sites. Maaske has assisted counties in the Loess Hills with a number of educational and outreach efforts, including a series of training sessions on infiltration-based storm water management practices that concluded with a Low Impact Development workshop in October 2007. He has a presented on urban conservation in numerous venues to help usher in the storm management paradigm. He is a firm believer that development and conservation are not on opposite ends of the spectrum but rather are partners that can create win/win situations that benefit the economy and the environment.
“I’m excited to have Rich and the other urban conservationists and am optimistic that this will just be the start of our efforts to help communities expand efforts to protect water quality throughout the state,” Northey said
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