1. Use the logo! On your e-mail signature, profile icon . . .
2. Partner with another group for a larger celebration!
3. Encourage pollinator enhancements, practices and seed mixes to farmers.
4. Join the conversation on facebook & twitter!
5. Visit NACD for educational materials and more information!
6. Let us know about your activities! E-mail Nicole.Gubbels @iowaagriculture.gov

Download Our Flyer

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Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week is an opportunity to recognize the important conservation work that has been placed on the Iowa landscape and bring attention to the ongoing work by farmers, landowners and urban residents to protect the state’s soil and water resources.

Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week this year is being coordinated with national Stewardship Week, which is sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts.  This year’s Stewardship Week theme is "We All Need Trees” and is designed to focus the nation’s attention on the stewardship and importance of our natural resources.

The severe erosion during the “Dust Bowl” years of the 1930s brought about the first efforts to prevent soil erosion, which also helped protect water resources.  Iowa passed a law in 1939 to establishing a state agency and the means for soil and water conservation districts to organize.  This legislation declared it the policy of the State of Iowa to: preserve soil and water; protect the state’s tax base; and promote health, safety and public welfare of people of Iowa.

Today, Iowa is a national leader in the implementation of water quality and watershed projects, soil conservation and buffer programs.  Iowa currently leads the nation in the continuous conservation reserve program buffer initiative with more than 600,000 acres.  Iowa also has more than 60 active watershed and water quality projects across the state.

EVENTS

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• Soil & Water Proclamation & WQI Funded Urban Stormwater Project Ribbon Cutting at a Stormwater Wetland , Monday, April 30th at 2pm, Site located on the east side of Fourmile Creek on the north side of 36th Street in Ankeny. Parking by the wetland at the Outdoor Education Center 610 NE 36th Street Ankeny.   

•   North Raccoon Farm to River Partnership Water Quality Initiative kickoff event. Tuesday, May 1, 2018
  12:00     Introductions -ACWA
  Iowa's Water Quality Initiatives- Secretary of Agriculture - Mike Naig
  Partnership acknowledgement- IAWA
  FARM SITE LOCATION - 25455 110th St, Lake City, IA 51449  https://goo.gl/maps/AymiCr47eR52
  12:30   Travel to Swan Lake Convention Conference Center
              22676 Swan Lake Drive – Carroll, IA
  12:45   Lunch - Lidderdale Country Store
  1:00     Project Presentation
  
  
• 6th Annual Clean up Jordon Creek and Trail,  Friday May 4th, 2018. Click here to learn  more .


• Tama SWCD's annual 5th Grade Outdoor Classroom will be held on May 1 (raindate May 3).  266 students from six school districts will be attending this year and will spend the day rotating through 20-minutes classes on benthic macroinvertebrates, nature walk, forestry, soils, wildlife, water quality, fishing/boating safety, wildlife population dynamics, and one-more-undetermined-topic-that’s-new-this-year.
  


• Cherokee District Conservationist, Justin Boersma, will be on KCHE radio’s “What’s Happening Show” on May 4th at 8:35 a.m. talking about conservation.