Lake LaVerne Watershed Project Progress Report: Project Number 1415-007, Final Report, June 30, 2016

This application targets a critical need for low maintenance and inexpensive treatment solutions to encourage landowners and resource managers to enhance the water quality of small ponds and lakes. Many rural and urban small ponds and lakes across Iowa and the region have eutrophic conditions with high levels of nutrients and low levels of oxygen. Story SWCD teamed with Iowa State University (ISU) researchers propose to address this need through the construction and monitoring of a vegetated floating island (VFI) system on ISU's iconic Lake LaVerne. VFI's are hydroponically-vegetated islands that reduce nutrient loading directly from pond and lake water (rather than from soil adjacent to the pond). Urban watershed assessment on the ISU campus has already led to reductions in stormwater runoff to the lake but eutrophic conditions persist and are well documented. The VFI will function as a public art attraction for the entire 2015 growing season during which time monitoring will occur to quantify nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon changes in the lake. Tens of thousands of visitors to the ISU campus and Lake LaVerne will interact with this installation using promotional signage on site, public events and interactive social media throughout the project. Water quality and vegetation analysis will quantify nutrient uptake by the island vegetation and thus determine its effectiveness for use in other similar water bodies in Iowa.

Rathbun Lake Special Project: BMPs for priority land in Targeted Sub-Watershed 2012 1221-010, Final Report 2013-2061,

The Rathbun Land and Water Alliance and partners have undertaken a highly effective approach to water quality protection through the Rathbun Lake Special Project. This approach is achieving a significant reduction in the sediment and phosphorus that impair water quality in Rathbun Lake and its tributaries as a result of the targeted application of best management practices (BMPs) for priority land in the watershed. This project application proposes to assist landowners to apply BMPs that will reduce sediment and phosphorus delivery from priority land in three targeted sub-watersheds as part of the Rathbun Lake Special Project. Features of this project are: (1) use of geographic information system (GIS) analysis to identify priority land that requires BMPs; (2) assistance for landowners to apply BMPs for 1,200 acres that will reduce the annual delivery of sediment by 1,800 tons and phosphorus by 6,000 pounds; (3) evaluation of the benefits from BMP application using GIS analysis and water quality monitoring; and (4) watershed outreach activities that encourage landowners to apply BMPs for priority land to protect water quality.

Rathbun Lake Special Project BMPs for Priority Land in Targeted Sub-Watersheds 2012: Final Report: 1221-010, 2013-2016, June 27, 2016

The Rathbun Land and Water Alliance and partners have undertaken a highly effective approach to water quality protection through the Rathbun Lake Special Project. This approach is achieving a significant reduction in the sediment and phosphorus that impair water quality in Rathbun Lake and its tributaries as a result of the targeted application of best management practices (BMPs) for priority land in the watershed. This project application proposes to assist landowners to apply BMPs that will reduce sediment and phosphorus delivery from priority land in three targeted sub-watersheds as part of the Rathbun Lake Special Project. Features of this project are:(1) use of geographic information system (GIS) analysis to identify priority land that requires BMPs;(2) assistance for landowners to apply BMPs for 1,200 acres that will reduce the annual delivery of sediment by 1,800 tons and phosphorus by 6,000 pounds;(3) evaluation of the benefits from BMP application using GIS analysis and water quality monitoring; and (4) watershed outreach activities that encourage landowners to apply BMPs for priority land to protect water quality.