Agroecology Research Team

Purpose

This research team studied riparian buffer systems and operated the Bear Creek Watershed Demonstration Project, operating as a research team of the Leopold Center from 1990 to 2002. The highly successful, award-winning program worked with landowners in the Bear Creek watershed to install riparian buffers to mitigate erosion, reduce nitrate runoff and improve wildlife habitat. Research continues on projects with additional funding from the Leopold Center and other sources.

Team members included farmer/landowner cooperators, Iowa State University scientists, and professionals from state and federal agencies and non-governmental organizations. The team was led by Bruce W. Menzel and Richard C. Schultz of Iowa State University.

The goals of the Agroecology Research Team:

• to assess the impacts of agricultural practices on the structure and function of regional agroecosystems
• to design and test small-scale agricultural landscape management systems that can lessen negative environmental impacts of agriculture and enhance natural ecosystem function
• to develop a holistic approach for reconstruction and/or restoration and management of regional agroecosystems that are environmentally sound, socially acceptable and economically feasible

Research team resources

• Practices to Improve Water Quality fact sheet - June 2012
• Watch videos about the Bear Creek project - May 2011
• Stewards of our Streams: Assessing the Need for a Riparian Management System [PDF] September 2002
• Stewards of our Streams: Buffer Strip Design, Establishment and Maintenance [PDF] April 1997
• Stewards of our Streams: Maintenance of Riparian Buffers [PDF] March 2002
• Poster: Ten Things Learned from Bear Creek [PDF] Spring 2002

More information, photos and publications can be found on the Agroecology Issue Team website.

Related grant projects

• Reconnecting Iowa riparian buffers with tile drainage (E2010-01)
• Quantifying the effect of perennial vegetation on soil and water quality (E2009-16)
• Sustainable tree-shrub-grass buffer strips along waterways (1990-07)

Before and after

Photo below was taken October 2008. Dick Schultz and Tom Isenhart are holding a photo of the "before" view, which shows the area where they are now standing. Jeri Neal of the Leopold Center and research associate Leigh Ann Long look on.