Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week
Date: Sunday, April 29th, 2012 to Sunday, May 6th, 2012
Location: Various locations in Iowa
Contact: Sarah Asberry, IDALS Division of Soil Conservation, sarah.asberry@iowaagriculture.gov, (515) 725-2853
Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week recognizes that the abundance of our agricultural products and the quality of life we enjoy are dependent upon the proper use and management of soil and water resources. The Iowa observation 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 “Soil to Spoon” and is designed to focus the nation’s attention on the stewardship of our natural resources.
Conservation week activities are coordinated within the Divsion of Soil Conservation in the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. See news release [IDALS website]
Soil and Water Conservation Week Activities
Monday, April 30
Ice Cream Social – Food Bank of Iowa Fundraiser
11:00 am - 1:00 pm, West Terrace, State Capitol, Des Moines
Bring your own bowl to this ice cream social to benefit the Food Bank of Iowa, and participate in hands-on natural resource demonstrations in honor of Soil & Water Conservation Week. A $1/scoop donation or non-perishable food item will be accepted. On-site will be the Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Station with a rainfall simulator, the IDNR stream table, and a ground water flow model. Event flier [PDF]
Tuesday, May 1
Rathbun Lake Watershed Field Day
5:30 pm, Kevin and Lori Luedtke Farm, 44935 270th Avenue, Chariton
Come out to this working farm and see what soil and water conservation in the rural landscape is all about. The Luedtke farm will provide a scenic backdrop as you hear from Rathbun Lake Protectors about their work in the watershed. Over 354,000 acres across six southern Iowa counties drain into the Rathbun Lake. The lake itself is 11,000 acres and provides drinking water to approximately 80,000 people in southern Iowa and northern Missouri as the primary source of water for the Rathbun Regional Water Association. Event flier [PDF]
Thursday, May 3
Downtown Des Moines Urban Conservation Tour
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Starting at the Iowa Utilities Board, 1375 East Court Avenue, Des Moines
This tour will feature urban conservation at three different properties in downtown Des Moines. Bioretention cells, native landscaping, permeable paving, rain gardens, and a green roof - all in your capitol city. The tour will begin on the grounds of the Iowa Utilities Board building, before moving on to two other sites in the downtown area. Event flier [PDF]
Friday, May 4
Scott County Urban Conservation Showcase
2:00 pm, Davenport Public Works, 1200 East 46th Street, Davenport
The Scott County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Partners of Scott County Watersheds will showcase how urban conservation practices have been implemented within the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. See a demonstration of the bioretention cells on site, which are utilized for capture and infiltration of stormwater runoff. Event flier [PDF]
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture |
Ames, Iowa 50011 |
(515) 294-3711 |
leocenter@iastate.edu