Maximizing conservation and return of investment on farms in the Turkey River Watershed [XP2016-11]

Project Description: 

The Northeast Iowa RC&D and the Iowa Soybean Association are partnering to engage farmers in the Turkey River Watershed to use best management practices for soil and water conservation that will maximize their return on investment. The Turkey River Watershed includes more than one million acres and a tributary to the Upper Mississippi River. The watershed has a history of poor water quality and flooding. The Turkey River Watershed Management Authority (TRWMA) has been working with landowners to improve the watershed since 2012, and a watershed plan was created in 2015. This project will encourage producers to incorporate practices in the plan to help the TRWMA to reduce floods and increase water quality.

Project ID: 
XP2016-11
Years of Grant Project: 
1
Total Grant Amount: 
$20,000
Project Start: 
2016
Lead Investigator: 
Ross Evelsizer
Lead Investigator Bio: 

Ross Evelsizer has been a watershed planner with Northeast Iowa RC&D since 2013, and coordinates planning activities and meetings for the TRWMA including development of the first flood reduction plan published in the State of Iowa. Evelsizer has experience planning from an individual farm level to a regional watershed scale. He is currently working one-on-one with producers to promote conservation and conducts tile outlet sampling.  He holds a B.S. in geography, communications, GIS, from South Dakota State University.

Co Investigators: 

Adam Kiel, Iowa Soybean Association