APPLICANT COVER SHEET
Iowa Watershed Projects Request for Information
Proposed Watershed:
__________Upper Cedar Watershed (Iowa Portion)______
Formal Applicant:
__________Floyd County, Iowa______________________
Contact Person:
___Doug Kamm, Chair and Mark Kuhn, Supervisor______
Street Address:
__________101 S. Main, Suite 302___________________
City/State/Zip:
__________Charles City, IA 50616___________________
Telephone Number:
__________641-257-6129__________________________
Email Address:
[email protected][email protected]____
Additional Watershed Project Partners (name of organization, contact person, email):
City of Charles City:
Tom Brownlow, City Administrator – [email protected]
City of Osage:
Steve Cooper, Mayor - [email protected]
City of Waverly:
Richard J. Crayne, City Administrator – [email protected]
Black Hawk County:
John Miller, Chair, Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors
[email protected]
Chickasaw County:
Rick Holthaus, Chair, Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors
[email protected]
Floyd County:
Doug Kamm, Chair, Board of Supervisors - [email protected]
Doug Schroeder, Director, Floyd County Conservation Board
[email protected]
Bridget Edson, Emergency Management Coordinator,
Floyd County Emergency Management – [email protected]
Jeff Sherman, Floyd County EH/Floodplain Manager, CFM
Floyd County Zoning Administration - [email protected]
Mitchell SWCD:
Brad Johnson, Chair, Mitchell Soil & Water Conservation District
[email protected]
Worth County:
Ken Abrams, Chair, Worth County Board of Supervisors
[email protected]
Iowa Soybean Association:
Roger Wulf, Director of Environmental Programs and Services
[email protected]
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Cedar River Watershed
Coalition:
State Senator Rob Hogg, Acting Co-Chair –
[email protected]
Jim Davis, Citizen
Jim Davis, former member of Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission
[email protected]
Floyd County, Iowa, is pleased to submit this letter of interest on behalf of the Iowa portion of
the Upper Cedar Watershed, a Hydrologic Unit Code 8 (HUC 8) watershed in northern Iowa.
Watershed Characteristics & Projects
- Identify the watershed proposed for this project: The watershed proposed for this project is
the Upper Cedar Watershed, a Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 8 watershed (USGS Cataloging
Unit: 07080201) Although the entire HUC 8 would include an area of the State of Minnesota, the
program is restricted to Iowa counties covered by FEMA-1763-DR-IA, the federal disaster
declaration for the floods of 2008. Therefore, only the respective Iowa portion would be
included. A map of the watershed is included on page 5.
- Identify known data sources or available information related to water quality and
quantity specific to the proposed watershed: Many communities and rural areas within the
Upper Cedar Watershed have been impacted by flooding over time. One of the most current
data compilations was prepared by the USGS and is available in their report entitled “Floods of
May 30 to June 15, 2008, in the Iowa River and Cedar River Basins, Eastern Iowa, available at
http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2010/1190/pdf/of2010-1190.pdf. In addition, from a water quality
standpoint, the EPA has identified several waters in the area as being impaired, including Burr
Oak Creek, the Cedar River, Deer Creek, Little Cedar River, Otter Creek, Rock Creek, Spring
Creek and Turtle Creek. The Iowa-Cedar Rivers Basin Interagency Watershed Coordination
Team has studied an area including, but not limited to, the Upper Cedar Watershed See
http://iowacedarbasin.org/watershed, “Water resources and uses in the basin.”
Efforts have been made in both urban and agricultural areas to implement soil and water
conservation practices that are making a difference to control flooding, pollution and soil
erosion. Some innovative examples include permeable pavers for storm water management in
Charles City, and a denitrifying bioreactor for tile drainage in rural Floyd County. The Borlaug
Learning Center for agricultural research contributes to the interest of public officials and others
throughout the area to improve the watershed.
See also the Rapid Watershed Assessment conducted for the Upper Cedar by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) referenced under the “Completed
Assessments” section.
- Identify past or current relationships and activities with landowners in the watershed
(both urban and rural): A myriad of landowner relationships and activities exist in the Upper
Cedar Watershed in both rural and urban areas. Many of the specific projects are referenced
throughout this Letter of Intent.
- Identify any finances or in-kind support available in the watershed, include federal, state
and local resources: Following is a partial list of funding sources that are in use for current
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projects. Similar funding sources may be tapped, as well as actual and in-kind match potentially
being available from cities, counties, and SWCD’s participating in the Upper Cedar Watershed
Management Improvement Authority.
WSPF
WPF
319
I-Jobs
EQIP
CRP
MRBI
WRP
WIRB
Program Name
Watershed Protection Funds
Water Protection Funds
US EPA Section 319
Same
Environmental Quality Incentive Program
Conservation Reserve Program
Mississippi River Basin Initiative
Wetland Reserve Program
Watershed Improvement Review Board
Sponsoring Agency
IDALS – DSC
IDALS – DSC
Iowa DNR
IDALS - DSC
USDA – NRCS
USDA – FSA
USDA – NRCS
USDA - NRCS
Same
- Identify past or current State or Federal watershed projects: A few ecent and current
watershed projects in the area include:
City of Waverly Source Water Protection Plan (Bremer SWCD )- The Cedar Valley RC&D is
providing planning and technical assistance to the City of Waverly to develop a Source Water
Protection Plan to stabilize the nitrate levels in their well water. This is a cooperative effort with
IDNR, City of Waverly and Bremer SWCD.
Burr Oak/Turtle Creek Water Quality Project (Mitchell SWCD) - Started in 2007, this
watershed project’s goal is to improve water quality in these two cold water trout streams to the
point that they will support natural reproduction. A critical animal waste structure and pending
CRP practices to be installed in Burr Oak Watershed will help move that stream towards the
goal of natural trout reproduction. (319, WSPF, WPF, CRP)
City of Carpenter (Mitchell SWCD) - Initiated in 2006, this project was to stop the illegal
discharge of wastewater into Deer Creek and provide the citizens of Carpenter with an
environmentally sound and affordable wastewater treatment system. A 2-cell treatment system
was constructed according to all state standards and the project completed in 2009. (WIRB)
Dry Run Creek Subwatershed Project (Floyd SWCD) - Initiated in 2008, the purpose of this
project was to construct alternative outlets for 3 critical ag-drainage wells and develop nutrient
and pest management plans on 432 acres within the impacted areas. (WIRB)
Floyd County Groundwater Protection Project (Floyd SWCD) - A project to preserve and
improve groundwater quality in the Devonian aquifer offered education and financial incentives
to landowners. The project (initiated in 1990) with numerous partners helped landowners close
23 of 69 agricultural drainage wells. (319, WPF, CRP)
Floyd County Monitoring ADW Closure Effects (Floyd SWCD) - Initiated in 1994, this project
monitored and documented groundwater quality changes after three agricultural drainage wells
were closed in Floyd County. (WPF)
Mitchell County Devonian Aquifer Protection Project (Mitchell SWCD) - This project sought
to protect the Devonian Aquifer, Mitchell County’s potable water source, from further
degradation. Open sinkholes and soils shallow to bedrock above the aquifer allowed surface
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contaminants such as pesticides, animal wastes, and other nutrients to move quickly to the
aquifer. Started in 1989, this project led to many improvements included installing 16 ag waste
systems, cleaning 9 sinkholes, diverting runoff from 4 sinkholes, using crop scouting on 1200
acres, and planting trees on 270 acres. (WPF) A supplemental project was created in 1989 to
expand this effort to include a more comprehensive groundwater quality evaluation component.
(WPF, EQIP, CRP)
- Identify past or current flood mitigation projects in the watershed: Several cities in the
watershed, including Waverly and Charles City, have undertaken flood mitigation projects
following the 2008 floods. The EPA selected Waverly as one of six communities that received
Smart Growth Technical Assistance to help recover and rebuild from the floods and tornadoes
of 2008. This partnership produced tailored smart growth strategies for each community to use
in its recovery efforts to become more resilient to future floods. Recently, the City of Waverly
implemented a Hazard Mitigation and River Use Commission to ensure a continued focus on
hazard mitigation in the community.
The City of Charles City implemented a $3.9 million permeable paving project spanning 16
blocks of the city to reduce flooding and improve water quality. They also recently undertook a
project to mitigate flooding impacts at their raw water pump station.
The Cedar Valley RC&D is currently assisting Floyd/Chickasaw/Bremer SWCDs to develop a
2011/2012 Mississippi River Basin Initiative application for funding for a watershed utilizing the
construction of ponds with a wetland component as a major nutrient reducing practice. A tour
was held in 2011 for State and Local Governmental entities to discuss flood reducing practices.
Floyd County was a leader in working on flood mitigation when the Washington School
Watershed project was undertaken in the 1970’s and 1980’s. This major flood mitigation
initiative covers 3,500 acres.
- Provide a map of the proposed watershed and boundaries: See Page 6.
Planning and Visioning: This section includes information on the current effort to establish a
Watershed Management Authority in the area, and references past planning efforts within the
watershed:
- Identify status of 28E agreement for watershed, if applicable: The process of establishing
the Upper Cedar Watershed Management Improvement Authority is underway and completion
is expected on or before the deadline of June 30, 2012. Strong interest has been shown to date
by multiple counties, cities and Soil and Water Conservation Districts in participating in the
Upper Cedar Watershed Management Improvement Authority, which is planned to encompass
the entire Iowa portion of the Upper Cedar Watershed, the same area that is included in this
proposal to IIHR/the Iowa Flood Center. The group plans to seek Phase II funding from the
Watershed Management Authority program being overseen by the DNR and IEDA to establish a
watershed plan for the region.
- Identify any completed assessments of or plans for the watershed (comprehensive,
land use, stream, social): The Rapid Watershed Assessment conducted for the Upper Cedar
by the USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) indicates that Conservation
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Districts in the watershed have identified the following resource concerns as top priorities for
conservation and cost sharing efforts in the watershed: sediment and erosion control; drinking
water and source water protection; feedlot and animal waste management; nutrient
management; wetland management; stormwater and wastewater management. (see page 14,
“Rapid Watershed Assessment Upper Cedar (MN/IA) HUC: 07080201,”
http://www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/rwa/Assessments/reports/upper_cedar.pdf)
- Identify any interagency work groups in the watershed: Examples of interagency work
groups include the Iowa-Cedar Rivers Basin Interagency Watershed Coordination Team, which
has studied an area including but not limited to the Upper Cedar Watershed. Government
representatives and private landowners from throughout the Upper Cedar Watershed are active
participants in the Cedar River Watershed Coalition. Even more are participating in forming the
Upper Cedar Watershed Management Improvement Authority.
- Identify key organizations, communities and individuals active in watershed planning
and their roles: Key organizations include each of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts,
the RC&Ds, the Iowa Soybean Association, and MSA Professional Services. All are
participating in the current planning effort surrounding establishment of a Watershed
Management Authority in the area and will have an interest in pursuing a watershed plan for the
area upon the WMA’s implementation. Entities exploring participation in the Upper Cedar
Watershed Management Improvement Authority include seven counties and SWCDs, and 17
cities.
Input and support has also been sought and received from private landowners, producer
organizations, and state and federal agencies. Jim Davis of Charles City, former member of the
Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission is a key individual as is Floyd County Supervisor Mark
Kuhn, a former state legislator who was active in passing watershed-related legislation and Kurt
Hoeft, a local official with the USDA-NRCS. All are potential partners within the watershed.
Community Involvement and Outreach: This section identifies involvement of the community
and regional engagement in the watershed:
- Identify agencies and communities active in watershed outreach and educational
activities: Agencies involved in outreach and education include but are not limited to the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the
Iowa Flood Center, ISU Extension, Soil and Water Conservation Districts for each county in the
area, USDA-NRCS, the RC&Ds in the area, the Iowa Farm Bureau, and the Iowa Soybean
Association. All communities in the watershed are considering participation in the Upper Cedar
Watershed Management Improvement Authority.
- Describe any current or past outreach and community engagement events in the
watershed including key partners and target audiences: An effort to establish the Upper
Cedar Watershed Management Improvement Authority is currently underway and encompasses
the entire watershed region. On 9/13/11, the area hosted an Upper Cedar River Watershed
Tour (see
http://www.neighborhoodnetworknews.com/video/wmf/features/flood2010/crwc/tour091311/crwc
091311tour_all.html.) The City of Charles City was named “River Town of the Year’ by Iowa
Rivers Revival for the community’s efforts to enhance its connections to the Cedar River
through conversion of a dangerous low-head dam into the state’s first whitewater kayak course,
and installation of the state’s largest permeable paving system and improved public access .
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- Identify other potential partners within the watershed: In addition to the key organizations,
communities and individuals listed on page 7, other potential partners include the Army Corps of
Engineers, FEMA, IIHR/the Iowa Flood Center, the Iowa Division of Homeland Security and
Emergency Management, ISU Extension, Wartburg College, and many individuals, landowners
and business owners.
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Mitchell Soil & Water Conservation District
1529 Main Street
Osage, IA 50461-1824
(641) 732-5504
March 30, 2012
Floyd County Board of Supervisors
Charles City, IA
RE: Upper Cedar Watershed Project
The Mitchell Soil & Water Conservation District supports the proposed Iowa Flood Center
application designed to implement a watershed project that will:
•
•
•
•
Maximize soil water holding capacity from precipitation,
Minimize severe scour erosion and sand deposition during floods,
Manage water runoff in uplands under saturated soil moisture conditions; and
Reduce and mitigate structural and nonstructural flood damage.
Numerous flooding & large rainfall events have occurred in Mitchell County, causing millions of
dollars worth of damage. The damage has included infrastructure damage and irreparable
damage to the area’s communities, landscape, and crop ground. We recognize that our efforts to
mitigate these flooding impacts will have great benefit to other Iowans downstream as well.
One of our top priorities is to improve the quality of our streams in Mitchell County by reducing
the amount of soil erosion and the quantity of surface water leaving farms.
We are actively involved in establishing the Upper Cedar Watershed Management Improvement
Authority to plan for and mitigate future flood events. We will assist the proposed Watershed
Management Improvement Authority and its many participating government entities to generate
local interest in this project and to collaborate with IIHR and the Iowa Flood Center in
identifying rural locations for projects.
Sincerely,
Brad Johnson
Chairperson
An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
WORTH COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Kcn Abrams, Chair
Dave Haugen, Vice-Chair
Dennis May
1000 Central Ave.
Northwood, IA 50459
Phone (641) 324-3630 Fax (641) 324-3682
April 2, 2012
Larry Weber
Director, IIHR
The University of Iowa
RE: Upper Cedar Watershed Project
The Worth County Board of Supervisors strongly supports the proposed Upper Cedar
Watershed Project which will seek to:
•
•
•
•
Maximize soil water holding capacity from precipitation,
Minimize severe scow erosion and sand deposition during floods,
Manage water runoff in uplands under saturated soil moisture conditions; and
Reduce and mitigate structural and nonstructural flood damage.
Numerous flooding events have occurred throughout the Upper Cedar Watershed,
causing millions of dollars worth of damage. The damage has included infrastructure
damage and irreparable damage to the area’s communities, landscape, and crop ground.
We recognize that our efforts to mitigate these flooding impacts will have great benefit to
other Iowans downstream as well.
Our area is in the process of establishing the Upper Cedar Watershed Management
Improvement Authority to plan for and mitigate future flood events. The Watershed
Management Improvement Authority and its many participating government entities will
be well positioned to generate local interest in this project and to collaborate with IIHR
and the Iowa Flood Center in identifying appropriate locations for the project.
~‘
Again, the Worth County Board of Supervisors strongly supports the Upper Cedar
Watershed Project. Thanlc you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
WOrth County Bhrd of Supervisors
March 28, 2012
To: Larry Weber, Director, IIHR, The University of Iowa
From: Roger Wolf, Director of Environmental Programs and Services
Re: Letter of Support for an Upper Cedar River Watershed Project
On behalf of the Iowa Soybean Association Environmental Program and Services (ISA-EPS), I am
writing you this letter of support for a proposed project in the Upper Cedar River Watershed.
We are currently supporting the formation of a Watershed Management Authority in the Iowa
portion of the Upper Cedar River Watershed. ISA-EPS supports the formation of suitable
institutional organization’s that will provide the structure and continuity needed to implement
comprehensive watershed management. ISA staff and contractors regularly work with public
and private entities like the agricultural retailers, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, as well
as individual row crop producers throughout the watersheds across Iowa. We believe our track
record and investment in addressing watershed resource concerns speaks for itself. We
anticipate you will value our continuing engagement with the proposed work.
Sincerely,
Director of Environmental Programs and Services
Iowa Soybean Association - 1255 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, Iowa 50023