Each year the Polk Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners participate in the Polk County Fair festivities by awarding Polk County residents for their continued and often unnoticed soil and water conservation efforts. Listed below are the categories and award recipients from 2006 to 2009:
2009
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2009 Conservation Award Winners
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John and Regina Olmstead intend to make their farm self-sustaining, they are well on their way to accomplishing that goal. The Olmstead’s implemented a pasture management/ rotational grazing system in 2007. This paddock system allows them to better utilize pasture at key times of the grazing season and has amplified hay yields.
Manure from the winter feeding area is selectively applied to paddocks and cow manure from the grazing herd is more concentrated in smaller grazing areas; the nutrients the cows utilize while grazing are put right back in the soil, fueling the next rotational growth of the paddocks.
John and Regina have fenced their herd out of the creeks running through their farm. They now supply drinking water to their cattle with fenced heavy use areas limiting them to small rocked portions of the creek and nose pump watering devices for paddocks not bordering a creek.
In addition to their pasture management activities, John and Regina have implemented CRP filter strips and they no-till farm terraced ground, they are true stewards of the land. |
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| Hamid & Judy Nayeri have been named winners of the Native Buffer Farmer of the Year Award for 2009. The Nayeris’ have enrolled 83 acres into various Conservation Reserve Program practices to provide wildlife habitat on their land in Franklin Township. Native prairie grasses and forbs were planted on 23.5 acres of Filter Strips along tributaries of the South Skunk River, 9.5 acres of Shallow Water Excavation, and 50 acres of wetland restoration. In addition to the habitat, the wetlands, buffers and filters also provide soil and water quality benefits by filtering sediment and nutrients out of the water before it enters the creeks. |
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The 2009 Urban Steward of the Year is Ron Patterson from Pleasant Hill, Iowa. Ron is being recognized for his work at 5600 Metro Drive East in Pleasant Hill. After learning about options for water quality protection while developing his site, it has been Ron’s goal to manage his properties storm water by slowing down run off and increasing infiltration.
To achieve his goal Ron has put several infiltration based practices to use on his property. In his parking lot he has installed 1,600 square feet of porous asphalt. This special pervious surface and rock bed under it allows for eight parking spaces but also promotes the infiltration of storm water from a larger parking lot into the soil profile instead of sending polluted water to Fourmile Creek.
To further ensure that his storm water is managed he has over 400 feet of vegetated bioswales that convey run off to an infiltration basin before any is released to Fourmile Creek. Check dams are located in the swales to slow down flows and promote temporary ponding. The ponding allows the water to slowly enter the soil profile and become cool and clean ground water.
Ron Patterson's site is a model for how a business can develop a site and still manage storm water in ways that will protect our water resources.
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The Polk Soil & Water Conservation District has selected the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation as its Partner of the Year Award winner. The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) a non-profit conservation group, has helped protect more than 100,000 acres of Iowa's prairies, wetlands, woodlands, greenways, trails and river corridors.
In Polk County they have assisted in securing 206 acres of Wetlands Reserve Program easements in Douglas and Franklin Townships. The restored wetlands and native prairies provide food and habitat to many migratory birds and wildlife species.
The INHF partners with various groups to promote conservation, manage natural areas, and trails for the residents of Polk County. The District appreciates the INHF's willingness to partner and promote conservation throughout Polk County.
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Conservation Farmer of the Year Bruce Carney
Native Buffer Farmer of the Year James Mathis
Urban Steward of the Year Luther Park
Contractor of the Year Barker Lemar Engineering Consultants
Partner of the Year Izaak Walton League
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Conservation Farmer of the Year Scott Pearson
Native Buffer Farmer of the Year John Falvey
Urban Steward of the Year Des Moines Park & Recreation
Partner of the Year Metro Waste Authority
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