What's being done to help Muchakinock Creek?
Terraces, water and sediment control basins, conservation tillage and conservation buffers,
along with filter strips along the creek, are just a few of the practices that make the future look bright
for generations to come in Mahaska County.
Terraces are a very efficient practice in reducing soil erosion and sediment in the
Muchakinock Creek watershed. Terraces are built around a hillside and either slow runoff and guide it to the bottom of the hill
or collect runoff and store it until the runoff can be absorbed by the ground. Terraces must be properly designed
and maintained to combat erosion.
The Muchakinock Creek Watershed Project has a high interest in water and sediment control basins.
The basins trap runoff water and sediment before they can reach the stream. There are 189 basins planned for the watershed.
Landowners in Muchakinock Creek have practiced conservation tillage in the watershed also on land that drains
into the creek. Conservation tillage protects against soil erosion from wind and water. Minimum tillage is already
used in the watershed on some corn and soybean fields. No-till methods are used on approximately one-third of
cropped fields, and currently soybeans are the preferred crop to use no-till methods on in the watershed.
The 120 acres of planned conservation buffers in the Muchakinock Creek watershed will slow sediment and filter runoff water
before it reaches the stream. In addition, these buffers will reduce erosion from wind and provide habitat for
wildlife.
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What can I do to help?
Landowners can consider installing conservation practices to control the amount of sediment,
nutrients and other pollutants reaching Muchakinock Creek.
Others like students in the Oskaloosa Alternative School Program are volunteering with IOWATER, to monitor water quality in the watershed. Other
local citizens have shown a great interest to create terraces along Muchakinock Creek and to use all funds that
have been given to clean up the ecosystem.
Financial assistance is available, and the benefits extend beyond cleaner water - often conservation practices
can produce financial benefits, create recreational opportunities and provide habitat for wildlife.
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What is the future for Muchakinock Creek?
Improving water quality is the main goal of the Muchakinock Creek Watershed Project, which plans to target
the most erosion-prone areas in the watershed. The project will use GIS (Geographic Information Systems) mapping
to identify areas in the watershed that need the most help.
In the spring of 2008, the watershed project sponsors hope to apply for another grant to work in the lower part of the watershed.
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