Muchakinock Creek Success Story

The DNR is helping Iowans across the state improve our lakes and streams by supporting and working with watershed projects. By making changes in how we manage both private and public land, we can reduce the amount of pollution like sediment, nutrients and bacteria, reaching our water. The story featured below is just some one the many successes we've seen so far, and there's more work underway.

Jerry Bruxvoort protects Muchakinock Jerry Bruxvoort has accepted his call to duty, and he hopes others will also step forward. The Muchakinock Creek farmer uses conservation practices to improve water in the creek and save valuable Iowa topsoil. "We're put on this land to take care of it, and not to waste it. It's your duty," Bruxvoort said. We're all stewards of the land and the next generation needs it just as much as we do. Read more (*.pdf)

Locals work to improve Muchakinock Creek
As the Muchakinock Creek Watershed Project marks its third year, project leaders are noting the successes of local residents in helping clean up the creek.

Mahaska and Marion County landowners and residents have helped reduce the amount of pollution in the watershed, or the area of land that drains to the creek. Muchakinock Creek, which starts just southeast of Pella and meets the Des Moines River near Eddyville, is on the state's impaired waters list. Excessive sediment reaching the creek has made it difficult for aquatic life to thrive in the stream.

However, landowners and residents are working to clean up the creek. Since the project began, they have built almost 13 miles worth of terraces, which keep about 1,500 tons of silt from reaching the stream each year.

"That's about 100 tandem dump truck loads of soil," said Matt Lechtenberg, Muchakinock Creek project coordinator. "The terraces help keep the soil on farm fields, where it can help produce crops, instead of washing into the stream."

Landowners wanting to get involved with the project can contact Lechtenberg to see which conservation practices, like terraces, can work on their land. Currently, 75 percent cost-share is available from the project to help build terraces and ponds in the top part of the watershed.

"The people of the Muchakinock Creek watershed should be proud of what they've accomplished, and I know they're excited to see what else we can do for the stream," Lechtenberg said.

Another 26,000 feet of terraces are set to be built, and the project is working on reclaiming three abandoned mine sites in 2008. The Muchakinock Creek Watershed Project has also applied for additional funding to extend the project.