|
What's the problem with Prairie Rose Lake?
Prairie Rose Lake was first listed on Iowa's impaired waters list in 2004 due to excess algae, which affects. This problem stems from excess soil and nutrients in the water. Each year, erosion washes enough soil into the lake to fill 115 dump trucks.
Back to top
|
|
What's being done to help the lake?
The Prairie Rose Lake Watershed Project, which came together in April 2008, wants to educate landowners in the watershed and help them add conservation practices to their land. Conservation practices are ways to manage the land for better water quality. The project wants to work with landowners to add practices that include:
- Grade stabilization structures- These structures, built across water channels, reduce water flow and slow gully erosion. They can be natural, like ponds, or artificial, like dams.
- No-till farming- Using last year's crop as ground cover protects against soil erosion. No-till can also control loss of nutrients and pesticides that attach to soil particles.
- New terrace systems- Terraces built around a hillside 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.
- Grassed waterways- The vegetation in these natural or artificial water channels slows the speed of surface water, protecting the land from erosion.
- Contour buffer strips- Strips of grass or other vegetation trap sediment and pollutants and slow water runoff to reduce rill and gully erosion.
- Wetlands- Wetlands filter nutrients and soil, keeping them from reaching the lake. They also provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife.
Back to top
What can you do to help?
There are many ways, large and small, that you can help with the Prairie Rose Lake Watershed Project. You can volunteer with the project or add new conservation practices on your land. David Brand, project coordinator, can help landowners decide which projects would work best for their land and the lake. Financial assistance may be available for those looking to begin these projects. Contact Brand at (712) 755-2417 or David.Brand@ia.nacdnet.net to learn more about how you can help.
Back to top
What is the future of Prairie Rose Lake?
The Prairie Rose Lake Watershed Project aims to reduce the amount of soil and phosphorus reaching the lake by 60 percent. By adding conservation practices to their land, landowners can help reduce the amount of algae in the lake and improve recreation. Working together with the project, residents can ensure that future generations will have a great place to swim, fish and boat.
Back to top
Meet the project coordinator
|
David Brand, project coordinator for the Prairie Rose Lake Watershed Project, was born and raised in Ringgold County, Iowa, and worked for the Audubon National Resource Conservation Service office for 15 years.
Brand, who retired from NRCS in January 2008, began coordinating the Prairie Rose Lake Watershed project in April 2008.
"Basically, the project wants to keep the soil on the ground and out of the water," said Brand. "We need to improve the quality of the water for recreation purposes."
|
Brand attended Mount Ayr High School, and after serving two years in the U.S. Army, he received a degree in Range and Forest Management from Colorado State University. He worked for the NRCS for 31 years, serving in branches in Oklahoma, Nebraska and Iowa.
In addition to his work with the Prairie Rose project, Brand is also working to improve the Littlefield Lake watershed in Audubon County.
Back to top
Project partners
For More Information
Local:
David Brand
Prairie Rose Watershed Project Coordinator
(712) 755-2417
David.Brand@ia.nacdnet.net
Shelby County NRCS Office
Statewide:
Steve Hopkins
DNR Watershed Improvement Program Grants Coordinator
(515) 281-6402
Stephen.Hopkins@dnr.iowa.gov
