Private Lands, Public BenefitsPrivate Lands, Public Benefits

John Glenn John Glenn

Southern Iowa Farmer andSouthern Iowa Farmer and

Executive Director, Executive Director,

Rathbun Regional Water AssociationRathbun Regional Water Association

Lake RathbunLake RathbunThe most important water resource in south central IowaThe most important water resource in south central Iowa

Farming and Water Quality IssuesFarming and Water Quality Issues•Rathbun Lake - 11,000 surface acres of water and Rathbun Lake - 11,000 surface acres of water and 21,000 acres of public land21,000 acres of public land

•Uses: Water supply, recreation, fish and wildlife Uses: Water supply, recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, flood control, down stream navigationhabitat, flood control, down stream navigation

•354,000 acre watershed354,000 acre watershed

•Silting in 3 times faster than plannedSilting in 3 times faster than planned

•Reallocation of sediment storage impacts usesReallocation of sediment storage impacts uses

•Watershed currently has 52,000 acres of CRPWatershed currently has 52,000 acres of CRP

•Changes needed in CRPChanges needed in CRP1) Ease regulations to emphasize management on 1) Ease regulations to emphasize management on CRP such as grazing or harvest for biomassCRP such as grazing or harvest for biomass

2) More emphasis on critical placement of CRP 2) More emphasis on critical placement of CRP acres with aid of buffer strips, riparian areas, and acres with aid of buffer strips, riparian areas, and grassed waterwaysgrassed waterways

3) Eliminate restrictions on small drainage areas 3) Eliminate restrictions on small drainage areas and intermittent streamsand intermittent streams

4) Change eligibility requirements such as 4) Change eligibility requirements such as cropping historycropping history

Farming and Water Quality IssuesFarming and Water Quality Issues

Gully erosion in CRP fieldGully erosion in CRP field

Riparian buffer exampleRiparian buffer example

Farming and Water Quality IssuesFarming and Water Quality Issues

•EQIP practices well received by field staff and farm EQIP practices well received by field staff and farm operatorsoperators

•Practice components are very diverse and address Practice components are very diverse and address many conservation issuesmany conservation issues

•Program resources very limited and restrict whole Program resources very limited and restrict whole farm applicationsfarm applications

•Need to create flexibility to work with other Need to create flexibility to work with other potential partners on joint projectspotential partners on joint projects

On-road structures replace expensive bridges and stop sediment, On-road structures replace expensive bridges and stop sediment, nutrients, and pesticides from entering the lakenutrients, and pesticides from entering the lake

Other benefits include wildlife habitat, fisheries, and a source of water Other benefits include wildlife habitat, fisheries, and a source of water for livestockfor livestock