This Week Marks The Celebration Of Iowa’s Soil and Water Conservation & National Stewardship Week
April 29, 2013
Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week is an opportunity to recognize the important conservation work that has been placed on the Iowa landscape and bring attention to the ongoing work by farmers, landowners and urban residents to protect the state’s soil and water resources.
Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week this year is being coordinated with national Stewardship Week, which is sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts. This year’s Stewardship Week theme is "Where Does Your Water Shed?” and is designed to focus the nation’s attention on the stewardship of our natural resources.
The severe erosion during the “Dust Bowl” years of the 1930s brought about the first efforts to prevent soil erosion, which also helped protect water resources. Iowa passed a law in 1939 to establishing a state agency and the means for soil and water conservation districts to organize. This legislation declared it the policy of the State of Iowa to: preserve soil and water; protect the state’s tax base; and promote health, safety and public welfare of people of Iowa.
Today, Iowa is a national leader in the implementation of water quality and watershed projects, soil conservation and buffer programs. Iowa currently leads the nation in the continuous conservation reserve program buffer initiative with more than 600,000 acres. Iowa also has more than 60 active watershed and water quality projects across the state. This year we also celebrate the 40th anniversary of Cost Share, used on our landscape for terraces, waterways, erosion control structures and others.
Visit the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Website for details about all of the events that are happening throughout Our Great State Of Iowa!
Provided by the O'Brien County Conservation Board
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Website Link To Iowa So
