Northeast Iowa RC&D

Our recent visit to West Union, Iowa was featured in the Fayette County local paper! 👇 We were joined by local and state leaders to learn more about the town's watershed-level approach to flooding - including an AFC supported project that reduces flooding on working lands using relay cropping and also produces water quality benefits in the town. @FLOLOfarms @IowaFloodCenter @iahuntress @NEIARCD

Relay cropping is a promising method farmers use to reduce nutrient runoff into waterways, as demonstrated by @FLOLOfarms. In Iowa, corn and soybeans dominate, leaving fields bare half the year and increasing nutrient loss. By growing grains like barley and rye in the same fields, farmers keep the land covered longer, reducing runoff and gaining an additional crop to sell. Thanks to @floodcoalition, @IowaFloodCenter, and @iowadnr for showcasing this innovative practice.

It's clear that flooding affects agriculture. But regenerative agricultural practices can also help reduce the risk of flooding. 🌾 We brought together partners @NEIARCD, @IowaFloodCenter, and local Iowan farmers, including @FLOLOfarms for a project measuring how multi-cropping reduces flooding, increases farmers' profits, and improves soil health: bit.ly/3EkMZup

Rod Marlatt from the Turkey River Watershed shared his thoughts on the partnership with IFC during our weekly meeting, saying, "I feel like we were born together, put the crib together, and learned to walk together." Great to host Rod and friends from @NEIARCD! @IIHRUIowa

So well deserved—congratulations, Larry and Kate! And all of the 2023 @TakoIowa Jensen Award recipients for your work to promote the outdoors.

Today Larry Weber, the Edwin B. Green Chair in Hydraulics and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, accepted a three-year appointment as Director of IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering. Welcome back, Larry! @UIowaEngr @IowaFloodCenter @IowaGeoSurvey

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign! Fresh installs in the Upper Wapsi and Upper Iowa watersheds. @NEIARCD