Agri News, MN
06-19-06
CREP having success in Iowa
By Jean Caspers-Simmet
Agri News staff writer
DES MOINES -- Iowa's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is
removing nitrates from tile drainage in 37 north central Iowa counties.
What happens here will ultimately affect the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico,
said Dean Lemke, chief of the Water Resources Bureau with the Iowa
Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
"CREP was created under the farm bill, and it is supported by 20 percent state
funds and 80 percent federal funds,'' Lemke said. "Our budget is $38 million for
the initial Iowa CREP effort."
Iowa 's CREP is aimed at developing nitrate removal wetlands in the tile drained
area of north central Iowa. The program is set up for 8,000 acres to be enrolled in
wetlands and buffers.
Using wetlands for removing nitrate was developed by Iowa State University
over the past 13 years with funding from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and
Land Stewardship, Lemke said. The funds came from a fee Iowa farm families
pay on chemicals.
So far, 12 wetland complexes have been constructed. These wetlands protect
14,000 acres of watershed. The wetlands will remove 40 percent to 90 percent of
the nitrate coming into them through tile drains. Over the life of the project,
Lemke projects these wetlands will remove 7,000 tons of nitrate.
The program will build eight sites this summer, and another eight wetlands are
planned for fall.
Iowa CREP is targeted, said Randy Cooney, program coordinator. The program
uses sophisticated computer technologies to identify and locate sites, and then
Cooney and other Division of Soil Conservation staff work with local Soil and
Water Conservation Districts to meet with landowners to see if they're interested.
A site must generally have within 7 to 10 feet of fall in a half mile and a drainage
area of at least 500 acres.
Cooney acknowledges CREP enrollment is a complex process, and he works
closely with landowners to make sure questions are answered.
"We follow through construction serving as an agent for landowners," Cooney
said. "The last thing we want is for something to be a problem for the landowner.
What's there on the other end of the process is a very high quality wetland that
will function for a long period of time."
Program incentives are strong, Cooney said.
"We're asking landowners to consider a 30-year or permanent easement option,"
Cooney said.
Farmers still own the land and make decisions about who has access to the site.
"We do not negatively impact others' drainage rights,'' Cooney said. "We're very
conscious of that.''
A tile line that is four to five feet below the surface must be brought onto the
surface to create the shallow water wetlands. About 75 percent of the pond is
less than three feet deep. So far the wetlands have ranged in size from three
acres to 30 acres. Native grass buffers of 15 acres to 18 acres protect the
wetlands.
Cooney said the transformation that occurs after the water fills the pool happens
quickly.
"As soon as you add water, the dragon flies and frogs are there,'' he said.
"In addition to the water quality benefits, these wetlands are very good waterfowl
habitat," Lemke said.
"Nitrates are a big concern to drinking water supplies,'' Lemke said. "Des Moines
has the world's largest nitrate removal plant."