Projects

Big Bear Creek 

2002, June 4th storm dumped heavy rains, causing runoff from Little Bear creek watershed to flood Wyoming. This and other flooding events sparked meetings held in Wyoming and Jones Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Commissioners requested technical and financial assistance from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Division of Soil Conservation, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and others.

2003-2004, Jones County Urban Rural Project developed, and some funding was approved for certain projects, including a small amount of technical assistance to Little Bear Creek area and Wyoming.

2005, landowner survey conducted to determine interest in various conservation practices, and field office staff worked with individual landowners to prepare cost estimates and designs. Historical fisheries data showed very good potential for Bear Creek to support a diverse population of fish if water quality improvements could be made. With evidence of high landowner interest and good potential for water quality improvement, the Jones SWCD submitted an application for 319/WSPF funding for a 3-year project in the Big Bear Creek watershed. This was not approved.

May 2006, again Jones SWCD submitted an application for 319/WSPF funding for a 3-year project in the Big Bear Creek Watershed which again was not approved.

October 2006, Jones SWCD submitted and was approved for a 3-year watershed project through the watershed Improvement Review Board (WIRB)

January 2007, the first meeting was conducted kicking off plans to improve water quality in the Bear Creek Watershed with additional benefits to fisheries and wildlife, as well as the hope of reducing flooding events in Wyoming.

January 2011,  the Bear Creek Watershed Project was in its final six months of a five year project.  The original project plan had two priority areas to address water quality issues.  One was along the Big Bear Creek corridor and the other was all of the Little Bear Creek Watershed (6,400 acres).  The total area of the project stopping at Wyoming is 26,734 acres.  Since the project was nearing its end, funding a few soil and water conservation practices outside these original priority areas was considered, and applications for the remaining funds were accepted. 

Mineral Creek

The primary goal of this project was to improve the quality of the water resources in the Mineral creek watershed  and to reduce contaminants that make it into the Maquoketa River. A second goal was to improve the  natural areas in the lower region of the watershed, which include a Great Blue Heron rookery and an area referred to as Seldom Seen which is a rattlesnake habitat. The project implements Best Management practices-(BMP) for sedimentation, nutrient and pest management programs, public information and education, technical assistance, water quality monitoring, and grant writing assistance for the communities in need of sewer system upgrades. 

For information about the Mineral Creek Watershed Click Here.

Farm Creek

Farmers in the Farm Creek watershed, a sub-watershed of the larger Maquoketa River basin, have the opportunity to receive higher payment rates on conservation practices and systems that avoid, control and trap nutrient runoff; improve wildlife habitat; and maintain agricultural productivity. The Farm Creek project is a multiple year effort that began in 2010.