For two days at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa, 60 people connected with peers to share their work for soil health, streams and places they care about. Fourteen farmer-driven watershed groups participated.
At the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, farmer-driven soil health and watershed groups learned about each others’ land, crops and conservation delivery systems, social realities and challenges. Then stories, questions, dialogues, listening and local group work helped define next wise steps for work at home.
Three days of stories, listening and active conversation between Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin farmer-led groups focused their commitment to active work at home and contributed to formation of two new groups.
Meet a watershed coordinator, farmer, two college professors and Rice SWCD staff who are breaking down barriers and working together to keep nutrients and sediment out of Rice Creek.
Brent Hoerr, president of Marion County Drainage District for 40 years, experienced a Mississippi River flood first when his family lost their home in 1973. "Floods overload agriculture, transportation and the environment, and we can minimize impact through collaboration."
Minnesota’s trout streams are treasured resources offering people outdoor recreation and excitement. Sometimes though, trout streams can have a rough time in farm country. Thanks to the work of 11 farmers in Dundas, Minnesota, water quality in Rice Creek is showing important improvements.
An oxbow is a historic river bend, cut off from the main channel much of the time. Restored oxbows re-establish ecological functions and provide flood storage and habitat to fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. They also process nutrients and are affordable.
Silver Creek Watershed coordinator Neil Shaffer is achieving his four goals—reduce soil loss, improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, and increase net farm income—because of a cascade of cooperation.