2022 | Boone River Watershed

FY22 | Restoring Habitat, Building Momentum 

Location: Boone River Watershed, Iowa (Wright & Hamilton Counties) 
Partners: The Nature Conservancy, Iowa Soybean Association, NRCS (RCPP), USFWS, Iowa Rivers Revival (IRR), Wright County SWCD 
Project Lead: Karen Wilke, The Nature Conservancy 

Oxbow Restoration & Outreach Project 

This project aimed to restore up to five oxbows and exceeded expectations by restoring four oxbows, with three paired with RCPP funding: 

1. Gates Oxbows (3 sites) – Restored in December 2023 along White Fox Creek, these pasture-based oxbows were designed with cattle access in mind. Together, they created 0.85 acres of aquatic habitat and treat runoff from 200 acres of farmland. 
2. Van Diest Oxbow – Restored in January 2024 along a tributary of Buck Creek, this site added 0.32 acres of wetland and 0.5 acres of prairie, treating 12 acres of agricultural runoff. 

Each site was designed to support Topeka shiner habitat, improve water quality, and enhance flood resilience. Connections to adjacent streams were carefully constructed to allow fish access during high-water events. 

Project Outcomes 

The FY22 project delivered strong ecological and outreach results: 

• Restored 4 oxbows, creating 1.17 acres of wetland and 0.5 acres of prairie habitat. 
• Filtered runoff from over 212 acres of agricultural land. 
• Confirmed habitat improvements in areas with known Topeka shiner populations. 
• Contributed technical assistance to RCPP-funded restorations, helping scale impact. 
• Expanded the total to 41 restored oxbows in the Boone River Watershed. 
• Installed educational signage along a public trail in Webster City to raise awareness. 

These outcomes support the Mississippi River Basin Initiative, Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy, and recovery efforts for Species of Greatest Conservation Need. 

Outreach & Engagement 

• Presented at 3 conferences, including Winterfest and Practical Farmers of Iowa. 
• Co-led a restoration training workshop at the Soil and Water Conservation Society annual meeting. 
• Hosted a volunteer prairie seeding event in Kossuth County. 
• Published 2 newsletters, reaching over 650 stakeholders. 
• Featured in local and statewide media, including the Ag Herald and Daily Freeman-Journal. 
• Maintained the Boone River Watershed website and social media presence. 

 Monitoring & Research 

• Iowa Geological Survey and Iowa Soybean Association continued monitoring nitrate reduction and water quality benefits. 
• USGS, IIHR, and Iowa DNR provided long-term water quality data. 
• Fish surveys are scheduled for spring 2025 to assess species response to restoration.