Dubuque County Watershed Partnership — 28E AgreementCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Action Items # 05.
Copyrighted
November 21, 2022
ITEM TITLE: Dubuque County Watershed Partnership — 28E Agreement
SUMMARY: City Manager providing information about the Watershed Agreement with
the County of Dubuque (County) and the Dubuque Soil and Water
Conservation District (District) that has allowed the City to continue to
collaborate on addressing stormwater flooding and water quality issues
on a watershed basis, beyond the limits of its jurisdictional boundary.
Civil Engineer I I Deron Muehring and Watershed Program Director Eric
Schmechel will make a presentation outlining some of the successes of
the Watershed Agreement partnership.
SUGGESTED Receive and File; PresentationSuggested Disposition:
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
City, County Soil & Water Conservation District 28E City Manager Memo
Agreement Watershed Partnership-MVM Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
THE CITY
DUOF
B TEE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Dubuque County Watershed Partnership — 28E Agreement
DATE: November 17, 2022
Dubuque
All -America City
IN
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
City Engineer Gus Psihoyos is providing information about the Watershed Agreement
with the County of Dubuque (County) and the Dubuque Soil and Water Conservation
District (District) that has allowed the City to continue to collaborate on addressing
stormwater flooding and water quality issues on a watershed basis, beyond the limits of
its jurisdictional boundary. Civil Engineer II Deron Muehring and Watershed Program
Director Eric Schmechel have prepared a short presentation to outline some of the
successes of the Watershed Agreement partnership.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer II
THE CITY OF
DUB E-E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Dubuque County Watershed Partnership — 28E Agreement
DATE: November 15, 2022
Dubuque
All-Ameriaa City
N11M 1UL�Jl'k_ IIi �
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to provide information on the 28E intergovernmental
agreement with Dubuque County (County) and the Dubuque Soil and Water
Conservation District (District) allowing for the collaboration on stormwater flooding and
water quality issues on a watershed basis — beyond jurisdictional boundary limits.
BACKGROUND
In August of 2010, the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission (since
replaced by the Resilient Community Advisory Commission) asked the City Council to
support the development of a watershed management plan for the Catfish Creek
watershed with the goal of improving the water quality in the Mississippi River by
improving the contributing streams and watershed in the area.
In June of 2011, the City Council adopted Resolution 192-11 authorizing the execution
of a 28E Agreement with Dubuque County and the Dubuque County Soil and Water
Conservation District for the purpose of creating an urban conservationist position and
to help create a watershed management plan for the Catfish Creek Watershed basin.
In May of 2012, the City Council adopted Resolution 124-12 authorizing the execution of
a second 28E Agreement. This one with the County, the District, and the cities of
Asbury, Peosta, and Centralia for the establishment of a Catfish Creek Watershed
Management Authority (CCWMA). The CCWMA facilitates collaboration on reducing
flood risks, improving water quality, providing information to help empower residents,
and oversee the implementation of improvements should monies be made available to
the CCWMA. The City received a $24,500 watershed planning grant from the Iowa
Economic Development Authority (IEDA) to help create the CCWMA. And in 2013, the
City of Dubuque received $187,330 from IEDA for the CCWMA to develop a Catfish
Creek Watershed Management Plan.
In December of 2014, the City Council adopted Resolution 377-14 extending the term of
the 28E Agreement with Dubuque County and the Dubuque County Soil and Water
Conservation District through FY21.
In December of 2014, the City's application for $1.4 million in funding for the Catfish
Creek Watershed improvements through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan
sponsorship program was approved. In order to construct the Upper Bee Branch Creek
Restoration Project, the City secured an SRF loan in the amount of $29,541,000 at an
interest rate of 1.75%. Through the sponsorship program, the loan amount was
increased by $1.4 million to $30,941,000 and the interest rate was reduced to 1.18%
such that sum of all interest payments was reduced by $1.4 million. And the $1.4 million
was set aside for the CCWMA to spend on water quality improvements throughout the
Catfish Creek Watershed. In effect, the City was able to fund the Upper Bee Branch
Creek Restoration Project improvements and the CCWMA was able to fund Catfish
Creek Watershed improvements at no additional cost to the City. The Catfish Creek
Watershed improvements involve the restoration of stream bank and floodplain areas,
wetland creation, permeable paver parking lots at EB Lyons and the Swiss Valley
Nature Center, cost share programs for soil quality restoration for residents, and a cost
share program focusing on streambank and riparian buffer strips for agricultural land
owners.
In February of 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution 24-18 authorizing an
application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation
Service (USDA) for an Iowa Partners for Conservation (IPC) grant in the amount of
$326,000. In February of 2018, the USDA notified the City that its application had been
approved. Finally, in January of 2019, the IPC grant agreement was fully executed.
The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the Water &
Resource Recovery (W&RRC) requires an evaluation of the feasibility and
reasonableness of reducing the amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus discharged from
the W&RRC into the Mississippi. An initial evaluation was completed that looked at
improvements at the W&RRC that would achieve the desired nutrient reduction. Due to
treatment limitations and associated costs, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
(IDNR), the NPDES permitting agency for the State of Iowa, did not require the City to
move forward with any improvements. Instead, the City is required to do a re-evaluation
to be submitted to the IDNR by January 1, 2022. The reasoning is that over time,
advancements in treatment technology will make nutrient reduction goals more
reasonable. In addition to improvements at the W&RRC, the IDNR has indicated that
nutrient reduction efforts throughout Dubuque County can be included in the City's
nutrient reduction strategy, potentially reducing the need for improvements at the
W&RRC. This was formally outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with
the IDNR that was executed in April of 2020.
In September of 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution 283-20, authorizing the
execution of a 28E Agreement with Dubuque County and the Dubuque Soil and Water
Conservation District to collaborate on stormwater flooding and water quality issues
throughout the county.
DISCUSSION
With cities and towns comprising less than 2% of the state's area, cities alone cannot
prevent flooding or the impairment of Iowa's rivers that might flow through their
boundaries. This is true in Dubuque as the Catfish Creek as over half of the 57 square
mile watershed is outside the city's corporate limits. As a result, Iowa's management of
stormwater has increasingly turned to a watershed approach with cities and towns
combining their efforts with counties, local soil and water conservation districts, and
most importantly agricultural producers and other landowners, to work together towards
mitigating flooding and pollution associated with stormwater runoff. The purpose of the
28E agreement (Watershed Agreement) with the County of Dubuque (County) and the
Dubuque Soil and Water Conservation District (District) is to allow the City to continue
to collaborate on stormwater flooding and water quality issues on a watershed basis,
beyond jurisdictional boundary limits.
The Watershed Agreement is related to multiple City undertakings: expansion of
stormwater management from the City boundaries to the watershed boundaries,
compliance with the City's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit compliance program, and the
City's NPDES permit requirements associated with the Water & Resource Recovery
Center (W&RRC) that treats and discharges wastewater to the Mississippi.
Since 2011, through the previous 28E agreements, the City has been partnering with
the County and District, working to reduce flooding and improving water quality within
the Catfish Creek Watershed. The partnership has secured $1.9 million in state and
federal funding to:
1. Establish the Catfish Creek Watershed Management Authority Board;
2. Develop a watershed plan for the Catfish Creek Watershed;
3. Identify the most cost-effective nutrient reduction best management practices on
each farm throughout Dubuque County; and
4. Implement flood and nutrient reduction efforts on public and private property
throughout the Catfish Creek Watershed.
In many ways, the current 28E agreement has served as a model for other similar
efforts across Iowa. With annual monetary contributions, the City and County help fund
the work of three full-time positions within the District: a Watershed Coordinator that
works on rural issues throughout the county, a Watershed Coordinator that works on
urban issues, and a Watershed Program Director who works with and oversees both the
watershed coordinator positions.
The Watershed Coordinator (Agricultural) works throughout the county with farmers and
property owners to facilitate the implementation of flooding and nutrient reduction
BMPs. As a District employee, they are plugged into the state and federal programs that
provide funding to make the practices cost-effective for the property owner. Per an MOU
with the IDNR, the City is able to count nutrient reduction achieved by the various
practices towards reaching its required nutrient reduction goals. And in addition to
nutrient reduction, watershed improvements in the county can also provide flood control,
erosion control, carbon storage, water storage, water filtration, food, increased
biodiversity, soil formation, and recreation that can benefit the residents of Dubuque.
The Watershed Coordinator (urban), Mr. John Wiley, helps fulfill some of the City's
NPDES MS4 permit requirements, providing services such as:
• Public education and outreach and public involvement activities;
• Illicit discharge detection and elimination efforts;
• Construction site stormwater runoff control inspections;
• Post -construction stormwater management control inspections; and
• Good housekeeping and pollution prevention inspections.
In addition to overseeing the work of the watershed coordinators, the Watershed
Program Director, Mr. Eric Schmechel, works closely with the Watershed Agreement
partners. The Watershed Program Director has also helped the City manage the
$326,712.00 in USDA IPC grant funding which is being used for:
1. building computer models to identify and help prioritize the most cost-effective
agricultural nutrient reduction best management practices (BMPs) on individual
properties throughout Dubuque County;
2. hiring a rural Watershed Coordinator (the team of Andrew and Marissa Waldo) to
meet with farmers and property owners in order to provide information and
conservation planning tools that a property owner might utilize to reduce runoff
and nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen; and
3. the utilization of multiple methods (i.e., watershed website, billboards, field day
events, small gatherings, etc.) to provide information to farmers and property
owners so they can make informed decisions regarding the costs and benefits of
implementing BMPs on their property.
In connection with the partnership, the County has expanded their role in county -wide
stormwater issues. They too contribute funding for the three District watershed
employees. They created a working group advisory committee that WRRC Plant
Manager William O'Brien and Civil Engineer Deron Muehring serve to provide feedback
on conservation, water quality, and flood protection initiatives. And the County allocates
$400,000 per year to towards the implementation of watershed practices throughout the
county that address flooding or water quality/nutrient reduction issues. This is above
and beyond the annual payment the County makes to the District.
BUDGET IMPACT
Per the 28E Watershed Agreement, the City and County pay the District as follows:
Fiscal Year
City of Dubuque
FY 2021
$57,000.00
FY 2022
$116,850.00
FY 2023
$119,771.25
FY 2024
$122,765.53
FY 2025
$125,834.67
FY 2026
$128,980.54
FY 2027
$132,205.05
12
Dubuque County
$225,000.00
$231,750.00
$238,702.50
$245,863.56
$253,239.51
$260,836.70
$268,661.81
Civil Engineer Deron Muehring and Watershed Program Director Eric Schmechel have
prepared a short presentation to outline some of the successes of the Watershed
Agreement partnership.
ACTION REQUESTED
No action requested. The purpose of the memo is to provide information about the
Watershed Agreement with the County of Dubuque (County) and the Dubuque Soil and
Water Conservation District (District) that has allowed the City to continue to collaborate
on addressing stormwater flooding and water quality issues on a watershed basis,
beyond the limits of its jurisdictional boundary.
Prepared by Deron Muehring
Cc: Willie O'Brien, Water & Resource Recovery Center Manager
Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer II
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Coordinated ��o���; State; &Federal
Efforts to Improve Watershed Health
Bee Branch
Watershed
Area: 6.5 Square Miles
Luxemburg
Holy Cross
NewVienna
Dyersville
f4dey
Worthington
Bankston
Batltown
Ritkartls►rille
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Sherrill
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Asbury
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Bee Branch
Watershed
Area: 6.5 Square Miles
Luxemburg
Holy Cross
New Vienna
Dyersville
f4dey
Worthington
Batltown
Ritkardsville
44 Sherrill
Oura rig a
Bankston Asbufy
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Centralia
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Multi -Jurisdictional Agreement
(28e Agreement)
Recognizing that because watershed boundaries do not
coincide with jurisdictional boundaries, a partnership was born.
DUBUQUE'S MUNICIPAL SEPARATE
STORM SEWER SYSTEM (MS4)
Since 2003, the City has been subject to a
National Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
MS4 Permit as required by the federal Clean
Water Act.
The Engineering Department oversees the
NPDES MS4 Permit compliance program,
the goal of which is to prevent stormwater
from collecting and transporting urban
pollutants and delivering them into waters
of the United States.
Petroleum byproducts
in the street
Sediment in the creek
FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT COMPLIANCE - -
PROGRAM (NPDES MS4 PERMIT)
CONSTRUCTION SITE RUNOFF CONTROLS
Construction Site Inspections
(January 1, 2021 to January 1, 2022)
Inspections: 207 (87 active sites)
Compliant: 87.3%
Verbal Warnings: 7
Notice of Violation Issued: 0
FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT COMPLIANCE
PROGRAM (NPDES MS4 PERMIT)
CONSTRUCTION SITE RUNOFF CONTROLS
FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT COMPLIANCE
PROGRAM (NPDES MS4 PERMIT)
CONSTRUCTION SITE RUNOFF CONTROLS
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BUQUE
WATER & RESOURCE
RECOVERY
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RRC Nutrient Reduction
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THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
WRRC Nutrient
Reduction Strategy
❑ City NPDES Permit for Point -Source Discharge from
the Water &Resource Recovery Center (WRRC).
❑ Permit Required Nutrient Reduction Goals
66%
reduction
of
Nitrogen
(--870,000
Ibs/year)
75%
reduction
of
Phosphorus (r-130,000 Ibs/year)
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THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
WRRC Nutrient
Reduction Strategy
❑ 2015 Nutrient Reduction Study determined that WRRC upgrades were
not feasible due to available technology & cost.
❑ City enters MOU with the IDNR recognizing that enables the City to
engage in watershed work as part of nutrient reduction strategy.
❑ City revisited feasibility in early 2022.
❑ While upgrades at the WRRC are recommended, watershed/county
practices could help the City achieve nutrient reduction goals by 2032.
Sources of Nitrogen in /o w
Source: Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and Libra, R.D.,Wolter, C.F., and Langel, R.J. 2004. Nitrogen and Phosphorus
Budgets for Iowa and Iowa Watersheds. Iowa Geological Survey Technical Information Series 47, 43p
Countywide Watershed Partnersh
Expanded the agreement in order to...
1. Facilitate the implementation of watershed
improvements throughout Dubuque County;
2. Facilitate the collaboration between all stakeholders
(i.e. City, County, USDA NRCS, IDALS, and farmers);
3. Achieve targeted landowner engagement;
4. Identification and application for grants to offset the
cost of watershed improvements; AND
5. Administration of the Nutrient Reduction Exchange,
Nutrient Tracking Tool, and the State's online water
quality trading tool (RIBITS).
I
-- Multi -Jurisdictional Agreement =:.
(28e Agreement)
John Wiley
Urban Watershed Coordinator
-- Multi -Jurisdictional Agreement =:.
77A
(28e Agreement)
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John Wiley
Urban Watershed Coordinator
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Scott Hendricks
Conservation Agronomist
-- Multi -Jurisdictional Agreement =:.
(28e Agreement)
77A
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John Wiley
Urban Watershed Coordinator
Scott Hendricks
Conservation Agronomist
Eric Schmechel
Watershed Program Director
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CATFISH CREEK WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
MISSION: "To reduce the risks of flooding and its effects, improve water
quality, and promote a healthier existence for all living things that call the
Catfish Creek Watershed home."
Identified High P
Little Maquoketa River
Watershed
➢ Detention Basins (7)
MFv�
SA
CATFISH CREEK
WATERSUED r,InairL
➢ Wetland Restoration (14)
➢ Streambanks Stabilization
(59 reaches totaling
200,000 linear feet)
➢ Agricultural Practices (43)
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ECOLOGICAL
� j0 SERVICES
Whitewater Creek
Watershed
}
riority Areas
Sinsinawa River- + INI
Mississippi River
Watershed
Ige St ih
IL:
Lytle Creek ~ '
Watershed
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SRF Sponsorship Project
Sponsorship Interest ■ Pricipal
W R
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$0 $5,000,000 $10,000,000 $15,000,000 $20,000,000
SRF Sponsorship Project
Sponsorship Interest ■ Pricipal
$3,500, 00Standard Loal
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. 000 000
$1,400,000---,�$21100,00 Modified Loan
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$0 $5,000,000 $10,000,000 $15,000,000 $20,000,000
SRF Sponsorship Project
Sponsorship...
1 1 1 00 Standard loan
$16,000,000
CATFISH CREEK
W14TEitSHE�
11 111
$1,400,000--,,,�
Modified Loan
off
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Before
Streambank
Stabilization
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Swiss Valley park Strearnbank
Am r► r r•Nk
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M CREEK
;RSHED
4
Under Construction
Farm Field
Detention Areas
Complete
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➢ Deep tillage to reduce
compaction
Soil Quality Restoration
~ Wig.` l R
➢ Compost
application to
increase organic
mater content
(goal of 5
minimum)
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ITFISH CREEKWATERSHED
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• CCWMA Board meets monthly
• Sponsorship Funding: only $90,000 left to allocate out of the $1,400,000
• Administer the $337,000 USDA Iowa Partners for Conservation Grant
USDA Grant
$337,000
Iowa for Partners for
Conservation Grant
❑Develop a farm -scale model for the entire county;
❑ Proactively reach out to farmers, identifying where the
most cost-effective practices might be employed;
❑Share the information provided by the farm -scale
modeling;
❑Ensure farmers are aware of local, state, and federal
programs that might offset the cost of conservation
practices and projects; and
❑Develop conservation plans
USDA
NRCS
THE CITY OF
DuB E
Masterpiece an the Mississippi
Farmer
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CATFISH CREEK
WATERSHED
Engagernen
Meet the Waldo fam
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Field Days
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Dubuque County Watersheds presents
FIELD DAY
Soil Health for Farmers
JUNE 15
1 -3PM
Wayne Brunsman Farm
1 S42 330th Ave,
Dyersville, IA
RSVP by June 7th
marissa.waldo@gmail.com
(563) 542-3796
Event is free to attend
Drinks and light refreshments served
DETAILS
Alisha Sedlmayr, NRCS Soil Health Specialist will
show us how to perform a soil health assessment
for farmers, gardeners, and soil health enthusiasts.
Please bring your own shovel and bucket and get
ready for a hands-on field day.
TOPICS
What are the biological drivers of soil health
How to identify and achieve soil health goals
Why do an assessment and how to use it on your farm
Economic benefits of soil health
Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Trailer on site
Watershed
Roundtable
Series
JANUARY 11TH
The Barn in Sherrill
5090 Sherrill Rd, Sherrill
Converting Acres to Organic:
Roadblocks and Surviving Transition
FEBRUARY 8TH
VFW Club New Vienna
2045 Marn Street New Vienna
Small Grains: Production,
Marketing, and Your Bottom Line
Dubuque County Watersheds
presents a series of open houses where
residents of Dubuque County can gather
together to learn about their watersheds,
listen to a short talk by a local farmer or
expert about a given conservation topic,
and end the night sharing thoughts and
ideas in a roundtable discussion.
Time: 6:31
Date & Location: See left
Cost: FREE
Light refreshments
will be provided
MARCH 8TH
Fillmore Bar & Grill
21976 FiUmore Rd, Cascade
Soil Biology: Nutrient Cycling and
Alternative Fertilizers
APRIL 5TH
Swiss Valley Nature Center
13606 Swiss Valley Rd, Peosta
Recreation in the Watershed: Connecting
Outdoor Activities and Watershed Programs
FREE BOOK
for all attendees
A Soil Owner's Manual
By Jon Stika
Equal
7 Opportunity
✓ V B �" r 1' Empbye d
Questions?
Cflntact Marissa Waldo
marissa waldo@gmail,com
(563) 542-3796
Miller Malting Company and Dubuque County Watersheds
FARM • BREW • SOCIAL
Aik
pzz:gm �"Om ;i�rm �o glass
Evwtsck
12 -1 PM Free Lunch
Served by Dubuque County Cattlemen
Sponsored by Iowa Corn
1:00 PM Mitchell Hora
CEO and founder of Continuum Ag, helping
farmers practice regenerative agriculture
1:45 PM Loran Steinlage
Iowa farmer, fabricator, innovator, and leader
in regenerative agriculture
2:30 PM Jay Jubeck
Ownerof Jubeck's Brewery in Dubuque,
loves clean waterand good beer
3:15 PM Malthouse Tour
Eric, farmer and owner of Miller Malting
Company. will share his story
4:00 PM Field Tours Begin
Speakers are sponsored by the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
4:00 PM Live music begins
The Dan Medeiros Project
Michael Moncada
The James Lee Band
SATURDAY,
AUGUST 27TH
12-9 PM
30250 Goose Hill Rd
Cascade, TA 52033
On Z/xlQrM
EDUCATIONAL SPEAKERS
FIELD TOURS LIVE MUSIC
BEER ON TAP FOOD TRUCKS
ICE CREAM KIDS ACTIVITIES
Event is FREE to attend! 0
Scan this code for more �'
information. p •
Please RSVP if you're Jamie Miller
planning to join us for 563-663-2873
Thank you to our sponsors:
the meal and speakers farm hrewsoc-k!!!6 ail.com
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IN THE CHOUNo1 * * 1pyygR(CORN' �} 1gNNXEY Co.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc_OVLT5KTo
Financial incentives for
farmers who transition to on -
farm conservation practices
that yield positive
environmental outcomes.
Farmers can earn up to $5,000
dollars for improving their soil
health, reduce nitrogen use
efficiency, and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
Catfish Creek Watershed
Cost -Share (State Revolving
Fund Sponsorship Program)
Dubuque County cost -share
a program for structural
practices.
Eco-Services
Fund
Reduction
Funds
--on the horizon --
City of Dubuque cost -share
program for structural
practices.
Dubuque County Investments
Current Land Stewardship programs
• $465,,000 Approved in County FY23 Budget for
conservation "implementation" projects
• Reharvest (Soil & Water Outcomes) Program -
$150,000 DBQ County
• Truterra Insight Engine - $100,FOOO DBQ County
• Eco-Services Program (Edge of
Field/Structural/Buffer Program) $150,000
• Dubuque County Buffer Program $751000
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33 43 3447 $100,000
FARMERS FARMS ACRES FUNDING
a �
r"rr
PRACTICES IMPLEMENTED:
ADVANCED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT:
COVER CROPS:
REDUCED TILLAGE: _ 508 ACRES
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT BREAKDOWN:
TISSUE SAMPLING: 2126 ACRES
SOIL SAMPLING: 275 ACRES
VARIABLE RATE FERTILIZER: 658 ACRES
TRUTERRA7 SUSTAINABILITY SCORE: UP 14 POINTS
The Truterra`" sustainability score provides an overall sustainability assessment field -by -field to
benchmark current practices and track progress/improvement over time.
SHEET & RILL EROSION: 20% REDUCTION
Sheet and rill erosion refers to the amount of soil displaced by rainfall. Reducing erosion risk
mitigates the risk of soil and nutrient loss into water resources.
NET GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS: 602 LBS/AC/YR REDUCTION
This reduction is equivalent to the emissions produced by 203 passenger vehicles for one year.
The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions insight indicates the estimated net GHG emissions in pounds/acre/
year at a field level, considering the total fuel usage from farm equipment operations, carbon dioxide
aeration and respiration from the soil, and nitrous oxide emissions from commercial fertilizer.
SOIL QUALITY TREND: 0.09 POINT INCREASE
The soil quality trend insights measure the health of a field's soil. Improving soil health, improves the water
holding capacity of the soil, thus decreases risk of nutrient leaching into water sources and improving
drought tolerance.
AVERAGE N REDUCTION*: 26.3 LBS/AC
The average N (nitrogen) reduction indicates that the farmers enrolled in this initiative reduced the amount
of nitrogen lost from the field, preventing it from reaching local water sources.
AVERAGE P REDUCTION*: 3.0 LBS/AC
The average P (phosphorus) reduction indicates that the farmers enrolled in this initiative reduced the
amount of phosphorus lost from the field, preventing it from reaching local water sources.
*Nutrient reduction estimates are based an results from the Nutrient Tracking Tool (NTT) and represent a subset of enrolled acres,
where modeling capabilities are available.
Soil and Water Outcomes 2022
Dubuque County Board of Supervisors 2022 SWOF Registry
2022
Nitrogen Removed
95,564.46 Ibs
CO2e Removed & Reduced
Field Count
0.00 MT
71
Average Field Size
78.36 Acres
Outcome Type
Phosphorous Removed
4,824.64 Ibs
Contract Count
24
Acres Count
5,563.69 Acres
Average Contract Size
ll
231.82 Acre
'eWrchases Status
Ecosystem Projects
Completed
Busch Structure
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Buffer Program 2022
• FY 23 Request: $75,000. BOS Approved.
• Goal: SO acres (50' stream buffer both sides
of streams)
• $100-200 per acre incentive (one-time DBQ
County Payment) over 10-year period
• Must sign FSA contract — CP 21 or CP43
• 10-year contracts
• Landowners Letters Continue
EBRUARy 2022 UUBUOUE COUNTY WATERSHEDS
PROGRAM
OVERVIEW
BUFFER STRIP PROGRAM
For producers and landowners who are participating in the
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
Conservation buffers are an effective and cost-efficient best
management practice that can be used to improve water quality. They
can reduce water runoff from fields and downstream flooding,
increase profitability by taking marginal land out of production,
reduce soil erosion and nutrient and pesticide loading in runoff by 50
percent, remove 75 percent of sediment from water runoff, and
provide wildlife habitat by establishing natural vegetation.
AN ADDITIONAL PAYMENT
FOR CRP PARTICIPANTS
The Butter Strip Program is designed to increase payments to
landowners willing to participate in the Dubuque County EcoServices
Program, thus making buffers more competitive with current crop
rental prices. By establishing buffers in low -yielding soils and highly
sensitive land in Dubuque County, profitability and ecD-system
services can collectively work together.
The two practices currently being funded by the Buffer Strip Program
are filter strips INRC5 CP21] and prairie STRIPS (NRCS CP42). The
land must be enrolled in these CRP practices to be eligible for funding
by the Buffer Strip Program, For eligible acres, there will be a one-
time payment labeled 'eco-system services buffer payment' at the
time of sign-up from Dubuque County, The rate will be between
$100-$200/acre over a 10-year contract and is determined by
watershed data and buffer priority ranking. This payment is eligible to
be used in conjunction with FSA CRP rental payments which occur
annually. All eligible landowners would have to follow NRCS
guidelines as they relate to CRP programs CP21 and CP42.
r_.
CATFISH CREEK
WATERSHED
I JEN, A I I
_ Iowa DNR County Creek Sign Grant
p DNR Water Quality Improvement Section
Section 319 Program
Cover Page
County Name: DUBUQUE
Applicant:
Name of Organization Submitting Application: DUBUQUE COUNTY WATERSHEDS
Applicant Contact Name: ERIC SCHMECHEL
Address: 1225 SEIPPEL ROAD
Email: ERIC.SCHMECHEL@DUBUQUECOUNTY.US Phone: 9203270908
Number of and Types of Signs to be Installed: 50
DNR Section 319 Funds Requested (must be between $5,000 and $10,000): $10,000
Matching Funds Provided to Project (not required): $5500
Total Project Costs (DNR 319 funds plus other funds): $15500
Application Due Date: July 15, 2022
Application Submitted to Iowa DNR (date): 7/12/22
Proposed Project Start Date: 11/1/2022
Proposed Project End Date (no more than 2 years after start date): 11/1/2023
Narrative:
Dubuque County Watersheds is a collaboration between Dubuque County, the City of Dubuque, and the Dubuque Soil and
Water Conservation District that is working towards increasing conservation measures and profitability on farms, as well as
. improving ecosystem habitat by partnering with both rural and urban landowners. The program focuses on both urban and
agricultural watershed programs and projects. Entering its third year of an extended collaboration (28e agreement)
outreach/education continues to be a priority for the organization and our partners.
•
The intent is to have signage across all HUC-10 watersheds in Dubuque County. After some discussion our watershed
partners, as to what the Dubuque County Watershed signs might look like, our recommendation is install signage that
labels our HUC-10 watersheds throughout the entire county. The signs would read (for example) "you are now entering the
"Little Maquoketa River Watershed" or "Hewitt Creek Watershed." We would also like to have a graphic designer create
one unified watershed logo for the Dubuque County Watershed program. We have identified roughly 25 sites (50 sites,
double signage on each) in Dubuque County. I have also been in communication with Erin Erickson from the Maquoketa
WMA to ensure we are communicating about sign location and the Maquoketa River WMA efforts. I have a letter of support
from the Dubuque County engineer showing their support and will be communicating with secondary roads on installation.
Looking at cost estimates, we are anticipating each sign to cost roughly $280-$300 installed. The total cost estimate would
be roughly $14,000 for signs and posts (including installation) and roughly $1500 for logo creation. Dubuque County has
agreed to match $5500, bringing the total cost to $15,500. Thank you for your time and consideration.
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"It's a good way for everyone to
team up and work together."
- Eric Miller, Farmer
Cascade, IA
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