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NRCS and Partners Expand NWin the Rathbun Lake WatersheThe Natural Resources Conservation Sconsultation with Iowas State Techapproved the Alliances request to expaNational Water Quality Incentive (NWQ

Lost Branch Creek-Chariton River sub-watershed of the Rathbun Lake watershed. In 2012, support from NRCSenabled Alliance partners and cooperating landowners to plan and install best management practices (BMPs) for unprecedented rate in the Lower South Fork Chariton River sub-watershed. Landowners in both sub-watersheds wiNRCS financial and technical assistance through the NWQI to help them install BMPs to protect Rathbun Lake. Alliother partners including the Appanoose, Lucas, and Wayne SWCDs, RRWA, IDALS Division of Soil Conservation, INatural Resources, and Iowa Watershed Improvement Review Board have also committed significant resources to hepractices for priority land in these two sub-watersheds.

Similar to the Lower South Fork Chariton River sub-watershed, the change in land use to row crop productionand associated increase in priority land witnessed throughoutthe Rathbun Lake watershed has been particularlysignificant in the Lost Branch Creek-Chariton River sub-watershed. In 2002, there were an estimated 2,920 acres ofpriority land in the Lost Branch Creek-Chariton River sub-watershed. Current assessment activities now identify 4,430

acres of priority land in the sub-watershed. A primaryconcern of the gain in priority land in this sub-watershed isthat the resulting increase in sediment and phosphoruscarried in runoff from this land will directly impact theChariton Arm of Rathbun Lake. The Chariton Arm ofRathbun Lake is on Iowas 2012 Section 303(d) List ofImpaired Waters due to high levels of turbidity and algae.

Landowner response in the Lost Branch Creek-Chariton River sub-watershed has been as strong as in the Lower SoRiver sub-watershed. To date, project staff has received 31 applications from landowners who are interested in apppriority land that they own and/or farm in the Lost Branch Creek -Chariton River sub-watershed. Currently, seven have been funded. These funded practices will reduce sediment and phosphorus delivery from as many as 280 acres.consist primarily of terraces, water and sediment control basins, and grade stabilization structures. The total estimathese practices is close to $1 million. The Alliance and its partners propose to help landowners accelerate the insta2,000 acres in the Lost Branch Creek-Chariton River sub-watershed with the support of NRCSs NWQI program These practices will reduce annual sediment and phosphorus delivery to Rathbun Lake by an estimated 3,000 tons respectively.

A newsletter for Rathbun Land and Water Alliance Board membersJuly 2013 VRathbun Land and Water Alliance receivesGovernors Environmental Excellence AwardIowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor KimReynolds recognized the Rathbun Land and Water Alliance for theiroutstanding contributions to the environment in a ceremony June27 at the Wallace Building.

The Governors Iowa Environmental Excellence Award is the premier environmental honor in Iowa, recognizing leadership andinnovation in the protection of Iowas natural resources.The prestigious Environmental Excellence Award honored theRathbun Land and Water Alliance with comprehensiveenvironmental ethics and commitment.

Watershed TourLed by Alliance Board member, JohnSellers, Congressman Dave Loebsack and congressional aide,Dien Judge, toured a portion of the Rathbun Lake Watershed.Congressman Loebsack was impressed saying, "The RathbunLand and Water Alliance is a shining example of how local, stateand federal agencies can work hand in hand with privatelandowners to make a real difference. This group is improvingthe water quality in Rathbun Lake and preserving our preciousIowa topsoil. I look forward to continuing to work with theAlliance to foster this cooperative and assist in any way I can.

MediaJohn Glenn was interviewed by KTVO and WHO

Radios, Bob Quinn, to discuss the watershed tours by bothSecretary Northey and Congressman Loebsack, as well as theAlliances Environmental Excellence Award. The KTVO interviewcan be seen on the homepage of the Alliances website rlwa.org.Press releases were developed and sent to media regardingwatershed tours and Governors award ceremony.

Annual MeetingMatt Helmers, Iowa StateUniversity Assistant Professor of Agricultural andBiosystems Engineering, has accepted the invitation tospeak at the Alliances September 12 annual meetingabout the effects of agricultural run-off and water

quality. SWCD Commissioners should have their landowner nominations for this yearsRathbun Lake Protectors by the first week of August.

SignageThe supply of on-farm signage used to identify Rathbun Lake Protectors is nearlyexhausted. Quotes have been obtained from Prison Industries and an order for additional signs will bemade in the near future.

Hay bale Art ContestThe Alliance is a sponsor for the Second Annual Hay Bale Art Contest.The event, which is organized by Lyle Asell of Lucas County, is an effort to draw attention to theimportant role hay and pasture ground play in the protection of water quality and soil conservation. JohnGlenn will serve as a celebrity judge for the contest along with ISU Dean of Agriculture, WendyWintersteen. Space has been reserved to display information at in the Tourism Building at the state fair.A new judging category has been added this year to encourage contest sponsors to decorate and enter thecontest.

Contact Marty Braster at 641.647.2416or by email at mbraster@rrwa.net

Alliance Matters and Partner News

Watershed Outreach

Contact Kathleen Chester at 641.203.0946or by email at chester@sirisonline.com

Those participating in the watershed tour include John Glenn, Congressional Aide,Dien Judge, Congressman Loebsack, John Sellers, Velvet Buckingham, Marty Braster,

and Mark Fehseke.

R-L: Governor Terry Branstad presents the Iowa Environmental Excellence Award toRLWA President, John Glenn, RLWA Secretary/Treasurer, Bruce George and RLWABoard member, Ralph Alshouse. Pictured at left are Iowa Department of NaturalResources Director, Chuck Gipp and Iowa Lieutenant Governor, Kim Reynolds.

Reminder: Request for 2013 Alliance Member and Local Partner SupportThe Alliances board of directors would once again like to ask that its members and local partners contributeorganization in 2013. These funds are used to help the Alliance complete the organizations financial audit and outreach activities including our annual Protect Rathbun Lakemeeting. In 2012, Alliance members and local partners cohelp support these important activities. The board believes these activities are essential for the Alliance to continuvolunteer-based nonprofit organization. Alliance member RRWA matches dollar-for-dollar the contributions of otheand local partners. Invoice requests for calendar year 2013 contributions have been sent by mail to each of the Allialocal partner organizations. Please contact Marty Braster with any questions regarding this request.

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Watershed Update

Contact Velvet Buckingham at 641.872.1350or by email at Velvet.Buckingham@ia.nacdnet.net

July 1, 2012 June 30, 2013

PracticeUnits

InstalledAcres

BenefitedGross Erosion

Reduction Tons/Yr.Sediment Delivery

Reduction Tons/yr.PhoRe

Terraces 114,945 ft. 1,059 3,632 2,255

Water & Sediment Basins 45 no. 148 489 311

Grade Stabilization Structures 6 no. 123 115 252

Sediment Basin 2 no. 879 129 1,326Livestock Exclusion 0 ac. 0 0 0

Pasture & Hayland Seeding 58 ac. 58 203 80

Grassed Waterways 0 ac. 0 0 0

CRP buffer / filter strips 0 0 0 0

Fence 0

Heavy Use Protection Areas 0

Pipeline 0

Tanks 0

Brush Management 0

Nutrient Management 0

TOTALS 2,266 ac. 4,568 t/y 4,224 t/y

Table 2: Cumulative summary of BMPs installed and load reductions achieved in the 42 targeted sub-watCumulative (FFY 04 June30, 2013)

PracticeUnits

InstalledAcres

BenefitedGross Erosion

Reduction Tons/Yr.Sediment Delivery

Reduction Tons/ yr.PhoRe

Terraces 1,279,764 ft. 12,276 21,244 22,379

Water & Sediment Basins 389 no. 1,137 2,128 2,399

Grade Stabilization Structures 122 no. 3,774 2,315 6,487

Sediment Basin 12 no. 3,054 851 7,072

Livestock Exclusion 8 ac. 8 84 32

Pasture & Hayland Seeding 1,102 ac. 1,102 4,606 1,645

Grassed Waterways 44.8 ac. 626 497 510

CRP buffer / filter strips 20.8 ac. 37.8 46 23

Fence 13,022 ft.

Heavy Use Protection Areas 10 no.

Pipeline 3,160 ft.

Tanks 7 no.

Brush Management 280 ac.Nutrient Management 159.7 ac.

TOTALS 22,015 ac. 31,771 t/y 40,547 t/y 172

Table 1: FY2013 summary of BMPs installed and load reductions achieved in the 42 targeted sub-watershe

Total Cost

NRCS EQIP

AWEP

IDALS-DSC

WSPF/

IJOBS

IDALS-

DSC

IFIP

EPA

Watershed

Initiative WIRB

IDNRSectio

319

Cumulative(FFY 04-13) $11,927,865 $2,835,404 $1,870,559 $72,216 $460,878 $1,739,898 $1,160,7

SFY 2013 $1,138,020 $328,661 $177,358 $14,572 $0 $150,207 $157,3

Table 3: Summary of financial support for BMP application in targeted sub-watersheds

WIRB and BMP UpdateShown above is the progress of the Iowa WatershedImprovement Review Board funding. Tables locatedon the opposite page summarize BMPs installed,

load reductions achieved in the 42 targeted sub-watersheds, and a summary of financial support.

2010WIRB #6 BMP ProgressOctober 31, 2014South Fork Chariton River #1, Upper West Jackson Creek, Upper Jackson Creek, Lost Branch, Chariton River #6

Practice Grant Obligation Obligated-Unspent Expended Available BalanceSeeding $6,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $6,000.00Waterways $2,950.00 $0.00 $3,714.30 -$764.30

Terraces $129,000.00 $0.00 $129,345.98 -$345.98Debris Basins $250,000.00 $0.00 $64,420.47 $185,579.53

Basins $29,250.00 $0.00 $34,480.53 -$5,230.53Structures $51,200.00 $0.00 $34,281.21 $16,918.79Total $468,400.00 $0.00 $266,242.49 $202,157.51

2009WIRB #5 BMP ProgressDecember 31, 2014Sandy Branch, Goodwater Creek, Hamilton Creek, Chariton River #3, Lower Chariton Creek

Practice Grant Obligation Obligated-Unspent Expended Available Balance

Terraces $100,000.00 $7,769.00 $49,338.69 $42,892.31Debris Basins $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00Total $100,000.00 $7,769.00 $49,338.69 $42,892.31

Practice Grant Obligation Obligated-Unspent Expended Available Balance

Seeding $5,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $5,000.00

Terraces $66,150.00 $0.00 $0.00 $66,150.00

Basins $9,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $9,000.00

Structures $17,640.00 $0.00 $0.00 $17,640.00

Total $97,790.00 $0.00 $0.00 $97,790.00

2012 WIRB #8 BMP ProgressFebr uary 28, 2016Chariton River #5, Chariton River #10, Middle Wolf Creek #2

Practice Grant Obligation Obligated-Unspent Expended Available Balance

Terraces $78,750.00 $0.00 $17,846.25 $60,903.75

Debris Basins $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

Grade Stabilization Structures $23,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $23,000.00

Water Sediment Basins $11,250.00 $0.00 $0.00 $11,250.00

Priority Land Conversion $3,750.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,750.00

Grassed waterways $750.00 $0.00 $0.00 $750.00

Total $117,500.00 $0.00 $17,846.25 $99,653.75

2011 WIRB #7 BMP ProgressFebruary 28, 2017Upper and Lower Dick Creek, Chariton River #4, Chariton River #8

The Rathbun Lake Special Project is a partnership of the following individuals, agencies, and organizations: Participating landowners in the Rathbun Lake Watershed; CoBank; Iowa Department ofAgriculture and Land Stewardships Division of Soil Conservation; Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Iowa State University; Iowa Watershed Improvement Review Board; Southern IowaDevelopment and Conservation Authority; US Army Corps of Engineers; US Environmental Protection Agency; USDA Farm Service Agency; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service;Appanoose, Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Monroe, and Wayne Soil and Water Conservation Districts; Appanoose, Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, M onroe, and Wayne Counties; Iowa Farm Bureau at thestate and county levels; and Rathbun Regional Water Association.