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Dickinson County earns national water quality effort award Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Agri News staff writer
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa -- Water quality is a high priority in Dickinson County because it is home to Iowa's finest surface water resource -- the natural glacial lakes.
"Tourism is a large part of our county's economy," said Steve Anderson, urban conservationist with the Dickinson County Soil and Water Conservation District.
About $130 million annually is generated because of the lakes, he said.
The Dickinson County Soil and Water Conservation District decided to work with farmers and urban residents to improve and maintain the lakes' water quality.
The SWCD worked with community members on phosphorous-free fertilizer promotions and educational seminars.
They created a series of seminars that included conservationists who spoke to community members about soil erosion at construction sites as well as smart growth management plans.
They held seminars for nine months.
"Halfway through the seminars we decided we would also like to have demonstrations of storm water management practices for the public," said Anderson. "We have five demonstration sites where we monitor the water quality and implement those practices. These demonstrations have proven to people that these practices work."
Okoboji and Spirit Lake have passed ordinances to protect water quality and most other cities in the county are drafting water-quality ordinances.
Because of their work, the Dickinson County Soil and Water Conservation District has been named the winner of the National Association of Conservation District's Urban, Community and Coastal Resources award. The NACD represents 3,000 soil and water conservation districts across the country.
"We never expected a little community in a non-urban state É would win the award," said Anderson. "We just didn't think we had a chance against some of the larger cities across the country like New York and Los Angeles. Nobody thought it would happen." |
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