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Easter Lake

Easter Lake . Project Partners: City of Des Moines Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Iowa Department of Natural Resources Iowa State University Local Stakeholders Natural Resources Conservation Service Polk County Conservation Polk Soil & Water Conservation District.

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Easter Lake

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  1. Easter Lake Project Partners: City of Des Moines Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Iowa Department of Natural Resources Iowa State University Local Stakeholders Natural Resources Conservation Service Polk County Conservation Polk Soil & Water Conservation District

  2. Outline • Resource • Problem • Restoration • Next Steps

  3. Resource • 178 acre lake created in 1967 • 6,505 acre watershed • Site of the last operating coal mine in Polk County • Impairment status with IDNR and EPA

  4. Resource

  5. Resource • Significant local economic impact • Visitation is in top 20 of 131 significant Iowa lakes • Generates $17.5 million in annual spending • Supports 213 jobs 2009 ISU Center for Agriculture and Rural Development

  6. Problem • Water quality is poor • Significant sedimentation • High phosphorous levels • Undesirable fish species (carp, shad) • High bacteria levels ISU Diagnostic & Feasibility Study 2011

  7. Problem • Approximately 1/4 of the lake volume and surface area is lost USGS 2002

  8. Problem • Poor water quality has led to • Low water clarity • Frequent algae blooms • Stunted panfish population (bluegill & crappie) • Beach closings ISU Diagnostic & Feasibility Study 2011

  9. Problem Phosphorus Sediment ISU Diagnostic & Feasibility Study 2011

  10. Problem • Streambank Erosion • Accounts for 60% of sediment deposited in Easter Lake • Streams are unstable and actively down-cutting 6’ 9’ Natural Resources Conservation Service 2010

  11. Problem • Public perception • Problems impacting lake • Erosion, stormwater runoff and lawn chemicals • Vast majority understand that reduced lake depth is due to sediment from watershed • Homeowners in new neighborhoods are likely to use lawn fertilizers than owners in older neighborhoods Iowa State University Social Dynamics Assessment 2011

  12. Restoration • To achieve state water quality targets • Reduce annual phosphorous delivery to the lake by ~ 50% • Reduce annual sediment delivery to the lake by ~ 25% ISU Diagnostic & Feasibility Study 2011 & Iowa DNR TMDL 2005

  13. Restoration - No “Silver Bullet” • Potential non-structural management options • No/low phosphorus fertilizer use • Review street sweeping practices • Pet waste pick-up • Public education ISU Diagnostic & Feasibility Study 2011

  14. Restoration - No “Silver Bullet” • Potential structural management options • Stream corridor stabilization • Stormwater management • In-lake sediment detention basins • Dredge existing stormwater detention basins • Fish renovation and dam modification

  15. Next Steps • Develop and Implement Watershed Management Plan • Community based planning approach • Local stakeholder involvement • Multi-agency partnership

  16. Community Based Approach to the Watershed Management Planning Process Why Are You Here?

  17. Is a process whereby local people lead the watershed planning based on locally identified needs Local people determine the resource issues (i.e., opportunities and problems), define the geographic area that affects these issues (e.g., a watershed), and then carry out a planning process that will help achieve the desired resource conditions

  18. GOALS OF THE PLANNING PROCESS • To get stakeholder involvement! • To include the appropriate ecological, economic, and social factors • To maintain and enhance the quality of the environment

  19. WATERSHED PLANNING • Forms partnerships between stakeholder groups and technical resource specialists • Minimizes conflict • Emphasizes desired future conditions • Improves natural resource management

  20. Watershed Stakeholder • Represent an individual or group • Serve as decision makers • Have an interest in or will be impacted by actions of the plan

  21. Watershed Advisory Council • Small group (usually 5-12) of individuals who represent the various stakeholders • Serve as decision makers in drafting a management plan for all the stakeholders to review and approve

  22. Technical Advisory Team • Technical Resource Specialists • Work together with Watershed Advisory Council (WAC) • Provide resource information to WAC on conditions and possible solutions

  23. COMMUNITY BASED PLANNING 3 KEY BENEFITS: • Community and stakeholders are much more informed about what is happening! • Stakeholders are actively involved in the decisions made and implementation of the plan will happen at a much higher rate! • Projects completed are more successful!

  24. Framework for Water Quality Improvement

  25. Inventory Identify Public Involvement Investigate Implement Framework Identify resource problems / develop goals and objectives Inventory available data / analyze problems / secure support ISU D/F Study NRCS Survey Watershed Council + TAT Implement watershed management plan & in-lake treatment strategies Investigate and evaluate potential solutions / create a Watershed Management plan

  26. The desired outcome is a comprehensiveManagement Planthat isFully Implemented

  27. Time Commitment • Watershed council members meet with technical advisory team monthly or bi-monthly • One to two years

  28. Questions

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