Polk SWCD
Partners
Watersheds
Easter Lake
Water Quality
- The Polk County Soil & Water Conservation District was established in 1945 to promote the protection, maintenance, improvement, and wise use of the soil and water within Polk County, Iowa.
- Polk SWCD is led by five elected commissioners, who hold their positions for a term of 2 or 4 years.Â
- Polk SWCD works together with our partners from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), and others to provide financial and technical assistance in conserving our soil, water, and other natural resources.
- Polk SWCD is involved in several Watershed Management Authorities (WMAs) in central Iowa.Â
- WMAs are a mechanism for cities, counties, SWCDs, and stakeholders to cooperatively engage in watershed planning and management.
- Improving water quality in Easter Lake by working in the 6,380 acre watershed to address stormwater runoff issues. We promote conservation practices that help with water infiltration such as rain gardens, soil quality restoration, and native landscaping.
- Working with farmers and landowners to improve water quality through best management practices (BPMs) such as cover crops and edge-of-field practices such as bioreactors and saturated buffers.
