Hunt, Roger

Presentation to
Managing Agricultural Landscapes for
Environmental Quality
October 11, 2006
Science Plus
Roger Hunt – Trees Forever
Field Coordinator and Design Specialist

What I want to share today
• Who we are
• What we do relating to water quality
• How we do it
• A case study to provide an example

Trees Forever 17 Years of Award
Winning Programs and Accomplishments
• Founded in 1989 by two volunteers
• Nonprofit organization
• Governed by board of directors
• Staff of 20, headquartered in Iowa

The Trees Forever Mission
To plant and care for trees and the
environment by empowering people,
building community and promoting
stewardship.

My other job
Suntree Farm
In the family since 1842
This is the way I keep my life in balance and stay grounded.

Bridge Building Philosophy
• Trees Forever is not an “activist”
organization
– Brings opposing groups together
– Engages people in meaningful voluntary
stewardship projects
– Bridging science and people

Just For Fun Nurturing new stewards of the land
K IDS

Establishing and Demonstrating
What Works
• To improve water quality
• To educate producers and the public
• To increase wildlife habitat and biodiversity
• To reveal new economic opportunities
• To fill gaps in government programs

Trees Forever Buffer and Water
Quality Initiatives
Trees Forever Working
Watersheds: Buffers &
Beyond
Illinois
Buffer
Partnership

Sponsoring Partners
Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc.
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Illinois Council of Best Management Practices
•Illinois Corn Growers Association
•Illinois Farm Bureau
•Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Assoc.
•Illinois Pork Producers Association
•Illinois Soybean Checkoff Board
•Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc.
FS GROWMARK
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Together, Improving Water
Quality in Iowa and Illinois
1997-2005 Accomplishments
• 270 demonstration sites
• 1,495,916 trees and shrubs

Improving Water Quality
Together While Having Fun!
1997-2005
Accomplishments
• 5,899 acres of
buffers of trees,
shrubs & grasses
• 130 miles of streams
protected by buffers
Don Roseboom
Hydrologist
“in your creek “ hydrology workshop

1997-2005
Accomplishments
• 2100 volunteers
• 36,842 volunteer
hours

1997-2005
Accomplishments
• 6,035 people
attending field
days

Case Study
Fenchel Creek Watershed
A Vision for the Future

A product of VIEW
Visual Investments to Enhance Watersheds
A Trees Forever Program
Prepared in Collaboration
Fenchel Creek Watershed Committee
and Trees Forever

Fenchel Creek
Watershed Committee
Noland Knight
Mary Jane Keppler
Bob Bassett
Larry Schumacher
John Rodecap
Robert Faust
Roger Thomas
Dave Sunne
Darla Kelchen
Aaron Opperman
Harry Blobaum
David Gould
Eldon Fenton
Dean Knight
Merry Stover
Al Friederich
Kenneth W. Faust
Paul Little
John Richman
Trees Forever
Patty Petersen – Facilitator
Roger Hunt - Designer
Sponsoring Partners
Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. Iowa Farm Bureau Federation GROWMARK

Watershed Planning and
Engagement
Basic Premise:
People’s Lives Impact their Watershed, and
Watersheds Impact People’s Lives.
Everyone Shares the Responsibility

Fenchel Creek Watershed
• Located in NE
Iowa, just South
of Strawberry
Point
• A sub watershed
of the
Maquoketa River
• Approximately
12,000 acres
• Primary land use
is agriculture
• Part of Backbone
State Park is in
the SW quadrant
of the watershed

Backbone State Park Area

Watershed Planning Process
• Define problem
• Determine boundaries
• Determine stakeholders
• Site Assessments
• Visual
• Historical/Cultural
resource
• Natural resources
• Analysis of data
• Goal setting
• Prepare preliminary
plan
• Presentation/public
discussion
• Prepare final plan
• Develop
implementation
strategy
• Implementation
• Evaluation

Motivating Issue
High bacteria level noted by the presence of fecal coliform
This condition limited recreational activities
and the tourism opportunities that have a long and
successful history for the area

Local committee assesses watershed
resources, maps findings, and sets
goals

Goals of Fenchel Creek Study
Propose solutions that:
• Enhance water quality address urban and agricultural land
management
• Enhance visual quality of the watershed/area
• Are attainable and sustainable
• Reflect best management practices for existing land use

Watershed Opportunities Areas
Agriculture
• Crop production
• Cattle production and dairying
• Pork production
Urban
•Private landowners
•Public lands

Watershed Opportunities
Crop Production
Best Management Practices:
• Nutrient Management
• Conservation Tillage
• Weed and Pest Management
• Conservation Buffers
This Vision Plan Focuses on Conservation Buffers

Watershed Opportunities
Cattle Production

Stream Buffers and Filter Strips
• Manure is both a crop
resource and a potential
pollutant
•Most of cattle
manure is surface
applied either by the
grazing cattle or with
mechanical spreaders
Top priority
is buffers
along stream
•To help filter the
manure applied to
fields, a top priority is
to install stream buffers
and grassed waterways

Dairy Existing

Dairy Edit
Loafing paddocks with
trees for shade
Grassed waterways
Native grass
filter strips
Windbreak
north and west

Beef Feedlot Existing

Beef Feedlot Edit
Windbreak
Native grass
filter strip
Shade trees

Cattle Grazing Existing

Cattle Grazing Edit
Grazing paddocks
Riparian Buffer
Nose pump waterer
Creek gap electric
fence
Modified Riffle Crossing

Watershed Opportunities
Pork Production

Hog Finishing Barns
Aerial View Looking SW to NE

Hog Finishing Barns Edit
Aerial View Looking SW to NE
Windbreak border
fast growing trees
and evergreens
N
Flowering trees
E
W
Shade trees
S
Mowed turf
Native grass and
wildflower buffer

Hog Finishing Barn
Ground Level Looking SW to NE

Hog Finishing Barn Edit
Ground Level Looking SW to NE
Windbreak
Flowering trees
Shade trees
allow air movement and
provide shade

Homestead with Farrowing and
Gestation Barns
Aerial from Southeast looking Northwest

Homestead with Farrowing and
Gestation Barns Edit
Aerial from Southeast looking Northwest
Windbreak
N
W
Shade trees
allow air movement and
provide shade
S
E
Flowering trees

Private Property Opportunities
Urban

Commercial Existing

Commercial Edit
Shade trees to shade
building and parking lot
Flowering tree to attract
attention and give
pedestrian scale
Bio-swale to intercept
parking and roof run-off
Native grasses and wildflowers in
ditch bottom, mowed turf around
edges. Acts as filter and allows
infiltration

Example of Bio-swale For parking lot run-off

Residential Property Existing

Residential Property Edit
Rain garden to intercept
rainwater from roof,
walks, and driveways.
Water is used and filtered
by the plants before it leaves
the property

Rain Gardens Along
Uncurbed Streets
Rain gardens
help slow
runoff and
minimize
erosion in
drainage
ditches along
streets with
out curbs

Fenchel Creek Watershed
Residential Roofs
Residential roof water is
relatively clean, and can be
easily taken out of the
stormwater loop.
•Redirect down spouts to pervious areas
•Rain gardens
•Rain Barrels

Public Opportunities

West Entrance Existing Aerial View

West Entrance Edit Aerial View
Widely spaced shade
trees branched high
to permit views
of commercial areas
West entrance sign
Flowering trees
Native grasses and
wildflowers in
ditches w/ mowed turf edges

South Entrance Sign Existing

South Entrance Sign Edit
Native
grasses
and
wildflowers
in ditch
bottom
Mowed turf
Wetland
Mowed edge
Native grasses and wildflowers

Green Infrastructure System
City
Lagoon
Site
Campbell Park
Backbone State Park
Trail system continues
to Campbell Park,
along stream corridor
to treatment site, and
Backbone State Park
Interpretive/Recreational trail begins in
residential areas of Strawberry Point
Strawberry Point

Rural Trail to Backbone Existing

Rural Trail to Backbone Edit
CRP 60 feet- 160 feet
Hiking and biking trail

South Entrance Area Existing
Looking from the SE to the NW

South Entrance Area Edit
Looking from the SE to the NW Comprehensive Concept
Recreational/Interpretive Trail from
Strawberry Point to Backbone State Park
Industrial Park with wetland for
filtration and infiltration
of storm water
Roadways
realigned for
safety
Picnic area
To Backbone
Sewage treatment
interpretation
Native trees,
grasses, and
wildflowers
Nature Interpretive Area

These proposals
represent a variety of
opportunities to enhance
the watershed and the
quality of life while
maintaining agriculture and
tourism as major economic
forces.

Implementation
• Share the concepts
• Present to individuals, schools, and
organizations
• Identify project partners
• Seek/identify funding
• Refine concept/develop specific plan
• Implement project

Working Watersheds
Summary
• A collaborative approach
• Partner involvement
• Practical on-the-ground solutions
• Locally led, flexible and voluntary

It All Comes Back to Farming for
Me I’m Still Planting Seeds
Of
•Hope
for a healthy,
vibrant, and
beautiful Earth
•Trust in
the Process, in
ourselves and
others
•Love of
making things
the way they
can be

Thank You.
Questions?

Trees Forever
770 7 th Avenue
Marion, Iowa 52302
www.treesforever.org
Phone: 800/369-1269