The Walnut Creek Watershed has been changing constantly over the last 150 years. Some big changes have occurred gradually, unnoticed by many who live or pass through this area. Recently, the rate of change has been more rapid as suburban growth has pushed across hundreds of acres each year. Collectively, these changes have drastically affected the landscapes ability to absorb water.
These significant changes to the watershed have increased flooding and degraded water quality. Loss of topsoil, streambank erosion, construction site pollution, and pollutant loading are all exacerbated by the way agriculture and urban uses have changed the character of the watershed.
Throughout the process, the Watershed Management Authority and its executive team have routinely met to provide input and oversight of the planning process.
Come work with our Iowa rural landowners to implement conservation practices that hold water upstream, improve water quality, and reduce downstream flooding. These practices include but are not limited to bioreactors, cover crops, stream buffers, grassed waterways, and wetlands.
Utilize stormwater management techniques that mitigate the impacts of urban development. Alter development standards for stormwater management including stream buffers, floodplain protection, and Iowa Stormwater Management Manual design requirements.
Work across developed urban areas to improve stormwater management and stabilize eroded streams, resulting in improved water quality, reduced runoff, and more flood resilient communities. Developers, cities, and homeowners can create landscapes that treat rainfall as a resource rather than a waste product.