Golden Hills Resource Conservation And Development Area

SUSTAINABLE CULTURAL AND CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN WESTERN IOWA

LOCAL FOODS AND SPECIALITY CROPS - RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE BUILDERS INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT SOUTHWEST IOWANS BY DRIVING EFFORTS THAT CONTINUE TO BUILD A DYNAMIC AND RESILIENT LOCAL FOOD WEB, BASED ON REGENERATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO FRESH AND NUTRITIOUS LOCAL FOOD, IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE LASTING POSITIVE IMPACTS TO BOTH THE ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, ENSURING THRIVING, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, IOWA BYWAYS SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS, OUTDOOR RECREATION INFRASTRUCTURE, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD AREAS.

WATER RESOURCES - FUNDING THROUGH THE NRCS HAS SUPPORTED MANY LONG-TERM PROJECTS IN THIS PROGRAM AREA. THE PURPOSE OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION AND FLOOD PREVENTION (WFPO) PROJECT IS TO GATHER AND UPDATE DOCUMENTS RELATED TO WFPO STRUCTURES IN IOWA, INVENTORY WFPO STRUCTURES IN IOWA, AND DEVELOP AND PROVIDE TRAININGS ABOUT OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF WFPO STRUCTURES IN IOWA. THE REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (RCPP) IS A USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS) GRANT WHERE WE ARE THE LEAD PARTNER AND AWARDEE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NRCS TO PROVIDE COST SHARE AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR LANDOWNERS TO IMPLEMENT CONSERVATION PRACTICES. SUCH CONSERVATION PRACTICES ELIGBLE FOR THE PROGRAM ARE THOSE THAT WILL IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, REDUCE SOIL EROSION, AND IMPROVE FLOOD RESILIENCY. THE ELIGIBLE AREA IS THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF WEST NISHNABOTNA WATERSHED (FROM THE POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY-SHELBY COUNTY LINE AND SOUTH, THOUGH A SMALL PORTION IS INCLUDED IN SHELBY COUNTY).

OUTDOOR RECREATION & TOURISM - FUNDING THROUGH THE GILCHRIST FOUNDATION, FUND FOR SIOUXLAND, LOESS HILLS AUDUBON SOCIETY, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IOWA DNR CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAM, AND OTHER VARIOUS DONORS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENHANCE THE OUTDOOR RECREATION AND TOURISM SCENE IN WESTERN IOWA. THESE FUNDS WERE USED FOR STAFF TIME, PRINTING INTERPRETATIVE PANELS, GUIDEBOOKS, BROCHURES, AND EVENTS. EACH YEAR, WE HOST A MULTI-DAY HIKING & CAMPING EVENT CALLED THE LOHI TREK, LOCATED IN THE LOESS HILLS. THE EVENT HAS SOLD OUT EACH YEAR AND HAS A WAITLIST. PARTICIPANTS NOT ONLY HIKE BUT GET TO LEARN ABOUT OUR UNIQUE LOESS HILLS LANDFORM, PRAIRIE AND WOODLAND ECOSYSTEMS, AND OTHER CONSERVATION TOPICS. THROUGH SEVERAL FUNDING SOURCES, WE HAVE ALSO UPDATED AND REPRINTED THE MUCH REQUESTED SIOUXLAND BIRDING GUIDE. THE BIRDING GUIDE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED IN 20 YEARS. WE RECEIVED FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT ASPECTS OF THE LOESS HILLS NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY INTERPRETIVE MASTER PLAN. THIS INCLUDED REPLACING MANY OLD, FADED INTERPRETIVE PANELS THROUGHOUT THE SEVEN-COUNTY BYWAY CORRIDOR AS WELL AS CREATING SOME NEW PANELS TO BE PLACED IN NEW LOCATIONS.