The North Thompson River Watershed covers an area of 111,600 acres in Adair, Madison, and Union Counties in southwest Iowa. This area is 60 to 70 percent intensively row-cropped (corn and soybeans) and has potential soil erosion rates of 11 to 15 tons/acre/year. The lower reaches of the Thompson River in Union County and West Branch Creek in Madison County frequently flood.
The overall goal of this project is to improve water quality in the North Thompson River and its watershed. We are working towards this goal by reducing sediment through the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs).
Best Management Practices and Financial Assistance
Landowners in the North Thompson River Watershed may be eligible for increased financial assistance (up to 75%* cost share) to implement qualifying BMPs such as:
- Grade stabilization structures
- Water and Sediment Control Structures
- Terraces
- Grassed Waterways
- Pasture & Hayland Planting
*Percentage based on your county’s average rates, not the contractor’s prices. Cost share payments are based on percent of the estimated or eligible costs, whichever is less.
In addition to WSPF, there are several other sources of funding for conservation practices, including: the Iowa Financial Incentives Program (IFIP), Resource Enhancement And Protection (REAP), Iowa Buffer Initiative, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and the Local Water Protection Program (LWPP) for low interest loans.
This project has already made a positive impact on the environment!
As of 2016, $1,245,387.00 of WSPF funding has been expended over the life of the water quality project to trap 24,790 tons of sediment per year resulting in a cost ratio of $50.23 per ton.
All 33 subwatersheds are eligible for funding, though priority will be given to projects based on estimated sediment loading reductions. If landowners are interested in applying for cost share, they can reach out to the Project Coordinator, or can contact their local Soil & Water Conservation District office.
The North Thompson River Water Quality Project has been made possible by funding provided by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship–Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality (IDALS-DSCWQ), the Water Protection Fund (WPF), and the Watershed Protection Fund (WSPF).
More Information:
Map of Potential Sheet & Rill Erosion in the Watershed
Map of North Thompson River Watershed
Map of Priority Subwatersheds in Madison County
Newsletters:
To learn more, contact:
Triston Davidson, Project Coordinator
Madison County SWCD (Winterset)
515-462-4884 ext. 3
Union County SWCD (Creston)
641-782-4218 ext. 3
Adair County SWCD (Greenfield)
641-343-7033 ext. 3
