The Black Hawk Lake Watershed initiative is now a third of the way through its 30-year program, and administrators say they are on pace to meet or exceed their expectations. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Black Hawk Lake Protective Association (BHLPA), the Sac County Water and Soil Conservation Districts, and multiple other agencies implemented the plan in 2011 to substantially improve the lake’s water quality and enhance uptake of management practices by the watershed’s landowners. Watershed Coordinator, Ethan Thies, says they are pleased with the progress made so far. Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio
He adds that these improvements do not happen independently, and it requires support and buy-in from many people within the watershed. Thies says water quality is affected by various factors, and the management team addresses as many of them as possible.
Agricultural practices have the most significant effect on soil and nutrient runoff into Black Hawk Lake. Thies says producers have been supportive of the effort.
According to 2021 data, about 15 percent of the watershed’s land was under a cover crop management system, which is more than double the area seen in other parts of the state. While it is a good start, Thies is optimistic that figure will continue to grow into the future, especially as producers better understand the benefits of these practices.
The Black Hawk Lake Watershed runs along Carnarvon Creek between Lake View and Breda in Carroll County. The Management Coalition hosts an overview meeting each year, and 2022’s session is scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) evening. Those wishing to attend the online meeting can contact Thies using the contact information included below.
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ethan.thies@dnr.iowa.gov