Organization: GOLDEN HILLS RESOURCE CONSERVATION &
Mission: SUSTAINABLE CULTURAL AND CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN WESTERN IOWA
Activities: EAST AND WEST NISHNABOTNA WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COALITION:GOLDEN HILLS RC&D, THROUGH FUNDING FROM HUD AND THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, PROVIDES LOCAL COORDINATION FOR THE EAST AND WEST NISHNABOTNA HUC 8 WATERSHEDS THROUGH THE IOWA WATERSHED APPROACH (IWA). ACTIVATES INCLUDE CREATION AND COORDINATION OF LOCAL WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES AND DEVELOPMENT OF MASTER PLANS FOR THE TWO WATERSHEDS THAT SUPPORT LONG TERM FLOOD RESILIENCY AND WATER QUALITY. THE IOWA WATERSHED APPROACH IS A COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM THAT BRINGS TOGETHER LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO FLOODS AND NUTRIENT FLOWS. THIS ADAPTIVE MODEL, SUPPORTED BY U.S. HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) DOLLARS, WILL LEVERAGE THE PRINCIPLES OF IOWA'S INNOVATIVE NUTRIENT REDUCTION STRATEGY TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES MORE RESILIENT TO FLOODING AND HELP IMPROVE WATER QUALITY.THE IWA WILL ACCOMPLISH SIX SPECIFIC GOALS: 1) REDUCE FLOOD RISK; 2) IMPROVE WATER QUALITY; 3) INCREASE RESILIENCE; 4) ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH COLLABORATION AND OUTREACH/EDUCATION; 5) IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AND HEALTH, ESPECIALLY FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS; AND 6) DEVELOP A PROGRAM THAT IS SCALABLE AND REPLICABLE THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST AND THE UNITED STATES.THE IWA REPRESENTS A VISION FOR IOWA'S FUTURE THAT VOLUNTARILY ENGAGES STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED TO ACHIEVE COMMON GOALS, WHILE MOVING TOWARD A MORE RESILIENT STATE. IT IS A REPLICABLE MODEL FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE LANDSCAPE'S NATURAL RESILIENCE TO FLOODS AND RETAINING VITAL NUTRIENTS IMPORTANT TO FEEDING AND FUELING THE WORLD. ALTHOUGH THE IWA TARGETS WATERSHEDS IMPACTED BY FLOODS FROM 2011-2013, THE IMPACTS WILL RIPPLE DOWNSTREAM FROM IOWA TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO THE GULF OF MEXICO. THIS PROGRAM IS NOT ONLY ABOUT IOWANS HELPING IOWANS, BUT ALSO ABOUT DEMONSTRATING IOWANS' COMMITMENT TO AGRICULTURAL STEWARDSHIP, TO THE ENVIRONMENT, TO THEIR NEIGHBORS, AND TO THE FUTURE.
LOESS HILLS MISSOURI RIVER REGION PARKS TO PEOPLE INITIATIVE:GOLDEN HILLS RC&D PROVIDED COORDINATION SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A THREE-COUNTY PLAN TO ADDRESS RECREATION, PARK, LOCAL FOODS, ART AND CULTURAL AMENITIES FOR THE AREAS OF HARRISON, POTTAWATTAMIE AND MILLS COUNTIES. THE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED BY RDG THROUGH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE IOWA PARKS FOUNDATION, THE IOWA WEST FOUNDATION, THE STATE OF IOWA, HARRISON, POTTAWATTAMIE AND MILLS COUNTIES AND THE FRIENDS OF LAKE MANAWA. OUR ONGOING SCOPE OF WORK INCLUDES SECURING MATCHING FUNDS TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF EIGHT PRIORITY PROJECTS WITHIN THE THREE-COUNTY REGION WITH A COLLECTIVE CONSTRUCTION COST OF $10.2 MILLION, LEVERAGED BY A MIDAMERICAN ENERGY FOUNDATION CHALLENGE GRANT. WE ARE ALSO DEVELOPING MARKETING AND OUTREACH TO HELP PROMOTE THE REGION AND THE OUTDOOR RECREATION AMENITIES WITHIN THE REGION, INCLUDING MULTI-USE TRAILS, CAMPING, BIKING, WATERSPORTS, AND HUNTING.
IOWA BYWAYS SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS: THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THE GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THREE OF IOWA'S SCENIC BYWAYS LOCATED IN WESTERN IOWA; THE LOESS HILLS NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY, THE WESTERN SKIES SCENIC BYWAY, AND THE GLACIAL TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY. UNDER PHASE IV, EACH OF THE PARTICIPATING BYWAYS RECEIVED FUNDING OVER THREE YEARS TO COMPLETE TWELVE TASKS OUTLINED IN THE IDOT'S SCOPE OF WORK. THOSE TASKS INCLUDE: BYWAY COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT; STAKEHOLDER RECRUITMENT AND MEETINGS; ORGANIZE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS; ESTABLISH BYWAY BOARD OF DIRECTORS; PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SIGNAGE PROGRAM; FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT OF CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN; MARKETING EFFORTS; ASSIST BYWAY LOCAL PUBLIC AGENCIES IN PREPARING GRANTS; AND CONDUCT STATEWIDE TRAINING EVENTS.ADDITIONAL PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE IOWA BYWAYS SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT INCLUDE: IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERPRETIVE MASTER PLANS FOR ALL IOWA'S SCENIC BYWAYS, WITH FUNDS SECURED THROUGH FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION-TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT FUNDS AND THE IOWA WEST FOUNDATION; IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERPRETIVE MASTER PLANS FOR THE SCENIC BYWAYS INCLUDING AUDIO TOURS, EVENT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE ALONG THE ROUTES; AND PARTICIPATION ON THE BYWAYS OF IOWA FOUNDATION BOARD FOR FUNDRAISING AND ONGOING BYWAYS SUPPORT.
NTEE category: Environment
Secondary category: Food, Agriculture & Nutrition