Jones SWCD news article for the month of
December 2012
from
Jones Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners
300 Chamber Drive
Anamosa, IA52205
319-462-3196 Ext. 3
Contact: Matt Manternach, Commissioner
Email:
Phone: 563-852-5014
For Immediate Release
Economic Impact of
Conservation in Jones County
One of the jobs of a Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner is to assist the public and lawmakers in understanding just how important conservation of our soil and protection of our water resources is to the viability of Jones County and its residents. This can be a tricky proposition, particularly if one considers that the impact of most conservation practices is often indirect and may not be realized for generations. While it is difficult to assign tangible values to intangible concepts, it isn’t all that difficult to understand that good stewardship of our resources can have a fundamental impact on all of us.
Sometimes the economic impact can be seen and felt in our wallets. As farm land values have increased, so has the need to protect that value from extreme conditions. A farmer who opts for SWCD assistance to build terraces to eliminate gullies and erosion enhances the value of his property while also making it more productive. A farmstead with a windbreak expects to reduce the impact of winter winds that cause drifting of snow and the penetrating chill that goes with them. Clearing less snow saves on the fuel that would be needed to remove it, lowers the cost for energy to heat shelters that would otherwise be impacted, and saves time that could be spent more productively. Hardwood tree plantings after timber is harvested from woodlands provide wildlife cover and revenue for a future generation. These are just a few examples of the benefits that accrue in a very real way from applying conservation practices.
Sometimes the economic impact is a little more indirect. The county road department sees this concept at work annually. Due to heavy rainfall and sediments flowing into their right of way, county crews spend tens of thousands of dollars every year cleaning runoff from road ditches. Practices like grassed waterways or field borders can slow the amount of sediment flowing from farmers’ fields into the county ditch, reducing the need for ditch clean-outs and providing a benefit to both parties. Another important example would be funds provided to cooperators in areas upstream of small towns that reduce the impact of heavy flooding rains to city sewers and the expense of adding capacity to strained storm water drainage systems. In both examples, the conservation practice applied saves taxpayer money for more productive endeavors.
Another way Jones County residents benefit from the work of the SWCD in applying conservation practices throughout the county is the benefit to public resources like the Maquoketa and Wapsipinicon Rivers or the Central Park Lake. Conservation practices employed near these water bodies are an investment in improving their water quality, which make them an appealing recreational resource to everyone living in Jones County and beyond. Recreational use of these resources by canoers, fishermen, and State Park campers provide a big economic impact to the communities of Jones County, spending tens of thousands of dollars here every year.
Whether the impact is visible to the naked eye or not, programs to emphasize resource conservation in Jones County are one of the many things that make this a great place to live. Please continue to support the work of your local SWCD and their partners as they continue their commitment to community development, resource protection, and water quality, and encourage your legislators and county supervisors to do the same!
For more information on soil and water conservation activities in Jones County, stop by our office in the USDA Service Center at 300 Chamber Drive in Anamosa, or give us a call at 319-462-3196 Ext. 3.
The Jones Soil & Water Conservation District prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs and marital or familial status. An equal opportunity employer.