Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District

04/21/2025

The Walnut Creek Clean Up was a big hit!

Clear skies and fair weather awaited around 50 volunteers this Saturday who gathered to team up for some spring cleaning of Walnut Creek. Thank you to everyone who joined the event! Together, we hauled loads of trash out of the creek, banks, and surrounding landscape.

The Walnut Creek Watershed is shared by Polk and Dallas county, it provides water to nearly 500,000 residents. There are multiple loved parks and trails along the creek for everyone to enjoy. Cleaning up the creek ensures cleaner water and safer recreation for all!

Missed the event but want to extend the impact? Next time you're on the trail or visiting the creek, pick up a few items as you leave. Looking for a bigger impact? Take a trash walk with some friends!

You can learn more about Walnut Creek at: https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/public-works/water-resources/walnut-creek-watershed-management-authority/

11/01/2024

10/28/2024

Polk Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has planted a 5-acre Cover Crop Demonstration Plot in North Polk County to provide education comparisons between various cover crops that work well in Central Iowa. The Plot features eight cover crop species or mixes. Four cover crops work well ahead of Beans, the others work well ahead of Corn.

You can visit the Demonstration Plot anytime to compare how the different species have grown this Fall. Pick up a map and additional information at the information signs at the Plot. The Plot is located at 16049-16507 NE 42nd Street Cambridge, IA 50046 just north of White Oak. There are entrances at the North and South ends of the field. You can park at the edge of the field near the entrances and walk across the field.

Check our web site at http://polkswcdiowa.gov for information about cover crop assistance and other conservation programs.

Cover crops offer a practical way to improve soil structure, retain moisture, suppress weeds, reduce erosion, retain nutrients, reduce surface water pollution and increase organic matter. They are a vital component of managing soil health and crop productivity.

10/02/2024

Polk Soil and Water Conservation District is hiring a Water Quality Initiative Coordinator!

The Water Quality Initiative (WQI) Coordinator works with landowners and producers in priority watersheds in Central Iowa to improve soil health and water quality through the implementation and retention of Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy practices.

Full-time, IPERS retirement, health insurance stipend, paid leave, based out of Ankeny, Iowa.

10/01/2024

Just uploaded to our Biology for Soil Health Workshop Presentation Series: The USDA Soil Carbon Amendment Presentation with Soil Biologist Hillary Olson!

Check back later for more presentations from this series.

Hillary Olson with the Iowa NRCS presents the USDA Soil Carbon Amendment (Code 336) at the Biology for Soil Health Workshop held by the Polk Soil and Water C...

07/26/2024

The Polk SWCD had a blast at our last Soil Field Day at Commissioner Lee Tesdell's farm! Three soil pits were dug out for deep learning presentations and a rain simulator was demonstrated at the end. Lee Tesdell utilizes multiple conservation practices, hear about his farming experiences in this short video from the event: https://youtu.be/pR3iW9OR3sQ