The Fourmile Creek Watershed is a 76,600 acre watershed (HUC 10 - #0710000801) consisting of urban and agriculture communities. The watershed’s northernmost reaches are located in Boone and Story Counties and include portions of the cities of Sheldahl and Slater. The largest area of the watershed is located in Polk County and encompasses the cities of Pleasant Hill, Ankeny, Altoona, Alleman, Elkha
rt, and Des Moines. Fourmile Creek and its tributaries run for over 40 miles, beginning in northern Polk County and eventually joining with the Des Moines River in southern Polk County. Resource concerns seen in and along the creek include high bacteria levels, excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and erosion. A Watershed Management Authority (WMA) was formed to try and address these concerns. In order to address the environmental concerns and improve the watershed a watershed management plan was completed by Snyder and Associates with help from many organizations involved with the WMA. On behalf of the Fourmile Creek WMA, the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) received a Water Quality Initiative Grant from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) in January 2016. This grant provides cost share for nutrient reducing practices such as saturated buffers, bioreactors, wetlands, and cover crops. Once installed, these practices will serve as demonstration sites for field days and other educational events.
