What's the problem with the South Fork Maquoketa River?
One of the major problems facing the South Fork Maquoketa River is sediment filling in the river and also filling Backbone Lake downstream. Sediment reduces water depth and makes water more vulnerable to problems caused by nutrients, like algae. An estimated 12,131 tons of sediment are delivered every year from fields in the South Fork Maquoketa River watershed to the river and Backbone Lake. That's like a line of dump trucks nearly four miles long dumping soil into the lake.

Beside sediment, bacteria are threatening the South Fork Maquoketa River. Bacteria can come from a number of sources, including animal wastes, livestock, wildlife and septic systems in the watershed. High levels of one type of bacteria, E. Coli, serve as an indicator that pathogens may be present in the water. These pathogens can cause illness. During 2003 and 2004 the Iowa DNR collected data from six sampling sites in the river, which showed an average bacteria level between four and 27 times the state standard for E. Coli.

County sanitarians estimate that 75 to 80 percent of household septic systems in the South Fork watershed are outdated or failing. Without proper treatment, untreated sewage can enter streams, lakes and groundwater, polluting water with bacteria and nitrates.

These systems can pose a health threat to adults with weakened immune systems and to children who can come into direct contact with untreated sewage when playing in backyards, road ditches or creeks that have untreated sewage piped to them.
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What's being done to help the South Fork Maquoketa River?
The South Fork Maquoketa Water Quality Project began in July 2004 with goals of reducing sediment, bacteria and nutrients reaching the river and Backbone Lake, as well as educating watershed residents.

The South Fork Maquoketa Water Quality Project plans to reduce bacteria levels by installing animal waste systems and educating rural residents on proper treatment of household wastewater.

Plans to reduce the amount of soil and sediment delivered to the river include implementing conservation practices such as no-till, contour farming, grassed waterways, filter strips and streambank stabilization.

A popular conservation method is no-till practices which recycle last year's crop residue to provide ground cover, and protects against soil erosion. When nutrients and pesticides are applied properly, no-till also controls loss of nutrients and pesticides that attach to soil particles.

Another conservation practice being used in the South Fork Maquoketa River watershed is contour farming. This practice allows landowners to farm on gently sloping land instead of up and down the slope and results in less sediment (and pollutants attached to it) reaching the river.

In the South Fork Maquketa River watershed, located in Fayette and Delaware counties, landowners have installed grassed waterways. Grassed waterways are effective in reducing soil erosion and are natural or constructed channels that move surface water across the land without causing soil erosion. The vegetation in the waterway slows the water, protecting the land from rill and gully erosion along streambanks.

Filter strips are strips of grass or other vegetation used to trap sediment (and pollutants attached to it) from runoff.

Another way the project is trying to reduce soil erosion is through the practice of streambank stabilization. This method uses structures such as rocks or vegetation to counter soil erosion.

Informational and educational programs on the importance of water quality, including demonstration sites and field days, are also being started by the South Fork Maquoketa Water Quality Project.
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What can I do to help?
Landowners in the South Fork Maquoketa River watershed can improve the river by partnering with the South Fork Maquoketa Water Quality Project.

One group is making sure manure finds a good home in the South Fork watershed. Rather than have excess manure be over-applied or otherwise end up in streams and the river, it can be given to those who are in need of manure for fertilizer or other uses.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is also contributing to improve the South Fork Maquoketa Water Quality Project. The organization donated $5,000 to the South Fork Watershed Project to collect water monitoring samples and to develop a watershed directory.

The directory lists those in the South Fork and Upper Maquoketa watersheds with excess agricultural manure and those who can put it to best use environmentally. It also has been distributed to residents in the two watersheds. This is the first manure matching venture between the IPPA and a watershed project.
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What is the future of the South Fork Maquoketa River?
The future of the South Fork Maquoketa River is bright if local citizens continue in their effort to continue these conservation practices. With help from the South Fork Maquoketa Water Quality Project and a variety of other supporters and funding, sediment and bacteria can decrease drastically.
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Meet the project coordinator David Suchan grew up on a small farm outside of Marshalltown, Iowa. Suchan received his Bachelor's Degree in earth science in 2004 from the University of Northern Iowa and is currently working on finishing his Master's Degree. The majority of his education, research and experiences have emphasized environmental studies, including a number of projects involving water quality. "There is obviously work to be done to improve the water quality here in the South Fork Maquoketa River," said Suchan. "It's going to be learning experience for everyone and I look forward to meeting and working with those in the watershed to improve the water quality of the South Fork Maquoketa River."

For other ways you can get involved with the South Fork Maquoketa Water Quality Project, contact David Suchan, watershed coordinator, at (319) 334-4015 or David.Suchan@ia.nacdnet.net Back to top

Project partners

• Iowa DNR
• Iowa Department of Agriculture - Division of Soil Conservation
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

For More Information
Local:
David Suchan
South Fork Maquoketa River Watershed Project Coordinator
(319) 334-4015
David.Suchan@ia.nacdnet.net
Buchanan County NRCS Office

Statewide:
Steve Hopkins
DNR Nonpoint Source Program Coordinator
(515) 281-6402
Stephen.Hopkins@dnr.iowa.gov