AMES, Iowa — Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, and Conservation Learning Group (CLG), is hosting a free wetland virtual field day on Thursday, December 10th at 1 p.m. CST.

The virtual field day will highlight public and private partnerships working together to implement wetlands to reduce flooding and improve water quality in the Middle Cedar Watershed and beyond. Join us for a live conversation with Adam Rodenberg, Project Coordinator for the Middle Cedar Watershed, and Matt Lechtenberg, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Water Quality Coordinator.

Wetlands provide a wide variety of benefits on the landscape and are an important tool in reaching Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals. Not only do these wetlands filter out sediment, they also reduce nitrate concentrations through the natural denitrification process. Additionally, wetlands can store water and the newly constructed sites in the Middle Cedar play a key role in reducing flooding within the watershed and downstream. These areas also provide critical wildlife habitat and beauty to the landscape.

“Using wetland design standards similar to the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), the wetland featured during the live event is helping accomplish our project goals of flood reduction downstream,” noted Rodenberg. “The project also offered a unique opportunity to work with the landowner to safely meet their livestock grazing goals and expand on their previous efforts to more effectively manage water on the site.”

To participate in the live virtual field day at 1:00 pm CST on December 10th, click this URL: https://iastate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUpduihpj8iE9ZHcjpsenc2DWQILG41wg0D or visit www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/events and click “Join Live Virtual Field Day”.

Or, join from a dial-in phone line:

    Dial: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 876 9923               Meeting ID: 914 1198 4892

The field day will be recorded and archived on the ILF website so that it can be watched at any time. The archive will be available at https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/events.

Participants may be eligible for a Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit (CEU). Information about how to apply to receive the credit (if approved) will be provided at the end of the live field day.

Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation by encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable. Partners of Iowa Learning Farms include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (USEPA section 319) and GROWMARK, Inc.