1415-007 Lake LaVerne Watershed Final Report

(2016) 1415-007 Lake LaVerne Watershed Final Report. Agriculture and Land Stewardship

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Abstract

This application targets a critical need for low maintenance and inexpensive treatment solutions to encourage landowners and resource managers to enhance the water quality of small ponds and lakes. Many rural and urban small ponds and lakes across Iowa and the region have eutrophic conditions with high levels of nutrients and low levels of oxygen. Story SWCD teamed with Iowa State University(ISU)researchers propose to address this need through the construction and monitoring of a vegetated floating island(VFI)system on ISU's iconic Lake LaVerne. VFI's are hydroponically-vegetated islands that reduce nutrient loading directly from pond and lake water(rather than from soil adjacent to the pond). Urban watershed assessment on the ISU campus has already led to reductions in stormwater runoff to the lake but eutrophic conditions persist and are well documented. The VFI will function as a public art attraction for the entire 2015 growing season during which time monitoring will occur to quantify nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon changes in the lake. Tens of thousands of visitors to the ISU campus and Lake LaVerne will interact with this installation using promotional signage on site, public events and interactive social media throughout the project. Water quality and vegetation analysis will quantify nutrient uptake by the island vegetation and thus determine its effectiveness for use in other similar water bodies in Iowa.

Item Type: Departmental Report
Keywords: Watershed Improvement Review Board, WIRB, water quality, watershed, Squaw Creek, Worrell Creek, Lake LaVerne, nutrient reduction, Story Soil and Water Conservation District, SWCD
Subjects: Natural resources and environment
Natural resources and environment > Water resources
Natural resources and environment > Water resources > Water quality
Natural resources and environment > Water resources > Watersheds
ID Code: 24303
Deposited By: Jerome Neppel
Deposited On: 03 Oct 2017 16:05
Last Modified: 03 Oct 2017 16:05
URI: https://publications.iowa.gov/id/eprint/24303