English River Watershed Management Authority seeks to prevent future flooding and water quality issues

          The English River watershed, which partially loops down the northern edge of Keokuk County, contains approximately 639 sq miles and is home to an estimated 21,7000 Iowans in Keokuk, Poweshiek, Iowa, Johnson, and Washington Counties. Of the 1,400 miles of streams and tributaries in the watershed, which is an area where drainage goes into a waterbody, 60 percent of the landscape is used for row-crop production.

            However, in recent decades, flooding has impacted the English River watershed, especially in Kalona in 2008. Communities in Keokuk County, such as Keswick, Webster, Gibson and Kinross lie near the watershed, and while they are not in any immediate danger of flooding, heavy rains have washed phosphorus-rich top soil and an excessive amount of nitrates into the waterways. This affects water quality for residents of these areas, along with those who live further down as far away as the Gulf of Mexico.

            After the 2008 flooding in Kalona, local leaders gathered to discuss what could be done to combat flooding in the system. The State of Iowa authorized a “watershed authority” to form and help research the English River watershed. The entity created was the English River Watershed Management Authority, which is represented by all the counties listed above. Individual towns, such as Keswick, also have individual representation with English River WMA. Those towns inside the watershed are invited, but not required to be members of the Authority.

            Jody Bailey was hired to create the English River WMA in 2013, when they began a large assessment of planning project to find ways to keep flooding from growing severe and seeing where phosphorus/nitrate levels were at their highest. The assessment was completed in 2015, with varying results. While Keokuk County does not have the largest area in the watershed, concerns are still present.

            “Before we began this assessment, we knew very little about the English River,” Bailey said. “We’ve learned a lot through collecting samples, monitoring streams. One concern we have is for flooding in the South English River area, and phosphorus/nitrate levels in Poweshiek County near Gibson. While we’re not seeing these areas as vulnerable per say, we are developing goals to reduce flooding severity and make sure our water quality is up to standards.”

            After conducting the assessment, Bailey and the watershed authority created a set of improvement goals: Reduce nitrate loading in the English River watershed from urban and agricultural landscapes by 41% from 2010, reduce phosphorus loading in the English River water by 29% from 2010 levels, reduce sediment loading in the English River Watershed by 30%, continue to monitor water quality parameters, educate and promote the best managements practices that reduce runoff and hold water, expand their partnerships and membership into the English River WMA.

            “Best management practices are ways people can use their landscape to keep runoff and flooding from being an issue,” Bailey said. “Farm ponds, pastures, wetlands and buffers keep rain from building up into the watershed and flooding it. For urban areas, you can create a rain garden that will allow plants to absorb water into their soil, and don’t over apply fertilizer and chemicals that get into our water system.”

            Mick Berg, Chairman of the Keokuk County Board of Supervisors, represents the county at the watershed authority. With several county towns inside the watershed, Berg feel it’s essential for everyone to come to the table and listen to what is being discovered about the English River watershed.

            “I am concerned about water quality and soil conservation,” Berg said. “[Keokuk County] needed a representative, and I feel it’s worthwhile. If we do our part, we can slow the water down, which prevents flooding with ponds, terraces, any little method helps.”

            “We are not here to set off any alarms in the community. We just want to make people aware of how they can help reduce future flooding, which can cause thousands of dollars in damage. The more people we can bring to our table, the better off all the counties and their cities will be.”

            For more information about English River WMA, their goals for improving the English River watershed and some of their findings, check out englishriverwma.org