|
Rural New Haven family constructs wetlands pond
If you happen to be traveling through the community of New Haven in the coming days ... you might want to keep on going. About one mile east of town, you'll find that there is a new and mysterious 15-acre body of water in the middle of the fields to the south.
The small "lake" is located on land owned by the Miriam Kirst family, and despite its bright blue waters, is not intended for recreation purposes.
"It is an effort to improve water quality," explained John Kirst, who lives on the old farmstead where the water is located. It is officially being called the Kirst CREP Wetland Site and is officially located in Douglas Township, crossing an unnamed tributory (creek) of the Little Cedar River.
"We dammed the creek to make the small lake," said John, who recently returned from RAGBRAI. "It will keep getting bigger as time goes on."
The 67.18 acres around the lake are enrolled in the Iowa Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). A 30-year easement has been granted to the Mitchell County Soil and Water Conservation District. The drainage area for the wetland development is approximately 787 acres in size.
The objective of the conservation project is to improve water quality by limiting the amount of agricultural pollutants (mainly nitrates) entering the nation's rivers and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.
The earthen dam will slow storm water and agricultural tile run-off. The wetland will eliminate up to 80 percent of the nitrate pollutants before they enter our larger waterways. Other benefits include erosion control and wildlife habitat.
The earthen dam is 1,300 feet long with a metal sheet pile spillway flowing into a rip-rap stilling basin and channel. A pond with a surface area of about 15.3 acres will form above the structure. About 12.24 acres of the pond will have a water depth of three feet or less.
Much of this area will develop emergent wetland characteristics. The construction area is graded and seeded with five different kinds of native grasses and 10 kinds of prairie flowers.
"We've already seen several different kinds of birds than we've seen before around here," said Miriam. "I think it's a good thing to do."
The project is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Department of Soil Conservation.
The dam site is visible from 360th street (the road that runs east and west through New Haven, but there will be no access to the public.
Engineer for the project was Donald D. Etler P.E. of Kuehe and Payer L.T.D. from Algona, Iowa. Construction contractor was Josh Hanke of Little Cedar, Iowa.
--by David Namanny, Press-News Editor
Story created Aug 07, 2007 - 12:01:24 CDT.
|
