Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has released the Iowa Conservation Professionals Map, an online resource designed to connect farmers and landowners directly with conservation experts working across the state, including specialists and staff from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Conservation professionals help landowners through every phase of protecting soil, water, and habitat resources, providing specialized site assessments, designing conservation practices, managing installations, and connecting landowners with funding opportunities to offset costs. The map highlights an extensive network including watershed coordinators, project specialists, and field staff, connecting landowners with experts at the Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, local governments, agricultural cooperatives, and nonprofit organizations like the Iowa Soybean Association.
"Research from Iowa State University shows regular contact with a conservation professional is the single strongest factor in whether a farmer adopts new conservation practices," said Catherine DeLong, water quality program manager at ISU Extension and Outreach. "We want farmers and landowners to easily connect with conservation professionals so they can take the next step in their conservation journey."
Every acre in Iowa is covered by at least one dedicated professional, with some areas having access to as many as ten. Landowners can enter an address or click a parcel of land to view available experts ranked from local watershed level to statewide agencies. Additional partners, including USDA NRCS staff and Iowa DNR wildlife, forestry, and drinking water specialists, remain searchable through ISU Extension and Outreach's natural resources directory.
"The desire to improve local water quality is there, but people who want to get involved sometimes don't know where to begin or who to even contact," said Steve Konrady, nonpoint source coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "Our DNR team offers technical support and grant funding on a watershed level to help turn that interest into action. This resource will help landowners easily find our staff and see the incredible scope of conservation work happening in their own backyards."
The mapping platform was developed by ISU Extension and Outreach with technical support from Iowa State's GIS Support and Research Facility. Financial support is provided by ISU Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Soybean Association, The Nature Conservancy, and the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance.
In separate announcements, the DNR summarized recent enforcement actions, including consent orders with the City of Rinard, Farmers Union Industries, LLC d/b/a Central Bi-Products, Mike Crawford dba Crawford Pork, Maverik Group, LLC d/b/a Maverik, Inc., Hycast, LLC, Chem Go of Houghton, Inc., and Central Disposal Systems, Inc. Administrative penalties ranged from $800 to $10,000, with Chem Go of Houghton also ordered to pay $2,157.09 in fish restitution. An administrative order was issued to the Estate of Larry Jacobsen in Pottawattamie County.
The DNR Water Quality Bureau also posted draft water use permits for public review. The Dubuque County Courthouse requests a modified permit for up to 200 million gallons per year from a Mississippi River alluvium well for geothermal heating and cooling, with comments due October 21. The City of Iowa Falls requests an increase from 36 million to 50 million gallons per year from the Iowa River to maintain a waterfall, with comments due October 22.