Mahaska County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Muchakinock Creek Watershed Project PROMOTES SOIL AND WATER STEWARDSHIP WEEK
As a part of the Mahaska county community since 1942, the Mahaska County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) wants to remind you that each of us has a connection to natural resources. The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is celebrating the 61st year of Stewardship Week April 24 – May 1, 2016.
Oskaloosa, Ia. 04/14/2016. As a part of the Mahaska county community since 1942, the Mahaska County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) wants to remind you that each of us has a connection to natural resources. The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is celebrating the 61st year of Stewardship Week April 24 – May 1, 2016. The 2016 Stewardship Week hinges around the theme “We All Need Trees.” Trees provide us with a multitude of benefits and services including, but not limited to: clean air and water, healthy soil, shade, wood products, fuel, and jobs.
Robert Oldham acts as the chairperson for the Mahaska County Soil and Water Conservation District. The District was formed to provide education and guidance to help Mahaska County landowners and operators to manage and protect our natural resources. The Muchakinock Creek Watershed project was started in 2005 and continues to be funded in an effort to assist landowners and operators in the watershed control sediment delivery to the stream. During the month of April, in advance celebration of Stewardship Week, the Mahaska County Soil and Water Conservation District has sponsored a Cover Crop field day, April 8, 2016 in the Muchakinock Creek watershed. It was hosted by two local farmers and the Muchakinock Creek Watershed Coordinator, Meleia Shelman. Also, NRCS Soil Conservationist, Nichole Baxter and Muchakinock Creek Watershed Coordinator, Meleia Shelman were instructors at Mahaska County Ag Day, April 15, 2016 for grade school age children. Approximately 275 children learned about soil health and soil properties by crawling through a soil tunnel constructed by Baxter and Shelman.
In keeping with the Stewardship Week theme “We All Need Trees” The Mahaska County Soil and Water Conservation District is offering tree sales for farmstead or feedlot windbreaks, wildlife habitat plantings, and trees for donations to schools or your favorite park for education. The tree order forms can be obtained by calling (641-673-3476 or stopping by the Mahaska County SWCD at the Oskaloosa USDA Service Center, 2503 Todd St., Oskaloosa, Ia. 52577.
“Educating the public about the importance of trees in our daily lives is an essential part of what NACD advocates for through natural resource conservation and is the essence of this year’s Stewardship theme,” said NACD President Lee
McDaniel. “Trees and forests are critical to providing clean air and water, healthy soil, abundant wildlife habitat, and valuable products we use every day.”
Your local conservation district can assist you in learning more about trees and the species native to your area of the country. They can also provide insight on tree planting, care and maintenance as well as information for how to protect tress from invasive species. Districts have a long-standing history of working with state and private forest owners in helping promote and safeguard our nation’s forested lands.
The Mahaska County Soil and Water Conservation District is a member of NACD which oversees the Stewardship Week program. Stewardship Week is one of the largest national annual programs to promote conservation. NACD represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, which were established to encourage resource conservation across the country.
For more information about Stewardship Week and conservation, contact the Mahaska County Soil and Water Conservation District at 641-673-3476.
