Black Hawk SWCD

Market Grower Survey from the USDA!!

Black Hawk SWCD will be hosting an intern at our NRCS office this summer! Contact Jenna at [email protected] or call the office at #319-296-3262 x 3 if you are interested or want to learn more about this position!

Are you a college student interested in conservation and working outdoors? 🌱Apply now for Conservation Summer Internships! The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, in partnership with 25 local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), is seeking interns to support soil conservation and water quality programs in field offices across the state.

How to apply:
• View the list of counties/offices offering summer internships:
https://iowaagriculture.gov/dscwq/summer-internships
• Contact the local SWCD Field Office directly
Questions? Contact Sadi Hawk at [email protected].

The Streamside Buffer Initiative Pilot Project is available in Black Hawk County! Call or stop by the office to see if this is an option on your farm.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship launched a Streamside Buffer Initiative Pilot Project to improve water quality in priority watersheds, including those upstream from Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. The new project encourages farmers and landowners to plant perennial buffers in fields along streams to prevent nutrient runoff from entering these important source water areas. This voluntary, flexible program encourages conservation that is practical and impactful. Learn more at CleanWaterIowa.org.

The 2026 National Association of Conservation Districts Poster Contest theme has been announced: Soil. Where it all Begins. Ask us how to participate!

Send a message to learn more

We had a great time celebrating the 20th anniversary of Dry Run Creek Watershed Improvement Project last week! Here is a wonderful article that will fill you in on what we have been up to for the past 20 years in Dry Run Creek.

What does a community with 20 years of watershed work look like? • Iowa Capital Dispatch Rain gardens and barrels are some of the more than 300 water conservation practices adopted by residents of the Dry Run Creek Watershed.

For those of you with empty space in your garden, here are some ideas of what you can plant next!