Post on 22-Jun-2020
Ames Smart Programs
Ames Watersheds
•South Skunk River
•Squaw Creek
•Onion Creek
•Clear Creek
•College Creek
•Worle Creek
Increased amounts of runoff with sediment, nutrients and pollutants can disrupt natural processes
Where can the rain soak in?
Ames and MS-4, NPDES Stormwater Permit
•6 minimum control measures
•Construction site and post construction runoff control
• Illicit discharge identification and elimination
•Public Education, Outreach-Participation = Smart Watersheds
Presentation Highlights
•Education and Outreach Program
•Partnerships
•Rebates
•City Projects
Public and Outreach Education
• Member of the Iowa Stormwater Education Program
• Use toolbox materials to educate different target audiences
• Each year target different audiences as well as some regular
• Campaigns
• All activities include….
What is storm water runoff?
Rain and melted snow that flow off impervious surfaces, such as streets, rooftops, and lawns, to surface waters
It is most often collected and quickly conveyed off-site
Stormwater flows into streams, rivers, and lakes
Storm drain systems collect runoff
Visible pollutant plume
Photos by David Thorson
You live on waterfront property!
You have waterfront property if there are storm drain inlets in the street.
Storm drains are connected to streams, ponds, and lakes.
Water is not treated before it flows to the stream.
Storm Drain Inlet & Outlet in River
No Dumping!
Never dump anything down the storm drain!
Don’t Hose Down Driveways
Sweep or blow clippings and sediment back into the yard.
Washing your driveway pollutes our streams.
Keep Your Neighborhood Clean
Trash is washed into streams through storm drain systems.
Mowing Lawns Never mow in a direction
that blows lawn clippings on the street.
Sweep or blow grass clippings back into the yard.
Grass clippings if they make their way to streams deplete oxygen.
Fertilize Lawns Not Streams
Public Concerns: Make sure you sweep up excess and any spills from driveways, sidewalks or the street.
Only apply what is needed, according to the directions.
Use fertilizers carefully and sparingly!
NEVER wash away spills!
Pet Poop Campaign
• Posters to local veternarians, ISU vet school
• Magnet distribution at local events
• Bill stuffer
• Local drawing if agree to clean-up pet poop
Survey and Poster
Lawn Care Providers: Go Phosphorus-Free • Go P-free, use only P-free fertilizers
• Let your customers know you are P-free-connection to protecting water quality
• Most soils enough phosphorus, no need to use
• Phosphorus in streams causes algal blooms, oxygen depletion
• Understand the fertilizer label: NPK N=nitrogen, P=phosphorus, K=potassium
P-Free Fertilizers Partnership Opportunity New Marketing
Help prevent algal blooms and growth
of unwanted aquatic vegetation in Ada
Hayden Heritage Park Waters and our
local streams.
Go P-Free
Unless you have newly seeded
lawn, most soils in Iowa provide all
of the phosphorus needed
Understand the fertilizer label:
NPK
N=nitrogen,
P=phosphorus,
K=potassium
Choose a fertilizer that is P-Free
or contains “0” phosphorus
Ask your commercial applicator
to use only P-free fertilizer and
have them sweep any excess
from impervious surfaces such as
driveways and sidewalks
P-free fertilizers are now carried at
several local retailers in Ames.
Green Lawn Care
Solutions
For additional information contact:
City of Ames Public Works Dept.
Ph: 239-5160 http://www.cityofames.org/WorksWeb/default.htm
Help prevent algal blooms and growth
of unwanted aquatic vegetation in Ada
Hayden Heritage Park Waters and our
local streams.
Go P-Free
Unless you have newly seeded
lawn, most soils in Iowa provide all
of the phosphorus needed
Understand the fertilizer label:
NPK
N=nitrogen,
P=phosphorus,
K=potassium
Choose a fertilizer that is P-Free
or contains “0” phosphorus
Ask your commercial applicator
to use only P-free fertilizer and
have them sweep any excess
from impervious surfaces such as
driveways and sidewalks
P-free fertilizers are now carried at
several local retailers in Ames.
Green Lawn Care
Solutions
For additional information contact:
City of Ames Public Works Dept.
Ph: 239-5160 http://www.cityofames.org/WorksWeb/default.htm
We are partnering with the City of
Ames to help protect our local streams
and lakes. We use only phosphorus-
free (P-free) fertilizers on your lawn to
prevent algal blooms and growth of
unwanted aquatic vegetation in our
local streams and lakes.
P-Free Lawn
We are continuing to provide you
with the services needed for a
healthy lawn. We just use
phosphorus-free fertilizers. The
soils in our area provide us with all
of the fertilizer that we need. So
no need to add any more.
We will also sweep up any
excess fertilizer and pesticide
during application on impervious
surfaces such as driveways and
sidewalks.
We use only P-free fertilizers
Green Lawn Care Solutions
Partnership Opportunity with Ames Smart Watershed Program
Agree to only provide and/or use P-free fertilizer and recognized on city website as provider that is P-free, sign up
Use of flyer with your logo and contact information
Algal Blooms and Oxygen Depletion
Compacted clay soils, low organic matter, low fertility
Turf grass after application of
compost
Aerate soils prior to
compost application
New Service: Soil Quality Improvement
Fertilizer Retailers in Ames
• Sample window cling or small poster
Phosphorus-Free Fertilizer Provider
Partnering with the City of Ames
Keeping Lawns Green and Streams Clean
• Sample poster
Phosphorus-Free Fertilizer Retailer
Use phosphorus-Free (P-Free) fertilizers to keep excess nutrients
that cause pollution out of our local streams and lakes
Carefully follow application instructions on the fertilizer label
and apply only what is needed.
Sweep any excess fertilizer from driveways, streets, and sidewalks.
Partnering with the City of Ames
Keep Lawns Green and Our Streams Clean
BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR: ECOFAIR
• Partnership with many City departments
• 1,500 attend
• Smart Watershed Booth
• Distribute native prairie plants and trees-survey and listen before they receive them
Partnerships
• Ames Water and Pollution Control
• Squaw Creek Watershed Coalition
• Iowa State University
• Trees Forever
• Ames Community School District
• Watershed Management Authority
Assessment and Monitoring: South Skunk River
• Impaired waters list for bacteria
• Agricultural and urban influences
• Focus on activities within smaller watersheds in city limits to address larger watershed issues
Assessment and Monitoring Stream Health
• IDNR Urban Stream Study on South Skunk River above and below Ames
• Water and Pollution Control City: bacterialogical monitoring on all streams in city limits
• Squaw Creek Watershed Coalition and IOWATER: Snapshots 2x/yr
• Iowa State Univer.-Landscape Architecture Dept.-Stream and channel assessments on all streams within city limits
• ISU College of Design
• WIRB funding for 40 practices within watershed
• Surveys, Creek Chats, rain gardens, filter strips
• ISU Natural Resource Ecology and Mgmt.
• EPA Funding
• Surveys, Native plants and trees stream buffer
Iowa State College Creek Partnership
ISU Stream Cleanups
•Skunk River Navy-ISU-stream cleanups
•ISU students, some staff participate
•City of Ames counts and disposes of all wastes
Trees Forever
•Smart Watersheds Program and Electric Utility provide funding for tree vouchers
•Spring training event and distribution
•Listen first-then you get your tree…
Ames Smart Watershed Program
Rain Barrel Rebates
Rain Garden Rebates
Soil Quality Improvement Rebates
Native Landscaping Rebates
“Watershed education and outreach, and installation
of practices to improve local stream and lake quality
in Ames.”
Rainscaping Your Yard
Rain Barrel Rebates: Partnering City Departments
• Rain Barrel Rebate Program
• Water and Pollution Control and Public Works Department-Smart Watersheds
• $50 rebate, Watershed Partners sell locally
Rain Garden Rebates:
• Rebate Program: attend workshop, test soil, design, complete application, approval, install rain garden, receipts for rebate
• Up to a $400 rebate towards plants and/or amended soil mix
• Design and installation guidance doc
• On internet:
• iowaagriculture.org
• iowastormwater.org
Soil Improvement Rebates Program for Existing Yards
Aerate
Apply thin half to ¾ inch layer of compost over existing turf grass
Over seed, use existing types
Lawn Soil Quality Improvement Rebate
Existing lawns
Aerator rental(DIY) or aeration service
Compost and/or compost application service
Seed
Delivery service
Maximum $350
Native Landscaping Rebate Program
Application
Local suppliers-Smart Watershed Partners
Complete projects, receipts, photo, city sends you check for expenses,
Maximum $350
Sideoats
Grama
Buffalo Grass
Native Turf
Number of Rebates:
• 400 Rain Barrel
• 8 Rain Garden
• 4 Native Landscaping
• 10 SQ Improvement, 10 planned for fall
City Projects
Channel Stability Assessment Following Floods
Visit: Cityof Ames/Smartwatersheds
Contact: Jake Moore 515-239-5160