Soil and Water District highlights grants, asks county to continue support

Jerry Thornsberry and Vern Fish, representing the Blackhawk Soil & Water Conservation District, presented the district’s FY27 priorities and budget to the board on Jan. 27 and thanked supervisors for a $10,000 allocation that supports local conservation programming.

The district noted its small base of state funding — a stipend of about $3,000 used for administrative costs — and summarized watershed projects such as Miller Creek and Dry Run Creek. “We are so appreciative of the $10,000 that the board has allocated to us,” Jerry Thornsberry said. Vern Fish described educational work and partnerships with Hawkeye Community College and other counties and explained that the district leverages small local funds to compete for larger grants.

A board member added that the district’s work helped secure larger funding: “One for the Middle Cedar River watershed. That's a million dollar grant from the EPA,” the supervisor said, describing grant awards currently in agreement review and noting ongoing applications with federal partners. Presenters also discussed barriers to farmer participation — short-term leases and absentee landowners — and said conservation adoption depends on ensuring projects “cash flow” for producers.

Supervisors asked about opportunities to expand urban watershed work and the district said it is reapplying for grants and considering broader partnerships across counties.