Fredricks Saturated Buffer
Buena Vista County, IA | Water
Overview
ISG’s internationally recognized water resources experts work collaboratively with landowners in Drainage Districts, and state and federal agencies, to address ecological challenges facing water sources while continuing to grow Iowa’s most integral industry–agriculture.
Opportunity
Fredericks farm, located in northwestern Iowa’s Buena Vista County, was a priority watershed identified by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) as acreage in need of Edge of Field (EOF) practices to decrease nutrient loss and improve water quality as part of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Continuing its trusted partnership with IDALS and local farmers, ISG’s technical team assisted with the planning, design, and construction administration of a saturated buffer on the Fredericks farm enhancing agricultural water quality in this region.
Solution
An industry leader in EOF technical expertise and innovative design, ISG developed a comprehensive saturated buffer design. Taking advantage of an improvement project that had recently been completed along the Buena Vista County Drainage District, the buffer treats approximately 20-acres of agricultural drainage. To increase water filtration and nitrate removal, the design included input from researchers and IDALS to optimize the available buffer area. Project partners, Iowa State University, and the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) monitor water flow as the control structure intercepts tile drainage from the field and diverts it into the buffer. Together, ISG and IDALS installed conservation practices on Fredericks farm smoothly and efficiently to reduce nutrient loss–improving Iowa’s water systems.