Friday - November 21, 2008 - 03:03 pm CST
Subcommittee Reports
Economic Development
Parks, Recreational & Lifestyles
Health & Human Services
Education
Natural Resources
Land Use
Housing
Transportation
Public Safety
County Facilities
SECTION E.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Lee County is rich in Natural Resources.
Natural
Resources identified by this committee include but are not limited to:
- Land
- Adequate water supply
- Wildlife and wildlife
habitat
- Air quality
- Trees and woodlands
- Geology
Sustainable
use of Natural Resources can be achieved by maintaining open space, preserving
and conserving agriculture land, and providing for conservation and protection
of those Natural Resources available for use.
LAND
Lee
County's land must be preserved, conserved and promoted to enhance quality of
life issues. Erosion has been identified as a major threat to Lee County's
land. Erosion causes loss of topsoil and sub-soil which impairs waterways,
water and air qualities.
Lee County should promote and support continued cost-share programs,
technical assistance and education to decrease erosion loss through programs
such as:
- Conservation Reserve
Program
- Emergency Conservation
Program
- Wetlands Reserve
Program
- Watershed Protection
Program
- Environmental Quality
Incentive Program
- County Road Ditch
Protection Program
- Iowa Financial
Incentive Program [terrace, water and sediment control basins]
Along
with these specific governmental and county conservation programs, landowners
and operators need to be educated and encouraged on basic conservation
practices including but not limited to:
- Cropping practices
- Minimum tillage and
crop residues
- No-till
- Terraces and water
diversions
- Contouring and strip
cropping
Lee
County's office of the Natural Resource Conservation Service is a valuable
resource for education about conservation practices and support programs to
landowners and operators.
Federal,
state and county conservation programs need to be supported and expanded to
remain available to land owners and operators.
Iowa
2010 The New Face of Iowa report identifies that Iowa has enormous opportunity
in the next decade as the nation's leader in the production of soy-diesel,
ethanol and bio-mass power. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has
identified ethanol as Iowa's most highly consumed renewable energy resource.
Accounting for more than $1.7 million in economic activity, approximately $730
million added value of corn crops, 15,800 jobs directly or indirectly related
to the ethanol industry, and $11 million in tax revenue collected from the
production and sale of ethanol.
Lee County has the resources to pursue ethanol and soy-diesel processing
facilities. Both manpower and grain availability are abundant to this area. Lee
County is strategically positioned in the state to accept grains grown in
border states that expands the resources available. Lee County can accomplish
this goal by:
- Developing networks and
incentives for energy efficient technologies.
- Encourage the private
sector, farmers and cooperatives to invest in ethanol and soy-diesel
processing facilities through tax relief, abatements and financial
support.
- Work with utility
companies in opening markets for "green energy".
- Encourage private and
public schools and colleges to increase educational programming and increase
research and development of fuel-efficient technologies.
Farming
is the most important economic activity in the unincorporated areas of Lee
County. Industrial, commercial, or
residential development should be discouraged on highly productive soils and
areas that would cause conflict for efficient and effective farming practice.
Development should be promoted on marginal land and those lands on which
development will not have a negative environmental effect. Development as it occurs should be promoted
in close proximity to developed roads, energy sources and where infrastructure
is available to reduce costs for county residents as well as developers. Ultimately the decision is up to each
individual landowner.
Environmental
sensitive land (forest, steep slopes, flood plain, stream banks, and wildlife
habitat) should be protected. Urban growth should conform to present county
policies to protect Lee County’s productive agriculture land, recreational
areas, and wildlife habitat.
Utility
construction should conform to county use policies and not be allowed to
interfere with existing agriculture activities or impact developed rural
residential areas. New or additional utilities shall use existing utility
corridors, highway corridors, or existing active railroad right-of-ways of the
state.
ADEQUATE WATER
SUPPLY
The
county has an abundance of water. There is abundant groundwater in most areas
of the county, although in some areas the water contains minerals that make it
undesirable for consumption. There are three rivers that form the borders of
the county: the Mississippi, the Des Moines, and the Skunk. In addition there
is abundant surface water in the form of streams, creeks, sloughs and man-made
lakes and ponds.
The
Mississippi River is navigable and provides barge transport as well as
passenger travel. It is a ready source of water for industry, transportation,
and provides recreation for area residents and tourists. The other two rivers
are navigable only by small craft, but are important for recreation and
wildlife.
Smaller
streams, lakes and ponds serve important recreation and wildlife needs, and
also may help control soil erosion and pollution.
Water resources of the county should be available for industrial or
agricultural development, but it is important to protect them from pollution,
make sure they continue to provide wildlife habitat, limit soil erosion, and
provide access to the public for recreational use including hunting, fishing,
and boating.
Clean,
safe water is vital to Lee County's infrastructure, important to health,
economy and the living environment. Lakes and rivers have proven to be the
number one vacation choice for Americans. Lee County is fortunate to have three
rivers border its boundaries.
Canalization and drainage have damaged these rivers, as well as
livestock waste, urban run-off, pesticides, sewage facilities and pollution.
Lee County must protect our rivers and streams by promoting watershed programs.
Conservation
of our rivers, lakes and streams can be accomplished by:
- Restoring wetlands.
- Capping agriculture
drainage wells.
- Controlling and
monitoring industrial discharges.
- Erosion control
practices.
- Monitoring canalization
practices.
- Provide technical
assistance and financial incentives to landowners and operators to monitor
water quality and soil testing.
Lee
County should actively promote watershed management projects on the watershed
areas within the county. Proper watershed management improves water quality,
conserves soil, and provides improved and increased wildlife habitat and
recreational areas as well as providing for sustainable agriculture.
Development that covers large areas with buildings or paved hard surface areas,
such as parking lots, should be required to control rapid run-off to promote
soil and water conservation. Lee County
shall actively promote programs that encourage buffer strips, filter strips,
parks, open space, wildlife habitat, etc.
WILDLIFE and
WILDLIFE HABITAT
Lee
County is fortunate to have abundant wildlife habitat. There are both public
and private woodland as well as the rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. The
agricultural land within the county provides excellent habitat for many
species. Abundant habitat provides recreational hunting and fishing for the
residents of the county, and for tourists who come to fish and hunt. The
habitat also provides excellent scenery provides for viewing wildlife such as
migratory birds, eagles, deer, etc. Lee County lies on a major waterfowl
migratory flyway, which attracts both hunters and sightseers.
Development
of land within the county for industrial, commercial, and residential use
should be done wisely so the wildlife habitat is maintained. Efforts should be made to provide both
protected habitat for wildlife and more public access to areas for recreational
use.
Conservation
and preservation of Lee County's habitat is dependent on reproduction of the
county's wildlife. Lee County can create, improve and maintain wildlife habitat
by promotional and educational programs.
1. Landowner [public & private]
planting appropriate vegetation.
2.
Maintaining
existing plant cover.
3.
Planting
or restoring woodland or prairie communities.
4.
Wetland
restoration with associated open, marshy or shallow water areas.
Promotion
and education of land owners [public & private] on federal, state, and
local technical and financial programs available now and in the future, such
as:
- Stewardship Incentive
Program
- Forest Legacy Program
- Forest Stewardship
Program
- Forestry Incentives
Program
- Wetlands Reserve Program
- Wildlife Habitat
Incentive Program
- Lee County should
continue to insure future financial support for the Lee County
Conservation Board, which plays an active role in Lee County by managing
and restoring natural areas and offering educational and technical
guidance for the public.
- Support and promote
local and Iowa Department of Transportation roadside programs.
AIR QUALITY
Air
quality is important to the health and well being of Lee County's citizens.
Lee
County should:
- Encourage air quality
monitoring through reporting of apparent polluters.
- Encourage alternative
energy sources rather than the use of fossil fuels.
- Encourage the
production and use within the county of non-polluting alternative energy
sources by industries, private individuals, and governments.
To
promote wind energy usage, Lee County should encourage:
- Wind energy turbines to
produce electrical power.
- Encourage landowners to
lease parcels of land for turbines.
- Support "net
billing" for installation and usage to Utility Companies.
- Provide incentives for
energy efficient technologies.
TREES AND
WOODLANDS
One
fourth of Lee County remains in timber and woodlands. Most woodland has
survived because trees will grow on land unsuited for other crops. Woodland and
trees provide necessary wildlife habitat, shade, windbreaks, aesthetics,
recreation, and wood products. Trees can boost residential property values as
much as 15% and can reduce heating and cooling costs by nearly 30%. Wood
industries support jobs and economics. Lee County can promote conservation of
woodland areas through educating landowners of the value of trees.
Landowners
should be made aware of U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource
cost-share programs, such as:
- Forest Legacy Program
- Forest Stewardship
Program
- Forest Incentives
Program
- Stewardship Incentive
Program
- Wildlife Habitat
Incentive Program.
Landowners
should be encouraged to establish woodland to protect livestock, buildings,
crops, soil and habitat for wildlife.
GEOLOGY
Lee
County possesses limestone, sand, gravel, clay and gypsum, and is diverse in
soil solubility. Many soils have
limitations for agriculture, buildings, and septic disposal that require
recognition of these limitations.
While
we use and extract needed resources from the ground, we bury others we consider
waste. Eventually, we must live with or
reuse millions of tons of garbage. With
recycling, waste production can cut landfill use by one-third. Recycling and less use of landfills can help
to eliminate soil and ground water contamination and save energy by
recycling. Lee County needs to support
and enhance current practices of recycling such as:
- Curbside recycling
programs in rural areas and urban areas.
- Mandatory deposit on
beverage containers.
Quarry
areas should be identified for use for future extraction purposes.
SUMMARY
Use
of Lee County’s Natural Resources should be allowed that works effectively with
conservation. To accomplish this, we
must assess the health of our land and realize that the diagnosis reflects our
attitudes and actions. We must act
responsibly so that Natural Resources of Lee County can be preserved,
protected, conserved, and enhanced for future generations.
Lee County Iowa |
933 Avenue H |
Fort Madison, Iowa 52627 |
319-376-2341 |
Information
Lee County has attempted to insure accurate information is posted to this site. However, Lee County does not warrant nor guarantee the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of information on this site or information referenced or linked by this site.
Friday - November 21, 2008 - 03:03 pm CST
Lee County is rich in Natural Resources.
Natural
Resources identified by this committee include but are not limited to:
- Land
- Adequate water supply
- Wildlife and wildlife
habitat
- Air quality
- Trees and woodlands
- Geology
Sustainable
use of Natural Resources can be achieved by maintaining open space, preserving
and conserving agriculture land, and providing for conservation and protection
of those Natural Resources available for use.
LAND
Lee
County's land must be preserved, conserved and promoted to enhance quality of
life issues. Erosion has been identified as a major threat to Lee County's
land. Erosion causes loss of topsoil and sub-soil which impairs waterways,
water and air qualities.
Lee County should promote and support continued cost-share programs,
technical assistance and education to decrease erosion loss through programs
such as:
- Conservation Reserve
Program
- Emergency Conservation
Program
- Wetlands Reserve
Program
- Watershed Protection
Program
- Environmental Quality
Incentive Program
- County Road Ditch
Protection Program
- Iowa Financial
Incentive Program [terrace, water and sediment control basins]
Along
with these specific governmental and county conservation programs, landowners
and operators need to be educated and encouraged on basic conservation
practices including but not limited to:
- Cropping practices
- Minimum tillage and
crop residues
- No-till
- Terraces and water
diversions
- Contouring and strip
cropping
Lee
County's office of the Natural Resource Conservation Service is a valuable
resource for education about conservation practices and support programs to
landowners and operators.
Federal,
state and county conservation programs need to be supported and expanded to
remain available to land owners and operators.
Iowa
2010 The New Face of Iowa report identifies that Iowa has enormous opportunity
in the next decade as the nation's leader in the production of soy-diesel,
ethanol and bio-mass power. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has
identified ethanol as Iowa's most highly consumed renewable energy resource.
Accounting for more than $1.7 million in economic activity, approximately $730
million added value of corn crops, 15,800 jobs directly or indirectly related
to the ethanol industry, and $11 million in tax revenue collected from the
production and sale of ethanol.
Lee County has the resources to pursue ethanol and soy-diesel processing
facilities. Both manpower and grain availability are abundant to this area. Lee
County is strategically positioned in the state to accept grains grown in
border states that expands the resources available. Lee County can accomplish
this goal by:
- Developing networks and
incentives for energy efficient technologies.
- Encourage the private
sector, farmers and cooperatives to invest in ethanol and soy-diesel
processing facilities through tax relief, abatements and financial
support.
- Work with utility
companies in opening markets for "green energy".
- Encourage private and
public schools and colleges to increase educational programming and increase
research and development of fuel-efficient technologies.
Farming
is the most important economic activity in the unincorporated areas of Lee
County. Industrial, commercial, or
residential development should be discouraged on highly productive soils and
areas that would cause conflict for efficient and effective farming practice.
Development should be promoted on marginal land and those lands on which
development will not have a negative environmental effect. Development as it occurs should be promoted
in close proximity to developed roads, energy sources and where infrastructure
is available to reduce costs for county residents as well as developers. Ultimately the decision is up to each
individual landowner.
Environmental
sensitive land (forest, steep slopes, flood plain, stream banks, and wildlife
habitat) should be protected. Urban growth should conform to present county
policies to protect Lee County’s productive agriculture land, recreational
areas, and wildlife habitat.
Utility
construction should conform to county use policies and not be allowed to
interfere with existing agriculture activities or impact developed rural
residential areas. New or additional utilities shall use existing utility
corridors, highway corridors, or existing active railroad right-of-ways of the
state.
ADEQUATE WATER
SUPPLY
The
county has an abundance of water. There is abundant groundwater in most areas
of the county, although in some areas the water contains minerals that make it
undesirable for consumption. There are three rivers that form the borders of
the county: the Mississippi, the Des Moines, and the Skunk. In addition there
is abundant surface water in the form of streams, creeks, sloughs and man-made
lakes and ponds.
The
Mississippi River is navigable and provides barge transport as well as
passenger travel. It is a ready source of water for industry, transportation,
and provides recreation for area residents and tourists. The other two rivers
are navigable only by small craft, but are important for recreation and
wildlife.
Smaller
streams, lakes and ponds serve important recreation and wildlife needs, and
also may help control soil erosion and pollution.
Water resources of the county should be available for industrial or
agricultural development, but it is important to protect them from pollution,
make sure they continue to provide wildlife habitat, limit soil erosion, and
provide access to the public for recreational use including hunting, fishing,
and boating.
Clean,
safe water is vital to Lee County's infrastructure, important to health,
economy and the living environment. Lakes and rivers have proven to be the
number one vacation choice for Americans. Lee County is fortunate to have three
rivers border its boundaries.
Canalization and drainage have damaged these rivers, as well as
livestock waste, urban run-off, pesticides, sewage facilities and pollution.
Lee County must protect our rivers and streams by promoting watershed programs.
Conservation
of our rivers, lakes and streams can be accomplished by:
- Restoring wetlands.
- Capping agriculture
drainage wells.
- Controlling and
monitoring industrial discharges.
- Erosion control
practices.
- Monitoring canalization
practices.
- Provide technical
assistance and financial incentives to landowners and operators to monitor
water quality and soil testing.
Lee
County should actively promote watershed management projects on the watershed
areas within the county. Proper watershed management improves water quality,
conserves soil, and provides improved and increased wildlife habitat and
recreational areas as well as providing for sustainable agriculture.
Development that covers large areas with buildings or paved hard surface areas,
such as parking lots, should be required to control rapid run-off to promote
soil and water conservation. Lee County
shall actively promote programs that encourage buffer strips, filter strips,
parks, open space, wildlife habitat, etc.
WILDLIFE and
WILDLIFE HABITAT
Lee
County is fortunate to have abundant wildlife habitat. There are both public
and private woodland as well as the rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. The
agricultural land within the county provides excellent habitat for many
species. Abundant habitat provides recreational hunting and fishing for the
residents of the county, and for tourists who come to fish and hunt. The
habitat also provides excellent scenery provides for viewing wildlife such as
migratory birds, eagles, deer, etc. Lee County lies on a major waterfowl
migratory flyway, which attracts both hunters and sightseers.
Development
of land within the county for industrial, commercial, and residential use
should be done wisely so the wildlife habitat is maintained. Efforts should be made to provide both
protected habitat for wildlife and more public access to areas for recreational
use.
Conservation
and preservation of Lee County's habitat is dependent on reproduction of the
county's wildlife. Lee County can create, improve and maintain wildlife habitat
by promotional and educational programs.
1. Landowner [public & private]
planting appropriate vegetation.
2.
Maintaining
existing plant cover.
3.
Planting
or restoring woodland or prairie communities.
4.
Wetland
restoration with associated open, marshy or shallow water areas.
Promotion
and education of land owners [public & private] on federal, state, and
local technical and financial programs available now and in the future, such
as:
- Stewardship Incentive
Program
- Forest Legacy Program
- Forest Stewardship
Program
- Forestry Incentives
Program
- Wetlands Reserve Program
- Wildlife Habitat
Incentive Program
- Lee County should
continue to insure future financial support for the Lee County
Conservation Board, which plays an active role in Lee County by managing
and restoring natural areas and offering educational and technical
guidance for the public.
- Support and promote
local and Iowa Department of Transportation roadside programs.
AIR QUALITY
Air
quality is important to the health and well being of Lee County's citizens.
Lee
County should:
- Encourage air quality
monitoring through reporting of apparent polluters.
- Encourage alternative
energy sources rather than the use of fossil fuels.
- Encourage the
production and use within the county of non-polluting alternative energy
sources by industries, private individuals, and governments.
To
promote wind energy usage, Lee County should encourage:
- Wind energy turbines to
produce electrical power.
- Encourage landowners to
lease parcels of land for turbines.
- Support "net
billing" for installation and usage to Utility Companies.
- Provide incentives for
energy efficient technologies.
TREES AND
WOODLANDS
One
fourth of Lee County remains in timber and woodlands. Most woodland has
survived because trees will grow on land unsuited for other crops. Woodland and
trees provide necessary wildlife habitat, shade, windbreaks, aesthetics,
recreation, and wood products. Trees can boost residential property values as
much as 15% and can reduce heating and cooling costs by nearly 30%. Wood
industries support jobs and economics. Lee County can promote conservation of
woodland areas through educating landowners of the value of trees.
Landowners
should be made aware of U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource
cost-share programs, such as:
- Forest Legacy Program
- Forest Stewardship
Program
- Forest Incentives
Program
- Stewardship Incentive
Program
- Wildlife Habitat
Incentive Program.
Landowners
should be encouraged to establish woodland to protect livestock, buildings,
crops, soil and habitat for wildlife.
GEOLOGY
Lee
County possesses limestone, sand, gravel, clay and gypsum, and is diverse in
soil solubility. Many soils have
limitations for agriculture, buildings, and septic disposal that require
recognition of these limitations.
While
we use and extract needed resources from the ground, we bury others we consider
waste. Eventually, we must live with or
reuse millions of tons of garbage. With
recycling, waste production can cut landfill use by one-third. Recycling and less use of landfills can help
to eliminate soil and ground water contamination and save energy by
recycling. Lee County needs to support
and enhance current practices of recycling such as:
- Curbside recycling
programs in rural areas and urban areas.
- Mandatory deposit on
beverage containers.
Quarry
areas should be identified for use for future extraction purposes.
SUMMARY
Use
of Lee County’s Natural Resources should be allowed that works effectively with
conservation. To accomplish this, we
must assess the health of our land and realize that the diagnosis reflects our
attitudes and actions. We must act
responsibly so that Natural Resources of Lee County can be preserved,
protected, conserved, and enhanced for future generations.