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