Clear Creek Watershed Social Assessment

Transcription

1 Clear Creek Watershed Social Assessment Andrew Stephenson, Eva Aizpurua, & Mary E. Losch Center for Social and Behavioral Research

2 Acknowledgements IOWA COUNTY SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

3 U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development $97 Million

4 66,132 acres Iowa and Johnson Counties Population 13,951 Empties into the Iowa River in Coralville Flooding has impacted farms and communities and water quality is an ongoing concern Background

5 Social Assessment Goal Use surveys to gather information to inform watershed management planning process Populations of Interest Agricultural owners/operators Urban/Suburban Residents Topics Watershed awareness levels Attitudes about the watershed Personal sources of information, and Interest in watershed improvement.

6 Urban Residents Methods Self-administered mail-back survey: 1) Advance letter, 2) questionnaire with $2 bill, 3) reminder postcard, 4) 2 nd questionnaire Agricultural Owners/Operators Random sample of 1,500 addresses Mailing List from County SWCD All mailings from UNI CSBR Advance letter from SWCD n = 399, 27% RR n = 272, 39% RR 8-page and 12-page surveys 118, Iowa Co; 141, Johnson Co; 13 both

7 Urban Residents Demographics Agricultural Owners/Operators 39% Male, 61% Female 72% Male, 28% Female 85% Town/city larger than 5,000 57% On Farm, 25% Other Rural Education Education 8% - High school diploma/ged 33% - High school diploma/ged 24% - Some college/technical diploma 28% - Some college/technical diploma 66% - Bachelor s Degree or higher 37% - Bachelor s Degree or higher

8 Urban Results Views on water quality Deteriorating condition of roads and bridges Poor quality of water in lakes, rivers, and creeks Poor quality drinking water Damage from flooding Crime Lack of jobs Poor quality of public schools Lack of places for outdoor recreation Air pollution 10% 9% 7% 5% 12% 6% 22% 19% 26% Moderate problem 12% 12% 9% Severe problem

9 Urban Results Views on drinking water quality Perceptions of drinking water quality in Iowa Concern over safety of tap water 47% 24% 36% 35% 29% 29% 23% 21% 24% 18% 5% 8% Poor Fair Good Excellent Not at all concerned Slightly concerned Moderately concerned Members of the community Extremely concerned Yourself

10 Urban Results Views on quality of local waterways Perceptions of water quality in lakes, rivers, and creeks 38% 28% 31% Canoeing, kayaking, and other boating Activity-specific perceptions of water quality Scenic beauty Wildlife habitat 3% 5% 7% Good 1% 0% 0% Excellent Swimming/wading Eating fish caught in the water 19% 21% Lakes Rivers Creeks Poor

11 Urban Results Knowledge of water quality issues 34% 25% 26% 15% 16% Not knowledgeable at all Groundwater Aquifer Surface water Watershed Could not define at all

12 Urban Results Attitudes toward water quality improvements The quality of life in my community depends on good water quality in local streams, rivers, and lakes 52% 20% I think more should be done to protect and improve the creeks in this area (Clear and Rhine Creeks or Kent Park Lake) 45% 16% I would be willing to pay more to improve water quality (e.g., through local taxes or fees) 36% 8% (-) Water running off from my property (e.g., roof, driveway, parking area) does not have an impact on water quality in local streams 16% Agree Strongly Agree

13 Urban Results Attitudes toward water quality improvements The way that I care for my lawn can influence water quality in local streams I would be willing to change the way I care for my lawn to improve water quality 52% 55% 28% 17% Having an attractive lawn that is green and weed-free is important to me Cost is the most important factor in my lawn care decisions 44% 28% 8% Agree Strongly Agree 10%

14 Urban Results Water quality practices Reduced your use of water for yard care (e.g., stopped watering lawn) Reduced your use of pesticides, fertilizers, or other chemicals 33% 43% Dispose of dog waste 81% yes Changed the way your yard is landscaped Installed a new septic system 1% 17% Know where to dispose of hazardous waste 67% yes

15 Urban Results Lawn care practices Keep grass clippings/leaves out of roads and Keep ditches grass clippings/leaves Familiarity and interest with practice 14% 55% 87% 32% Use a mulching lawn mower Familiarity and interest with practice 31% 50% 75% 19% Aerate and/or add compost to lawn Familiarity and interest with practice 6% 59% 55% 35% Allow vegetation to grow unmowed along streams Allow vegetation to grow Familiarity and interest with practice 25% 41% 63% 12% Yes Don't know what this is Familiar with this, but not interested in doing it Familiar with this, and interested in doing it

16 Urban Results Lawn care practices Use organic fertilizer Familiarity and interest with practice 10% 30% 54% 36% Have a rain barrel Familiarity and interest with practice 8% 14% 52% 39% Have permeable pavers Familiarity and interest with practice 12% 42% 44% 14% Have a rain garden Familiarity and interest with practice 5% 45% 37% 18% Yes Don't know what this is Familiar with this, but not interested in doing it Familiar with this, and interested in doing it

17 Ag Owner/Operator Results

18 Ag Owner/Operator Results Views on water quality 48% Perceptions of water quality in lakes, rivers, and creeks 39% Good 45% 5% 2% Excellent 3% Lakes Rivers Creeks Negatives Ag runoff Urban runoff Lack of buffer strips Urban sprawl & development Streambank destabilization Trash Positives No-till farming methods Use of cover crops Installed buffer strips Avoiding fall nutrient application Using split-rate application

19 Ag Owner/Operator Results Conservation and land stewardship attitudes I am concerned about erosion and runoff from the fields I farm or own I am concerned about erosion and runoff from my neighbor s fields There are actions I can take to improve water quality in creeks near the fields I farm or own 39% 34% 43% 11% 38% 39% Farmers take undue blame for environmental problems in the Clear Creek watershed 28% 18% (-) Management practices that improve water quality are too costly for my operation 10% 5% Agree Strongly agree

20 Ag Owner/Operator Results Conservation and land stewardship attitudes I consider myself a steward of the land 52% 40% I apply soil and water conservation practices regardless of commodity payments I know what steps to take to improve soil health on land I own or farm I know what steps to take to reduce nutrient loss from land I own or farm 52% 57% 59% 33% 27% 24% Agree Strongly agree

21 Ag Owner/Operator Results Land use management practices Interest from non-users Perceived effectiveness 1 Cover crops Cover crops 27% 61% 2 No-tilling one crop in rotation Long-term no-till 26% 57% Long-term no-till Contouring Reduced tillage Contouring No-tilling one crop in the rotation Reduced tillage (1 less pass across the field) 35% 35% 35% 49% 49% 41% Moderately effective Very effective

22 Ag Owner/Operator Results Nitrogen and phosphorous management practices Interest from non-users Perceived effectiveness Use nitrogen stabilizer Use variable rate application Split rate/time application Regularly conduct soil tests Regularly conduct soil tests for ph, phosphorous, nitrogen and potassium Use variable rate application technology Split rate/time nitrogen application Avoid fall application of manure or nitrogen fertilizer Use nitrogen stabilizer/inhibitor 34% 40% 37% 31% Avoid fall application (e.g., N-serve) 47% 42% 39% 57% 45% 35% Moderately effective Very effective

23 Ag Owner/Operator Results Soil and water conservation practices Interest from non-users Perceived effectiveness 1 Stream bank stabilization Farm ponds 31% 49% 2 Saturated buffers Stream bank stabilization 32% 46% 3 Wetland construction Saturated Buffers 35% 39% 4 5 Bioreactors Farm ponds Wetland construction Bioreactors 34% 30% 29% 36% Moderately effective Very effective

24 Ag Owner/Operator Results Decision-making 78% 70% 59% 49% 29% 22% 13% 3% 5% 6% 6% 8% 9% 1% 5% 37% Crop rotation Land Use Management Practices Nitrogen and Phosphorous Management Practices Soil and Water Conservation Practices Owner Tenant Farmer manager Decisions made jointly Decision-making on farmland that owners rent to farmers.

25 Ag Owner/Operator Results Information Sending information about water quality efforts Mail/ Letter Work off-the-farm (implications for Field Days) 54% 35% 11% 74% Yes, I work full-time off-the-farm Yes, I work parttime off-the-farm No

26 Conclusions Drinking and recreational water quality is a top concern for the Clear Creek Watershed residents and can impact perceptions of quality of life in the area Urban residents and agricultural owner/operators acknowledged they can do more to improve water quality Expense is the predominant barrier to implementation of more conservation practices on agricultural fields Perceived practice effectiveness should be considered when deciding which practices to emphasize and where to set expectations for adoption Decisions about all aspects of farmland are made primarily by the operator of the land

27 Thank you!