Photo: Sue Danielson
(Des Moines, IA) -- Des Moines Water Works is part of a unique water quality effort. The utility and other entities are buying a cover crop seeder. It'll go to Heartland Co-op, and will be available for lease to farmers in the Des Moines and Racoon River watersheds. Cover crops have been shown to reduce soil erosion from bare fields, improving water quality. The ultimate goal is to seed up to 40-thousand acres of cover crops within the next four years in the two watersheds.
Des Moines Water Works CEO and General Manager Ted Corrigan says the improvements won't happen overnight, but could ultimately lead to improved surface water quality.
The partnership involves the Iowa Department of Agriculture, Polk County, and the City of Des Moines. It's based on a similar program in Kansas.