Iowa
Wetlands
and Riparian Areas
Conservation Plan
The Iowa Wetlands and Riparian Areas Conservation Plan (IWRACP) is summarized here. The full version of the 100-page Plan can be downloaded from this site or can be obtained by contacting the Division of Soil Conservation--Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Wallace Bldg., Des Moines, IA, 50319, phone (515)281-3845, or email our Webmaster.
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What are wetlands and riparian areas? Click on them to find out. Links like these are present throughout this summary to provide quick access to an appreviated glossary designed for this web site. For a more complete list of definitions, see Appendix F of the complete Iowa Wetlands and Riparian Areas Conservation Plan.
The Iowa Wetlands and Riparian Areas Conservation Plan represents a two-year process that involved more than 100 Iowans. Through a series of facilitated workgroup sessions and other means of communication, they contributed ideas, information, and advice, and reviewed and commented on the Plan as it was developed.
Out of this process, a vision document has been crafted that creates a general framework to help guide administration of wetlands and riparian areas programs in the state, linking the efforts of a wide variety of state, federal, and private partners. This Plan builds on existing soil and water resource protection programs, as well as previous planning efforts that have influenced the direction of state policy related to water resources and outdoor recreation.
Because of the importance of wetlands and riparian areas for long-term environmental quality and for agriculture, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's Division of Soil Conservation (DSC) accepted responsibility to administer this project, working closely with partner governmental agencies, with educational and research organizations, and with a Public Advisory Group that represented a wide diversity of Iowans. Technical assistance was provided by the Iowa State University (ISU) Landscape Architecture Department and others. Funding was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
The Plan, which is summarized here, signals the State of Iowa's commitment to conserve the functions and values of wetlands and riparian areas through activities that will protect, restore, enhance, and create them. The voluntary emphasis of the Plan underscores the commitment to proceed cooperatively to achieve those aims.
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Iowa Wetlands and Riparian Areas
Conservation Plan is to provide a
common framework for activities and programs of agencies,
organizations, and individuals throughout Iowa who have
diverse interests in wetlands and riparian areas. It
encourages the use of a partnership approach to maximize the
benefits of wetlands and riparian areas, and to minimize
land use conflicts.
As an educational tool, this document provides basic information about wetlands and riparian areas in Iowa, their functions and values, and existing programs and policies that relate to them. As a planning tool, this document identifies issues, needs, and goals, along with strategies and priorities. It seeks common ground, rather than total consensus, and provides a vision for progress in conserving and restoring wetlands and riparian areas.
1. Wetlands and riparian areas are integral parts of watersheds that function within landscapes.
2. Wetlands and riparian areas are important to society.
3. Wetlands and riparian areas are often interconnected, and thus, riparian areas are included in this Plan.
4. No-net-loss of wetlands, as defined by acreage and function, is a short-term goal, and in the long-term, the goal is to achieve a net gain of wetland acreage and function.
5. Communication, information and education are key to every aspect of the Plan.
6. Voluntary efforts are emphasized.
7. Partnerships, cooperation, and coordination are vitally important in order to make the best use of existing programs.
8. Effective planning and implementation of wetland and riparian area conservation depends on a rational planning process.
Definitions of Wetlands and Riparian Areas
The Iowa Wetlands and Riparian Areas Conservation Plan presents definitions of wetlands and riparian areas that are widely used and/or have been adopted for use by state and federal agencies. Since the Plan is non-regulatory, it does not rely on, nor impose, a specific, legal or programmatic definition.
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In general, three factors or indicators characterize a wetland: 1) water or hydrology adequate to maintain constant or recurrent shallow inundation or saturation at or near the land's surface; 2) hydric substrate and soils; and 3) water-loving biota, especially hydric vegetation, but also algae and animals. Common names of wetlands reflect their diversity, and in Iowa, include swamps, marshes, bogs, potholes, bottomlands, sloughs, fens, seeps, wet meadows, and oxbows. Riparian areas are the zones along water bodies that serve as interfaces between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Typical examples include floodplains and streambanks. They are distinctly different from surrounding lands because of unique soil and vegetation characteristics that are strongly influenced by the presence of water. |
The planning groups that participated in the Iowa Wetlands and Riparian Areas Conservation Plan selected five major issues on which to focus, and developed goals and action strategies under each issue. These issues, goals, and strategies, which serve as the Plan's action agenda, represent substantial common ground, though each point that follows has not been endorsed by every agency, group, and/or individual involved in the process. The major issues and goals are summarized below, but the action strategies are not included in this short version of the Plan.
ISSUE 1. Education and outreach
Information and training should be widely available to support understanding, appreciation, and application of knowledge of wetland and riparian area functions, values, regulations, and programs. There is also a need to get reliable, up-to-date information about wetlands and riparian areas to targeted groups of adult audiences. Educational programs should strive for balance, presenting information and encouraging dialogue about the potential costs, as well as the potential benefits, of environmental protection.
Goal 1. Identify gaps in education and outreach activities for wetlands and riparian areas. Consider target audiences, such as landowners, youth, community colleges and other colleges and universities, local governments and utilities, and businesses that have a stake in these issues. Cooperation should be sought with groups such as soil and water conservation districts, county boards of supervisors, agricultural producer groups, land developers, conservation organizations, and others.
Goal 2. Address needs for education and outreach, focusing on groups identified as high priority. Increase use of appropriate educational materials, demonstration projects, and other programs. Whenever possible, integrate information into existing outreach opportunities to reduce duplication and travel time.
Goal 3. Engage the news media to increase the extent and accuracy of coverage on wetland and riparian area issues.
ISSUE 2. Functions and values of wetlands and riparian areas
A great deal has been learned about the multiple functions and benefits of wetlands and riparian areas, and methodologies for assessing their functions are developing at a national and regional level. However, the degree to which any particular wetland or riparian area performs specific functions is usually uncertain. More information about these functions and values is needed, especially information that is based on good data, and tailored to local, state, and/or regional conditions. This can help people make informed decisions about the values of wetlands, and the costs and benefits associated with their protection, restoration, management, and mitigation.
Goal 1. Expand research and information-sharing to foster Iowa-appropriate knowledge of wetland and riparian functions, and to better understand how Iowans value these functions.
Goal 2. Assess the biological, physical, cultural, and economic benefits and impacts of protecting, restoring, creating, and managing Iowa's wetlands and riparian areas. Taking into account existing programs and plans, develop a process to identify areas that should be priorities for conservation efforts.
ISSUE 3. Protection, restoration, management, and creation of wetlands and riparian areas
There is a need to recognize what is working with past and present programs, and to use that information to become more effective in protecting, restoring, and managing the state's most important wetland and riparian area resources for a range of functions and values. In the past, most wetland and riparian programs focused on preserving and/or restoring wildlife habitat, a function that many Iowans value and for which funding has been more available. Less attention and funding has been directed to other concerns, such as uniqueness, overall quality measured by factors such as biodiversity and degree of disturbance, and/or potential to provide watershed functions such as water quality and/or flood control. Nearly all Iowans appreciate the importance of water quality, and consider it a priority among all of the societal issues that concern them. Thus, wetland and riparian programs may be more widely supported if a stronger emphasis is placed on achieving water quality benefits.
Goal 1. Emphasize protection of existing high quality wetlands and riparian areas, considering attributes such as values for water quality, wildlife habitat, and flood control, as well as overall uniqueness, degree of disturbance, and other relevant factors.
Goal 2. Restore wetlands and riparian areas.
Goal 3. Consider potential to improve management of existing, restored, and created wetlands and riparian areas to achieve the best possible quality for desired functions and values.
Goal 4. Expand base of knowledge and provide technical assistance on created wetlands.
ISSUE 4. Coordination and focus of governmental programs
The current federal regulatory framework for wetlands and riparian areas is often confusing and difficult to administer in ways that are perceived as reasonable or effective. Accounting for wetland losses (especially cumulative losses) in mitigation requirements have often been inadequate. There have been perceptions that governmental entities are sometimes held to lesser standards than private individuals and businesses with respect to wetlands regulations. In addition, some argue that it has sometimes been difficult to adapt federal regulations to the specific needs of Iowa's land and people. Non-regulatory incentive programs are more popular, but have also often been confusing to landowners. These problems and perceptions of problems contribute to tensions over wetland delineation, regulation, conservation, and private property rights.
Goal 1. Encourage agency partners at the federal and state level to work together to improve consistency, and incorporate up-to-date, research-based information and technical practice into a framework of rules that apply to wetlands and riparian areas and their implementation. Also, encourage the incorporation of regional flexibility into the application of regulations so that they will be more sensitive to hydrogeomorphic and biological differences, and the priorities documented in state and regional plans.
Goal 2. Increase incentives for voluntary stewardship of wetlands and riparian areas, and if needed, encourage modification of existing incentives to make them more flexible and better integrated with other state and federal programs.
ISSUE 5. Monitoring and evaluation of wetland and riparian area status and activities
We often lack current, comprehensive knowledge and data about our wetlands and riparian areas, and changes in their conservation status. To achieve the maximum benefits of public and private investment of resources, we need improved record-keeping that can help the state measure the effectiveness of wetland and riparian area programs, strategies, and management, including any results to come from development of a comprehensive plan. There is also a need to foster continuing, informed dialogue on these issues and related programs.
Goal 1. Develop better technical capability to show impacts on net gains or losses of wetlands and riparian areas in measurable ways, considering factors such as acreage, type, function, and quality.
Goal 2. Report on estimated impacts of programs, considering factors that represent improvements, maintenance, or degradation of wetland and riparian area quality, functions, and quantity.
Goal 3. Evaluate impact of the Iowa Wetlands and Riparian Areas Conservation Plan on such areas as public perceptions of wetland and riparian area functions and values, education and outreach, and coordination and focus of governmental programs.
During the planning process, several practical issues emerged as priority themes. The first three are short-term themes that relate directly to the Plan's issues, goals, and strategies: the need for improved coordination; the need for additional information, education, and outreach; and the need to establish methods to measure progress.
In addition to these priorities, two other themes were identified that address long-term concerns reaching far beyond the scope of this Plan. The first is the need to use a watershed approach to help define problems and structure solutions. Many of those involved in developing the Plan recommend taking a watershed approach as a way to help people connect what happens on the land, in the transition zones between land and water (wetlands and riparian areas), and in the groundwater and surface water. For those who favor voluntary measures to conserve natural resources, the watershed approach, which emphasizes flexibility based on local conditions, holds considerable promise.
The other broad theme relates to funding. To begin implementation of the Iowa Wetlands and Riparian Areas Conservation Plan, little or no new funding will be required. However, over time, new money will be needed to achieve many of the goals of this Plan. Support should come from sources such as businesses, water users and utilities, transportation and flood-management related sources, as well as recreationists who have been the primary source of support for many of Iowa's conservation programs.
The Division of Soil Conservation (DSC) of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will coordinate some of the activities identified; however, the leadership to accomplish many of the strategies will be provided by other agencies and partners. Responsibilities for the Plan and its implementation are not to be exclusively held by government. For example, research and extension institutions have roles to play in wetland and riparian issues, along with private organizations and individuals.
There are a number of specific steps being taken over the next two years to implement the Plan, including:
- A coordinator at the DSC will continue work with partner agencies and organizations to help achieve the goals of the Plan.
- The DSC and its partner agencies will continue to encourage and support coordination efforts among governmental and non-governmental organizations with the goals of reducing confusion and paperwork, and making more efficient use of staff and financial resources.
- ISU Extension Wildlife Programs will take leadership to develop a webpage clearinghouse of information that focuses on wetlands and riparian area information specific to Iowa and the region.
- The DSC will initiate a regular "brown bag" seminar series to be held in central Iowa. The series will include short presentations, along with time for discussion and circulation of calendar and news items.
- An "ad hoc" committee will be convened by the IDNR and the Iowa Conservation Education Council (ICEC) to conduct an evaluation of needs that can help guide education and outreach efforts. This would help identify existing resources, which groups want and/or need information, and what types of information and dissemination methods might be most effective.
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