Polk Soil and Water Conservation District - IA

Polk Soil and Water Conservation District - IA Polk County, IOWA. Dedicated to Soil and Water Conservation.

September's Iowa Native Plant of the Month is the familiar Compass Plant. The Compass Plant is quite impressive and can ...
09/01/2026

September's Iowa Native Plant of the Month is the familiar Compass Plant.

The Compass Plant is quite impressive and can be easy to identify at its mature height. Reaching an astonishingly 10-12ft tall, the bright yellow flowers stand proud in our prairies.

Known for its leaves that orient themselves north and south to avoid the midday sun, the Compass Plant has historically been used to guide travelers on cloudy days. Its sap has been used as chewing gum, and different parts of the plant have been historically used for different medicinal purposes.

Learn more about the Compass Plant at: https://tallgrassprairiecenter.org/native-seed-production-manual/species-production-guides/forbs/compass-plant

Monday Mood Board: Attract Iowa Pollinators to Your Yard!One pollinator host plant is all it takes to invite your favori...
08/31/2026

Monday Mood Board: Attract Iowa Pollinators to Your Yard!

One pollinator host plant is all it takes to invite your favorite butterfly or bee to your property. A host plant is the plant that the pollinator will rely on for food, shelter, and reproduction. The larvae need their specific host plants to survive.

For example, the host plant for Monarchs is the Butterfly Milkweed. For Black Swallowtails, the Golden Alexander.

Some pollinators may have a small selection of host plants, like the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail which can be attracted to wild black cherry, willow, and birch trees.

Not sure where to start your pollinator planning?
1. Check out Native Pollinators and pick some you love (and other insects) at: www.insectsofiowa.org/
2. Search for your pollinator's host plant (for best results look for Iowa based websites like the DNR, ISWEP, Rain Campaign, etc).
3. Learn how to care for and establish your host plant.
4. Get resources from or join the Plant. Grow. Fly. program: https://www.blankparkzoo.com/plantgrowfly

Learn about Iowa's Pollinators at: https://www.iowadnr.gov/programs-services/iowas-wildlife/pollinators

Dog Waste Myth #1 from Project Clean Water by Chelsea McGimpseyMyth: I don’t need to throw my dog’s p**p out because it...
08/30/2026

Dog Waste Myth #1 from Project Clean Water by Chelsea McGimpsey

Myth: I don’t need to throw my dog’s p**p out because it’s as good as fertilizer.

Fact: This is false! Dog p**p cannot be used as fertilizer.
Fertilizer is created with the intention of providing nutrients to plants. Dog p**p is a result of your pup relieving itself. See how they’re different?

Fertilizer contains nutrients for plants including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Dog p**p contains bacteria, viruses and parasites that are harmful for human and environmental health.

When not disposed of properly, the contaminants in dog p**p make their way into our storm drains after it rains and into our waterways. Whether you are in your yard, on a walk, or in the park, make sure you pick up your dog’s p**p and throw it away in a covered trash receptacle. It will help keep our waterways clean and free of harmful pollutants!

There are a lot of myths out there about dog waste. Learn the facts at https://projectcleanwater.org/doody/ 🔗 https://projectcleanwater.org/dog-waste-myth-1/

Added by us at the SWCD: You can compost it but it has to be done correctly at high temperatures. Most residential and DIY composters will not be able to safely compost dog f***s. Some commercial facilities are capable of safely composting at the high temperatures needed.

**p

What are the 4 Soil Components?Minerals. Water. Air. Organic Matter. Only the land steward mastered all four components....
08/29/2026

What are the 4 Soil Components?

Minerals. Water. Air. Organic Matter. Only the land steward mastered all four components. Only they could stop the soil erosion.

IYKYK. All jokes aside: It's not just dirt! The soil is teeming with microorganisms! It is a constantly changing mixture of minerals, water, air, and organic matter creating a complex, living system that holds our whole world together.

IDALS announced at the State Fair this year the expansion of the very popular Cattle and Conservation Working Lands Prog...
08/28/2026

IDALS announced at the State Fair this year the expansion of the very popular Cattle and Conservation Working Lands Program!

Now covering 28 counties including Polk county, this program provides cost share funding to landowners and producers converting cropped or expiring CRP acres into hay or pasture.

$290/ac to convert cropped acres to hay
$1,000/ac to convert cropped acres to pasture

Get in touch with your local SWCD to learn more about this program >>> Call our office at 515-964-1883x3 to talk to a technician and get your application started.

Following up on yesterday's post, this Thursday's Read the Research directs you to an open source journal article publis...
08/27/2026

Following up on yesterday's post, this Thursday's Read the Research directs you to an open source journal article published in Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management Volume 20, Issue 6 on November 1, 2024. You can find the selection in physical form on pages 1876-1891. Quoted selections pulled from Abstract & Key Points.

There's a lot of misinformation and conflicting information about dog p**p and composting. Is it achievable? YES! Is it simple? NO! The TLDR is: If you don't do it right, there could be some serious risks.

For example, there are composting and disposal mechanisms for residential dog p**p that are buried underground, however, if not buried deep enough or secured properly, the set up can become a source of concentrated contamination.

Or, if your compost does not achieve high enough temperatures, it will maintain the bacteria, pathogens, viruses, and parasites it came with, making it dangerous to put in your flower bed and even more dangerous for your vegetable garden.

Most commercial composting facilities do reach high enough temperatures to safely compost dog waste. There are some manufactures that produce dog waste composting systems for homeowners. Research may be needed to ensure correct installation, maintenance, and performance.

💕🐾 Happy National Dog Day!!! 🐾💕Come talk 💩💩💩 with us 😜How much of what you know about dog p**p is a myth? How much do yo...
08/26/2026

💕🐾 Happy National Dog Day!!! 🐾💕

Come talk 💩💩💩 with us 😜

How much of what you know about dog p**p is a myth? How much do you think is in the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the soil/grass you walk barefoot on? Let's shoot the 💩 and learn together!

Don't just take our word for it, check out the sources and seek out additional research articles where you want to dig in.

A study conducted in Detroit and Cleveland sampled and sourced air samples, finding that up to 50% of air microbial communities came from dog p**p. Meanwhile, only about 60% of pet owners report that they actively pick up their pets p**p no matter the situation.

A study done by the EPA found that it only takes 100 dogs the timeframe of 2 days worth of p**ping without owners scooping to produce enough contamination to shut down 20miles of beach. Nutrients in dog p**p cause algae blooms, hypoxia, fish kills, and introduce e. coli and other bacteria, pathogens, and parasites that can make people sick and give infections.

On average, 7.8billion bacteria, pathogens, and parasites are p**ped out of dogs nation wide EVERY DAY. Parasite eggs found in dog f***s can remain vital in the soil for up to a decade.

On average, there are 67million pounds of dog p**p produced nation wide EVERY DAY. That weight is the equivalent of 23,350 Honda Civics.

🐾 Why does dog p**p pollute? 🔗https://thinkbluemaine.org/dog-waste
🐾 I thought dog p**p was fertilizer? 🔗https://projectcleanwater.org/dog-waste-myth-1/
🐾 Can I compost it? 🔗 https://www.poosquad.com/can-you-compost-dog-p**p-safely/
🐾 I thought it was safe to be left on the grass? 🔗 https://www.trugreen.com/lawn-care-101/blog/lawn-care-tips/pet-waste-and-lawn-damage
🐾 https://iwrri.uidaho.edu/avoid-stormwater-poo-llution-and-pick-up-after-your-pet/
🐾 https://p**pbandit.com/is-dog-p**p-bad-for-grass/
🐾 https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/ms4_fact_sheet_reducing_pet_waste
🐾https://www.pacshell.org/pdf/PetWasteProblems.pdf
🐾 https://www.livescience.com/44732-eliminating-pet-p**p-pollution.html

**p

Always a great time teaming up with our neighboring counties!! Thank you to everyone who volunteered with us 🍀
08/26/2026

Always a great time teaming up with our neighboring counties!! Thank you to everyone who volunteered with us 🍀

Polk SWCD's Iowa Native Plant of the Month for August 2026 is actually something to sneeze at! Commonly called Sneezewee...
08/25/2026

Polk SWCD's Iowa Native Plant of the Month for August 2026 is actually something to sneeze at! Commonly called Sneezeweed, take a look at the helenium autumnale.

The common name for sneezeweed refers to its historical use as a s***f used to induce sneezing. This water loving plant is perfect for Rain Gardens and Native Landscaping. Deer and rabbits avoid it, while late season pollinators and songbirds adore it.

The range spans across most of North America. While it may seem like a fairly common native, it is anything but basic. The spherical seedheads are surrounded by a halo of distinctly toothed petals, curling down and out like a tutu.

Do you have a favorite native plant? Let us know, and if we haven't covered it, we will add it to the queue for this series!

Did you know we keep a Contractor's List? For this Monday's Moodboard, check out some photos of conservation projects do...
08/24/2026

Did you know we keep a Contractor's List? For this Monday's Moodboard, check out some photos of conservation projects done by local contractors on our Contractor's List.

This is a volunteer Contractor List, meaning it houses information local contractors volunteer to provide to us so that we can share it with you!

✨ The Polk Soil & Water Conservation District does not make any recommendations for contractors or services. This list is put together and provided for your convenience. ✨

Check out our Contractor's List at: https://polkswcdiowa.gov/resources/contractors-page/

To add your business to the Contractor's List or to update your information, please email [email protected].

The intent of this post is to (1) showcase real pictures from real projects that you may recognize in your own neighborhoods, (2) Let residents and contractors both know that we have a volunteer list, (3) collab on more mood boards! We took one photo from each contractor on our list who had "rain gardens" or "native landscaping" checked, and who also had photos on their website or socials.

If you would like to share photos of your own native landscaping, rain gardens, rain barrels, or other conservation practices to be featured on our mood boards, email [email protected].

Address

1513 N Ankeny Boulevard, Ste 3
Ankeny, IA
50023

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+15159641883

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