Miller-Meeks sees results of Mariposa Lake restoration project
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks toured the newly restored Mariposa Lake on May 27 and also visited with Jasper County Conservation staff who recently learned their pursuits to receive congressional district dollars to complete the Red Rock Prairie Trail “is moving forward” in the process.
Jasper County Conservation Director Keri Van Zante said a certain number of projects were chosen to move forward, one of which was the completed connection of the trail between Prairie City and Mitchellville. Her department asked for $900,000 in grant funding.
About $1.5 million is needed to complete the necessary funding and allow bid letting to happen during summer 2021 and for construction to begin in fall 2021.
Van Zante wanted Miller-Meeks to also get an idea of what Jasper County Conservation can do with federal grant dollars, which is partly why she and her staff showcased the success story of the Mariposa Lake restoration. Both state and federal money helped fund the project.
Prior to its restoration, the lake suffered from water quality problems exacerbated by a leaking restroom. Van Zante told Miller-Meeks the lake had real issues with sediment from the watershed above and was lacking in nutrients. Conservation built a large wetland in the north end main drainage to protect the watershed.
“We ultimately did this lake restoration project. We worked with the DNR. They have lake restoration funding we were able to acquire. This is about a $3 million project — just the lake restoration,” Van Zante said, noting the county contributed $120,000, with the remaining mostly consisting of grants.
About 200,000 cubic yards of sediment was removed, resulting in better water quality. Nearby schools regularly take “water quality field trips” to the lake to learn about water testing and conservation practices. Van Zante remembered the first time she saw how clear the lake water became after the restoration.
It is important for Jasper County Conservation staff to show elected leaders the effort they put forth. Van Zante said having the support of government officials is always good to have, but it is also crucial to highlight the grand scale work resulting from people operating in the county.
“There are so many good things going on,” she said. “We have a tiny, little staff, so being able to show that we’re able to leverage money and get so many things done. (It’s a good) having elected officials actually see in the field what we are doing with either the money they’ve provided to us or potentially provide to us.”
In April, Van Zante and JEDCO Executive Director Jeff Davidson approached the Jasper County Board of Supervisors to sign letters of support for conservation to pursue grants from the Member Designated Projects and Community Project Funding, which had to be submitted to Miller-Meeks.
Red Rock Prairie Trail has successfully received almost $2.5 million in grants and donations from various sources for the past five years. The section of the trail from Monroe to the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge is already fully funded. To connect the trail to Polk County could mean bigger implications.
In the drafted letter of support included in the board of supervisors agenda, the trail would provide “many valuable connections,” including at the federally owned Neal Smith Refuge, the nearby Chichaqua Valley Trail, larger cities like Altoona and Pella and smaller communities like Mitchellville, Prairie City and Monroe.
Red Rock Prairie Trail will enhance interactions among communities along the trail, connect two towns of the same school district and provide a “unique mode of transportation to several local festivals and celebrations.” Officials have long explained the economic and recreational benefits of the trail.
“To have two trails that are connected to Des Moines from one county — Chichaqua and Red Rock Prairie Trail — to come together and connect is huge,” Van Zante said in April.