State Soil Conservation & Water Quality Committee
The Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality is administered in accordance with policies established by the State Soil Conservation & Water Quality Committee (SSCWQC). Primary authorities of the State Soil Conservation & Water Quality Committee are to:
• Establish policy for the administration of Division of Soil Conservation & Water Quality programs
• Approve rules of the Division prior to adoption
• Recommend annually, to the Secretary of Agriculture, a budget for the Division
• Call upon agencies and education institutions of the state for reports, surveys, or studies necessary to carry out its functions|
• Perform acts and hold public hearings as necessary for the execution of its functions
• Appoint commissioners to fill vacancies in soil and water conservation districts
• Provide a forum for the discussion of soil and water conservation issues and the development of policy and program initiatives
• Review district soil loss limits every five years
The SSCWQC as authorized in Iowa Code Section 161A.4 consists of nine voting members appointed by the Governor. Of these voting members, six are farmers geographically distributed across the state, and the remaining three represent the constituencies of cities, the mining industry, and tree farming. Ex officio, non-voting members of the committee include representatives of the Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa State University Cooperative Extension Service. Non-voting advisory members of the committee include representatives of the U. S. Department of Agriculture and Iowa County Engineers Association.
Become a Water & Soil Conservation District Commissioner
State Soil Conservation & Water Quality Committee Research and Demonstration Grant Program
Committee Members
Dennis Carlson, Tree Farming Rep
cathyscookies@hotmail.com
05/01/16 – 04/30/22 (03/01/16)
867 130th ST, Hampton, IA 50441-7558
641-866-6946
Franklin County
Chair
Paula Ellis, Southeast Region Rep
pjfarm@iowatelecom.net
05/01/13 – 04/30/19 (03/01/13)
1361 180th ST, Donnellson, IA 52625-9120
319-470-3770
Lee County
Past Chair
Dr. Dale Farnham, Cities and Towns Rep
defarnham@msn.com
05/01/17 – 04/30/23 (02/18/11)
4924 Hemingway Dr, Ames, IA 50014-6717
(515) 268-3297 / cell (515) 291-5094
Story County
Steve Hofmann, South Central Region Rep
shnmhofm@grm.net
05/01/17 – 04/30/18 (05/01/17)
12310 324th ST, Lamoni, IA 50140-2298
(641) 784-3767 / cell (641) 781-1227
Decatur County
Sherman Lundy, Mining Industry Rep
sherml@bmcaggregates.com
05/01/15 – 04/30/21 (05/01/09)
1103 Ellen St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 235-6583
Black Hawk County
Collen Miller, Northwest Region Rep
camiller54@gmail.com
05/01/19 – 04/30/25 (05/01/19)
712-299-3384
1925 490th St., Albert City, IA 50510
Buena Vista County
Vice Chair
Kevin Pope, North Central Region Rep
kpopefarms@netconx.net
05/01/15 – 04/30/21 (03/01/15)
16825 300th St, Mason City, IA 50401-9154
(641) 420-8213
Cerro Gordo County
Linda Querry, Southwest Region Rep
lquerry@heartland.net
05/01/15 – 04/30/21 (03/01/15)
1897 Evergreen Ave, Red Oak, IA 51566-4463
(712) 623-9217
Montgomery County
Patti Ruff, Northeast Region Rep
pruff@claytoncountyia.gov
03/01/19-04/30/2023 (03/01/19)
563-880-8680
13331 Jade Ave., McGregor, IA 52157
Clayton County
Ex Officio, Non-Voting Members
Kayla Lyon, Director
kayla.lyon@dnr.iowa.gov
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
(515) 725-8282
Wallace Bldg, 502 E 9th ST, Des Moines, IA 50319-0034
John D Lawrence, Director
jdlaw@iastate.edu
Agriculture & Natural Resource Economics Extension
(515) 294-4333
132 Curtiss Hall, ISU, Ames, IA 50011-1043
Advisors
Larry Roehl, Professional Engineer
locoe@louisacomm.net
IA County Engineers Assn.
319-523-5271
8313 K. Ave, Wapello, Iowa 52653
Kurt Simon, State Conservationist
kurt.simon@ia.usda.gov
Natural Resources Conservation Service
(515) 284-6655
210 Walnut St, RM 693, Des Moines, IA 50309-2119
2019 Meeting Schedule
| Date | Time | Location | Agenda | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 15 | 9:00 am | Wallace Building, Des Moines | Agenda | Minutes |
| February 6 | 10:00 am | Wallace Building, Des Moines | Agenda | Minutes |
| March 6 | 10:00 am | Wallace Building, Des Moines | Agenda | Minutes |
| April 4 | 10:00 am | Wallace Building, Des Moines | Agenda | Minutes |
| May 2 | 10:00 am | Wallace Building, Des Moines | Agenda | |
| June 10 | 3:00 pm | Ameristar Hotel Conference Room | Agenda | Minutes |
| July 11 | 10:00 am | Wallace Building, Des Moines | Agenda | Minutes |
| August 18 | 10:00 am | Gateway Hotel & Conference Room | Agenda | Minutes |
| September 5 | 10:00 am | Conference Call | ||
| October 3 | 10:00 am | Conference Call | Agenda | Minutes |
| November 7 | 10:00 am | Wallace Building, Des Moines | Agenda | |
| December 5 | 10:00 am | Wallace Building, Des Moines | Agenda |
Contact Nicole.Gubbels@IowaAgriculture.gov for additional meeting information.