The mission statement of Rathbun Land and Water Alliance is to foster a voluntary approach driven by landowners, water users, and public and private organizations to protect and enhance land, water, and economic resources in the Rathbun region.
The Rathbun Land and Water Alliance Board Briefs are issued prior to each Alliance Board meeting and provide an overview of recent activities carried out by project staff.
At the Rathbun Land and Water Alliance's January 12, 2018 quarterly meeting, John Glenn retained his position as RLWA President, Kim Fransisco retained his position as Vice President, and John Sellers was elected to the position of Secretary/Treasurer to fill the position vacated by Bruce George, who resigned from the RLWA Board. At large directors were reappointed. Bruce George's vacancy will be filled in the near future.
The RLWA Alliance members are the Rathbun Regional Water Association, Inc., Soil and Water Conservation Districts and County Governments in the Rathbun Lake watershed. Alliance partners at the local, state and federal levels include the Farm Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Vice President - Kim Francisco, At-Large Director Lucas County
Sec/Treasurer - John Sellers, Wayne County SWCD
Appanoose County BOS- Neil Smith
Appanoose County SWCD- Chuck Moore
Lucas County SWCD- Kevin Leudtke
Lucas County BOS- Dennis Smith
At-Large Director, Monroe County - Denny Amoss At-Large Director, Wayne County- Ralph Alshouse At-Large Director, Decatur County - Jim Sullivan
At-Large Director, Wayne County - Mark Batchelder
For additional information regarding the Rathbun Land and Water Alliance and the Alliance's efforts to protect water quality in Rathbun Lake, click on any of the links listed below.
Marty Braster is the Support Services Officer with Rathbun Regional
Water Association (RRWA). One of Marty’s responsibilities is to
coordinate the utility’s source water protection activities. Marty has
been with RRWA for close to 20 years. Prior to joining RRWA, Marty worked
with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in field offices and for
the agency’s Resource Conservation and Development Program.
Velvet Buckingham, Environmental Specialist, Protect Rathbun Lake Coordinator
Velvet Buckingham
is currently an Environmental Specialist with IDALS-DSCWQ. One of
Velvet’s main responsibilities is working with landowners to coordinate the
installation of best management practices in the watershed. Velvet has
worked for IDALS since 2008, and been a project coordinator with the Rathbun
Lake Watershed project since 2004. Velvet operators her own cow-calf
herd, and is an active partner in her family’s farming operation which consists
of row crop production and cow-calf herds in the watershed.
Brian DeMoss, Environmental Specialist, Protect Rathbun Lake Coordinator
Brian DeMoss is an Environmental Specialist with the Lucas
County Soil and Water Conservation District. Brian has been a watershed
coordinator for the project since 2011, and cooperates with landowners to
install best management practices in the watershed. Prior to joining the
Rathbun Lake Project, Brian was a lead watershed project coordinator for the
Fox River Watershed project from 2007-2011. Brian also has work
experience on local farming operations with row crop, cow-calf herds, and
cattle feedlots.