The carbon footprint . What is it ? This now-common term popular with the media and in conversation with climate change is a spin-off of the early 1990 ’ s term ecological footprint . Ecologist William Rees and regional planner Mathis Wackerrnagel of the University of British Columbia developed a formula , aiming to calculate the land impact to sustain a population .
The term “ carbon footprint ” refines the target to carbon release usually during fossil fuel use in the activities of electric generation , transportation , manufacturing , heating , and general consumer services consumption .
The Corps of Engineers at Rathbun Lake has been making strides to reduce the carbon footprint made by the necessary services required to maintain water control , natural resource protection , and of course , recreational activities .
Solar powered lighting at boat ramps are easily recognized by visitors . LED fixtures have replaced incandescent and fluorescent lamps throughout most every administrative and campground structure . New energy stingy HVAC
Invasive species removal on public lands
10
SCOTT FRIEDEN Natural Resource Specialist U . S . Army Corps of Engineers-Rathbun Lake
On Dec . 1 , 2022 Rathbun Lake Project Staff successfully awarded a $ 185,000 contract for removal of autumn olive and honeysuckle from 25 prairie sites totaling 329 acres . By Jan . 17 , the contractor had successfully executed his contract by using his skid steer and Fecon Forestry Mulcher to mechanically remove the 329 acres of woody species from the prairie . Ranger staff planned out prescribed fire plans that will apply fire on a 3 – 5-year basis to set back woody growth in prairies .
Additionally , Rathbun Lake maintenance staff will use their newly acquired Fecon Forestry Mulcher to mechanically remove woody invasive species . As conservationists of the land , we limit use of herbicides and manage invasive species with prescribed fire and the Fecon Mulcher . Avoiding use of herbicides will eliminate problems such as eutrophication and water quality issues . Rathbun
Rathbun Lake 2024
Reducing our carbon footprint
A member of the Natural Resources team conducts a prescribed fire .
systems have replaced dated units both at the office , shop , and campground areas . Highly efficient on-demand water heaters have mostly replaced tank storage units . The fleet of gasoline powered park attendant UTVs are being replaced by quiet , nimble electric models . The list goes on .
With all that said , the Rathbun Corps Natural Resource team was already ahead of the trend ! In the early 1970s reforestation projects planted thousands of trees that pull tons of carbon from the atmosphere and sequester it deep in the soil and in the woody vegetation .
In the early 1980s , the Rathbun staff began an aggressive native prairie restoration program which continues today . In the spring , plumbs of smoke signal the controlled burning of prairie plots . Not only does this practice aid in promoting a diverse and sometimes threatened ecological community , but it also highly invigorates the specialized plant community . The result are robust plants that consume tons and tons of CO2 from the atmosphere and place it sometimes as much as 15 feet into the earth with complex root systems .
Regional Water depends on the U . S . Army Corps of Engineers to keep the waters of Rathbun Lake clean as they supply drinking water to local communities in the region .
As a result of our efforts , you will notice healthier populations of nesting birds such as wild turkey , ringneck pheasant , and bobwhite quail . We also offer a diverse population of white-tailed deer , duck , geese , rabbit and squirrel on Rathbun Public Land ’ s . With Iowa Public Land totaling only 2 % in the state of Iowa , we take great pride in keeping Rathbun Lake ’ s habitat , wildlife , and watershed healthy .
As you ’ re visiting public lands this year , please help us keep our timbers , prairies and recreation areas free of trash and debris . U . S . Army Corps of Engineers park rangers and maintenance staff work hard to ensure Rathbun Lake stays beautiful and safe . We ask that you be safe and report any issues to a park ranger . Come visit one of our prairies near our office this summer to see the results !