County coordinator recognized for source water protection work in the Central Turkey River Watershed
DECORAH, IA (IAWA) – Matt Frana has been named a recipient of the prestigious Iowa Watershed Coordinator of the Year Award for his work as the Central Turkey River Watershed Project Coordinator with the Winneshiek Soil and Water Conservation District. He was recognized at the 20th annual Iowa Water Conference at Historic Arnolds Park on Lake Okoboji last week.
Fellow watershed coordinator William Kopp nominated Frana for his conservation results and his willingness to help everyone around him.
“He is an invaluable asset to the district, the county, and the city of Decorah and Spillville,” said Kopp, Yellow River Watershed Coordinator with the Allamakee SWCD, who also credited Frana with extensive help on the Yellow River project.
Frana has led the Central Turkey River project since 2013, with work concentrated in the Wonder Creek Watershed. Much of it centers on protecting Spillville’s drinking water. Well #2 sits near Wonder Creek and draws from an unconfined, fractured bedrock aquifer, so what happens on the surface reaches the water supply quickly. Nitrate at the well typically runs near 3 ppm but has spiked past 6 ppm.
Frana went after the acres closest to the well first.
“We can focus our efforts around rural communities and put in conservation practices that benefit them,” said Frana.
Recent progress in the Wonder Creek Watershed includes cropland nearest Well #2 enrolled in CRP and cover crops, one multipurpose oxbow completed in 2025 with another planned, three septic system upgrades, and a Water Quality Initiative wetland in final stages that is expected to treat roughly 590 acres of drainage area with about 12 acres of permanent pool.
Frana also keeps the work visible locally. He has hosted a booth at the Winneshiek County Fair and a table at the Trout Run kickoff, writes for county SWCD newsletters, mails cover crop postcards, maintains the district website and Facebook page, and helped install a rain garden at the historical society in Decorah through IDALS urban conservation.
“To do something that can help improve people’s conditions is a really fun job, and I enjoy it,” he said.
Please join us in congratulating Matt!
About the Iowa Watershed Awards
The Iowa Watershed Awards celebrate individuals and organizations making significant contributions to water quality and conservation in the state. The Watershed Coordinator of the Year Award recognizes measurable results, collaboration, and innovation that improve Iowa’s watersheds.