See baby goats jumping and wearing sweaters; learn about water resources,
invasive species. Along with eating their way across the Greenbelt, the
goats will help Clive promote a new water resources grant program.



Check out this story on desmoinesregister.com:
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2022/04/05/central-iowa-city-clive-use-baby
-goats-help-invasive-species-water-resources-grant-program/7206838001/


Wearing a light blue sweater knitted for her by the city librarian, one of
Clive's newest baby goats bounced around her shelter at the Campbell
Recreation Center.

The kid is one of seven so far born in what officials are calling the
"maternity ward," where mother goats can birth and nurse their young away
from the rest of the herd living behind city hall.

When she grows up, she and her fellow kids will have big jobs, said Clive
Assistant City Manager Pete De Kock Thursday morning. Along with eating
their fill of invasive species across 19 acres of the Clive Greenbelt this
spring and summer, the goats will help the city promote a new water
resources grant program.

With a $100,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Agriculture, officials
are looking for 100 households to participate in a cost-share program to
improve the soil <https://www.cityofclive.com/news_detail_T14_R193.php> on
their properties.
[image: One of Clive's baby goats wears a sweater knitted for her by the
city librarian, on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at the Campbell Recreation
Area in Clive. This spring, the seven (so far) baby goats will join the
rest of the herd eating invasive species across 19 acres of the Clive
Greenbelt, while also helping the city promote a new water resources grant
program.]

Through a process that includes aerating the lawn to allow air into the
soil and then placing compost over the grass, officials say the soil
quality restoration program aims to help lawns catch water rather than
filter it down to larger bodies where it could deposit harmful chemicals or
stress the storm water system.

"If we catch that water before it gets into the storm sewer system then
we're able to decrease the pressure that is on our pipes and all of the
overland flows and ultimately help better manage the water that's making
its way down to Walnut Creek," De Kock said.

The process should also create healthier turf, De Kock said. Residents
interested in the program could see their costs split by half through the
grant.

Right now, city staff are just gathering interest from residents. Later
this spring, an application will open on the city's website for residents.

The goats have an important role to play in garnering interest for the
program. At city events, goats often make an appearance and draw
in animal-loving residents who might be receptive to other city projects.
[image: Richard Brown, director of leisure services for the city of Clive,
pulls a sweater on to one of the city's baby goats, knitted for her by the
city librarian, on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at the Campbell Recreation
Area in Clive. This Spring the seven (so far) baby goats will join the rest
of the herd eating invasive species across 19 acres of the Clive Greenbelt,
while also helping the city promote a new water resources grant program.]

"It's a great way to start the conversation with folks and then see if they
have interest in other things," De Kock said.

This year's group is the largest group of kids city staff has welcomed
since officials began the breeding program three years ago. Any day now,
staff said, there will likely be one or two more kids from another pregnant
goat.

At 25 goats, Clive Leisure Services Director Richard Brown said after the
next breeding season some goats will be sold to farmers or businesses to
keep the herd at a manageable size.
[image: Seven baby goats and their mothers munch on hay in their
enclosures, on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at the Campbell Recreation Area in
Clive. This spring, the baby goats will join the rest of the herd eating
invasive species across 19 acres of the Clive Greenbelt, while also helping
the city promote a new water resources grant program.]

*Sarah LeBlanc covers the western suburbs for the Register. Reach her at
515-284-8161 or [log in to unmask]
<[log in to unmask]> Follower her on Twitter at @sarahkayleblanc
<https://twitter.com/sarahkayleblanc>*
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-- 

*Debbie Neustadt *


*Des Moines, Iowa*

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