Tonsfeldt, Wallis R., 1927-2004.

Wallis R. Tonsfeldt was born on November 10, 1927 in LeMars, Iowa. Tonsfeldt received his B.S. (1954) from Iowa State College (University) in farm operations. Wallis R. Tonsfeldt was a soil conservationist (1956-1957) in Cherokee County, Iowa. He then moved to the Sioux City, Iowa area office to work on the Little Sioux Watershed Project where he served as area soil conservationist (1957-1965) and then as area conservationist (1965-1984). He retired in 1984.

The Little Sioux River Basin Watershed and Flood Prevention Project was one of eleven watersheds authorized by Public Law 78-534 (Flood Control Act of 1946). In compliance with the Flood Control Act of 1936, a survey of the watershed had been conducted prior to 1946. The Little Sioux Watershed encompasses 4,500 square miles in fifteen counties of northwestern Iowa and includes Nobles and Jackson counties of Minnesota. Most of the area consists of farmland with very fertile, but fragile, loess soil. The area also contains many hills. Sheet erosion, gulley erosion, and sedimentation and flooding had been major problems of the watershed. The loess soils of the area are very low in clay, which contributes to the gulley erosion problem. In addition, during World War I the steep areas of the watershed had been plowed to increase production, furthering erosion and gully development. The erosion was damaging crops, waterways, roadways and buildings. Early flood prevention plans included covering very steep areas with grass and other close growing covers and assisting farmers in implementing improved farming practices that would help reduce erosion and gulley formation.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service administers the program, primarily giving financial and technical assistance. Eight Iowa conservation districts are a part of the watershed: O'Brien, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Woodbury, Ida, Sac and Monona. Four other conservation districts have a limited interest in the project. The soil conservation districts serve as a link between the farmers and the federal government's Soil Conservation Service.

As part of the Little Sioux Watershed Project, the Little Sioux Works Committee (established in 1946), provided guidance for the execution of the program, established priorities for assistance, and facilitated work and cooperation among the state soil conservation districts involved. The farmer-directed committee cooperated with the Soil Conservation Service in making polices and setting priorities for subwatershed work.

As of 2009, the federal government continues to assist farmers in land treatment measures to reduce runoff and erosion in the area.