Some of our work is pretty technical, but not all of it is! Here are links to some of our more accessible articles and short videos that may answer your questions about water, soil, pollution, and conservation.
Water quality
What water quality issues should I be concerned about in Iowa?
Watch this 15 minute presentation: “Which Water Worry Where“.
What’s that green stuff in the water?
Is it safe to go swimming? Where are the cleanest beaches?
Where is the water clean enough for canoeing?
I made an interactive map to summarize E. coli data in lakes and rivers. It’s not comprehensive and it doesn’t include the latest season, but it’s a good starting point for finding which waters are cleaner, on average. Look for a water body that has green dots over several seasons.
Who does water testing of lakes and rivers? Where can I find the information?
We do a lot of water testing with partners in Story County. Below you can find a more comprehensive list.
Aquatic life
What can mayflies and other stream critters tell us about water quality?
Why should we care about freshwater mussels?
Soil
What are the benefits of a healthy soil?
Why is no-till farming a good financial decision?
Why is streambank erosion such a problem?
Why does farmland “leak” nitrogen? Why don’t farmers just apply less fertilizer?
Watersheds
What’s a watershed? Why does it matter?
We worked with the City of Ames to produce this one-minute video. Take the next step in your watershed awareness by reading this article.
How do I find out which watersheds I live in?
We made an interactive map.