Can Things That Don’t Matter Make a Difference?

by Guest Contributor | Jul 1, 2025

Jim Colbert serves on Prairie Rivers’ board of directors. This essay originally appeared on his Substack on May 22.

From September 1998 through September 2017, I developed and led an effort facetiously called the “Skunk River Navy”. I had lots of help. The goal was to give first-year Iowa State University biology students hands-on interactions with local biodiversity (primarily benthic macroinvertebrates), while allowing them to work together to make a positive contribution to their local community. Over those 20 years we did 51 “trash patrols” involving about 2,400 first year ISU biology, as well as other, students. Friends, colleagues, and local community members also participated.

All together we removed over 80 tons of trash from about 30 miles of our local streams – the South Skunk River and Ioway Creek. We used canoes as trash barges (our “naval vessels”) and hauled out beer cans, plastic bags, tires, barbed wire, bicycles, washing machines, recliners, 50-gallon barrels, tennis shoes, pieces of agricultural equipment, used condoms, water heaters, port-a-potties, livestock watering troughs, fishing bait containers, fence posts, picnic tables, lawn mowers, corrugated metal, parts of cars, microwave ovens, grocery carts, and on one occasion, an open and empty home safe. It was hard work in wet and muddy conditions, but it did lead to an “esprit de corps”.

It was hard work in wet and muddy conditions, but it did lead to an “esprit de corps”. We would ask the students to share their post Skunk River Navy thoughts in written reflections after they had showered and eaten a warm meal. Here’s a few examples:

“I think the most important thing I learned that day was the fact that so much trash gets dumped into rivers each year. It’s amazing how much people don’t care about the environment. Maybe one day they will.”

“I envisioned that there would be a lot of garbage, but I never imagined that people could treat the Earth with such disrespect… The Skunk River Navy was an educational as well as character building experience for all of us.”

“I have always been amazed by the biodiversity of life on our planet, but being exposed to a thriving example of that vitality in only a fraction of an imperfect stream is almost beyond comprehension.”

“Upon returning from the Skunk River Navy, I have a completely new view of the river environment, and I also realize how ignorant and inconsiderate some people are about the environment.”

“After being tired, sore, cold, and thirsty I was able to look at the huge heap of trash I had helped pick up and know that I had done something good for the entire community.”

“One of the best parts of the day was everybody’s teamwork. We worked well getting the canoes over the dam, and also when we had to carry the trash up the hill and clean out the canoes.”

“The best part was Mrs. Colbert’s chocolate chip cookies!”

Our local efforts reduced the total amount of trash in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean by… well, I’m not sure that they make numbers that small. Trash is both an aesthetic (it’s ugly) and a significant (microplastics, toxins, various harms to wild creatures) problem. Given the global scope of the problem our efforts effectively “did not matter”. And that’s not even the most significant way in which the efforts of the Skunk River Navy did not matter. The major problems impacting our local streams aren’t the accumulation of trash. The major problems are:

High levels of nutrients, primarily from agricultural fertilizers and waste from confined animal feeding operations
High sediment loads mostly from erosion in row crop fields and high water induced collapse of stream banks
Large fluctuations in stream flow resulting from development and historic drainage of wetlands for agriculture
Loss of biodiversity (e.g., freshwater mussel species) due to the preceding issues.

The well-intentioned efforts the Skunk River Navy did nothing to address these major issues.

Cyanobacteria bloom in the South Skunk River

erosion on Ioway Creek between Grand Ave and S Duff Ave

A combination of advancing age, competing demands, and increased liability concerns, amongst other factors, led to the end of the Skunk River Navy after a final trash patrol in September 2017. It is totally unsurprising that, to date, the effort has not been resurrected at Iowa State University. The efforts of the Skunk River Navy didn’t matter but did they “make a difference”? That’s a hard question to answer. One can hope, I certainly do, that none of the Skunk River Navy participants ever thoughtlessly threw trash in a river after their experience. I don’t know whether that’s the case. Maybe some of those participants went on to have careers that focused on protecting natural resources. I hope so, even though such careers are undervalued and typically don’t pay well. The natural world needs all the help it can get in the face of the human juggernaut of technology and the desire for ever more profit.

Final Skunk River Navy trash patrol in 2017. Photo credit: Dan Haug

One can also hope that one’s efforts, as insignificant as they may be, might inspire others. On Saturday 3 May 2025 I believe I got a glimpse of that inspiration. Prairie Rivers of Iowa, in cooperation with the City of Ames, Story County Conservation, the Skunk River Paddlers, and the Outdoor Alliance of Story County, sponsored their 5th annual stream clean-up (which they’re now calling PACRAT: Paddle And Cleanup Rivers Around Town), this year on a section of Ioway Creek. This effort began in 2021, only four years after the demise of the Skunk River Navy. I take no direct credit for the efforts of these groups, but I hope that the previous efforts of the Skunk River Navy helped inspire them to continue to care for Ioway Creek.

Editors note: It sure did! I participated in SRN as a biology student in 2001 and 2002 and moved back to Ames in time to join the last trash patrol in 2017. -Dan Haug, PACRAT planning committee

Due to an opening in my rather aggressive turkey hunting schedule, I was able to participate. I was happy to be do to so, especially given that none of the responsibility was mine. We passed through a section of Ioway Creek that the Skunk River Navy had worked on several times in past years. I had the pleasure of sharing a canoe with a young woman who was just about to complete 4th grade. I enjoyed the opportunity to teach her how to hold, and use, a canoe paddle. It was her first-ever experience in a canoe. She was amazed at how “beautiful” this rather abused urban stream was. We saw Canada geese, blue-wing teal, and tracks of deer, raccoons, and beavers. After some initial hesitation, she enthusiastically picked up trash, of which there was no shortage, partially buried in the sand bars we disembarked on. Overall, 33 people participated and just over 1.5 tons of trash were removed from about 2.5 miles of Ioway Creek.

Group photo from PACRAT 2025 creek cleanup

The natural world is under tremendous pressure from human activities. Pollution, climate change, impending mass extinction. It will take a great deal of “inspiration” (and perspiration!) to protect and maintain it, while hopefully also maintaining the status of humans as a “non-extinct” species. The specific efforts of the Skunk River Navy and Prairie Rivers of Iowa may not “matter” in the big picture, but maybe they can help inspire all of us to work together to make a difference.

A Good Day for Volunteerism, A Bad Day For Water Quality

by Dan Haug | Jun 30, 2025

Testing multiple sites within a short time period can provide a “snapshot” of water quality across a watershed, county, or state.

Polk County Conservation had great turnout for their spring water quality snapshot on May 20, testing 117 sites! I scheduled our event for the same day and volunteers help me test another 45 sites in Story, Boone and Hamilton counties. We also did some follow-up testing on May 21 for quality control and collected water samples for the lab. I have assembled the results from both events into a colorful interactive map that shows where water quality was good, fair, or poor in central Iowa during those two days.

There were a lot of “poor” readings on May 20. Not only was nitrate in the Skunk River and Raccoon River higher than we’ve seen in a decade, the water in most creeks was chocolate brown with sediment and had E. coli counts in the thousands.

An Ames High student tests water clarity in Ioway Creek

Ames High students test water quality in Ioway Creek

One reason we do snapshot events is to get a better sense for where that pollution is (and isn’t) coming from. You’ll notice that streams with urban watersheds like Yeader Creek in Des Moines and College Creek in Ames have much lower nitrate than streams in rural areas. However, urban streams had high levels of sediment and fecal bacteria.

The other reason we do snapshot events is to provide a hands-on educational experience for people who might be curious about water quality but who can’t commit to monitoring a stream twice a month. I joined six classes of earth science students (taught by Kean Roberts and Collin Reichert) to test sites within walking distance of Ames High School. While there were a few complaints about the weather and walking in heavy waders, most students enjoyed the break from the classroom and spotting wildlife. The data students collected is part of a larger citizen science effort.

Ames High students test chloride in a tributary of Ioway Creek

Ames High student tests water clarity in a tributary of Ioway Creek.

Volunteers in the Ioway Creek watershed have been doing twice-a-year snapshot events since 2006. Prairie Rivers of Iowa helped keep the tradition going after the IOWATER database was shut down in 2017, and we are in the process of uploading the data from those events to a permanent home on the Izaak Walton League’s Clean Water Hub!

However, I’ve wondered whether we should keep doing these events the same way now that Story County Conservation staff and volunteers are testing many of these streams on a regular basis. This is the third map I’ve made from a coordinated snapshot event (see also May 2024 and September 2023) and I’ve noticed some issues with our standard suite of tests that limit our ability to narrow down where pollution is coming from or where conservation practices are making a difference:

Nitrate test strips are not very precise at the high range (color matches at 10, 20, or 50 mg/L). This can be improved with a smartphone app. We also had some big discrepancies that we traced back to a bottle of just-expired strips that I had assumed would still be okay; when in doubt, throw them out!
Dissolved oxygen in streams has a daily cycle (rising in the afternoon when plants and algae are photosynthesizing), so sampling at the same time of day is more important than sampling on the same day.
During scattered showers, water clarity may not tell us where the soil is better protected from erosion, just where the rain was more or less intense.
It’s difficult to match colors to get a phosphate reading when the water is cloudy with sediment. I’ve tried filters but they clog with silt before you can get a 25 mL water sample.

Our next volunteer monitoring event might look a little different. I’d welcome ideas for how we can collect more useful data or get more new people involved!

A smartphone app does color matching to get a more precise nitrate reading

Colors are harder to match when water gets muddy

Thirsty Wings: How to Add a Pollinator Oasis to Your Garden

by Katelyn Rinicker | Jun 26, 2025

Summer is here, and with the rising temperatures, we all need to stay hydrated—including pollinators. These hardworking creatures are busy in your backyard, and being a good Midwestern neighbor means giving them a little help. One simple way? Offer a safe water source.

Adding a water feature to your balcony, patio, garden, or yard is an easy and effective way to support wildlife and help them thrive.

Why Pollinators Need Water

Bees, butterflies, and other invertebrates rely on water to stay hydrated—especially during hot, dry days. Social bees use water to regulate the temperature and humidity inside their hives. Butterflies and moths are often seen sipping from puddles, not just for hydration but also to absorb minerals and nutrients—a behavior known as puddling.

You may even notice small bees or butterflies landing on you to sip your sweat. They’re not just being curious—they’re searching for moisture, salt, and other nutrients. Bees also use water to dilute stored honey and aid in digestion.

What About Natural Water Sources?

Sure, there are natural water sources like ponds and rivers, but for an insect, those look like vast oceans. A bee or butterfly venturing too close to a pond might get eaten by a fish—or drown if there’s no safe landing spot.

Historically, puddles and dewdrops served as safer alternatives. But today, many puddles contain runoff from roads and lawns, often contaminated with pesticides or other toxins. In cities, puddles evaporate quickly on hot concrete, and even moist soil is hard to come by.

What Can You Do?

Creating a safe water source for pollinators is simple and rewarding. Start by choosing a good location—if you’re on a balcony or deck, place your water dish near potted plants. In a yard, look for spots with high insect activity, such as near a log pile, compost area, or bare soil. Use a shallow container like a dish, plate, or birdbath, and fill it with water. To make it safe, add pebbles, marbles, or small sticks so pollinators have a place to land and perch while they drink, preventing them from drowning. Be sure to keep the water fresh by changing it every couple of days, which also helps prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

Add a Pond

If you have some space, consider installing a pond for a larger-scale impact. A small backyard pond can support a surprising amount of biodiversity, such as birds, frogs, and rabbits. You don’t need a big yard or fancy equipment to build one. With a bit of planning, some basic materials, and a little time, you can create a thriving mini-ecosystem right outside your door.

pond-backyard-garden-nature-landscapes-e4887a-1024

Start by choosing a location that gets partial sunlight—too much sun encourages algae, while too little limits plant growth. Avoid areas where rain runoff collects, as it may carry pollutants like pesticides.

Next, dig a shallow hole with gently sloping sides and varying depths (12–24 inches is ideal). Include a shallow shelf or area near the edge where insects and birds can safely access water. Line the pond with a flexible pond liner or use a pre-formed plastic basin. Secure the edges with rocks, bricks, or soil to keep it in place.

Fill the pond with water, ideally rainwater. If using tap water, let it sit for a day or two to allow chlorine to dissipate. Add rocks, logs, or branches around and in the pond to provide perches and hiding spots. Make sure there’s a gentle ramp or slope so animals can get in and out easily.

Include native aquatic plants, like duckweed, pickerelweed, or blue flag iris. They help oxygenate the water, provide shade, absorb excess nutrients (which prevents algae), and create habitat. Avoid adding fish, as they can eat tadpoles, insect larvae, and eggs.

You can also add a small fountain or dripper. Moving water helps keep mosquitoes away and oxygenates the pond. Just make sure it’s gentle—pollinators and frogs prefer calm areas.

Once set up, let nature take over. Within days, you can spot dragonflies, bees, or even frogs visiting your new mini-ecosystem. Keep the pond free of chemicals and avoid over-cleaning—natural debris helps balance the habitat.

A small pond can have a big impact. With just a little effort, you can turn a corner of your yard into a thriving wildlife refuge.

Now get out in your yard and help save the pollinators!

Subtle Spring

by Guest Contributor | May 14, 2025

Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) by Dan Haug

This essay by Jim Colbert (a retired biology professor and new member of our board) first appeared on his Substack and is reprinted with permission.

“Leaf peeping” in the fall gets a lot of “glory” for the rich reds, oranges, and yellows of deciduous trees preparing to drop their leaves before winter arrives. Early spring in Iowa’s largely leafless woodlands can seem much less colorful and enticing, especially if you’re just driving by in a vehicle. But early spring has a more subtle beauty of its own.

I was about halfway through my undergraduate studies when I took a class entitled “Plant Taxonomy”. Like most young people, I had grown up being far more interested in animals than in plants. Birds and mammals are pretty cool, but I was willing to give plants a chance. The professor was frightening, chaotic, and engaging all at the same time. This was the point in my education when I was first exposed to “dichotomous keys”. They are called “dichotomous” because at each step in the process of identifying an organism there are a pair of choices. Is what you’re looking at “this way” or is it “that way”. Each choice leads you down a path that will, hopefully, provide the name of what you’re looking at. Knowing the “name” of something may seem trivial, but in actuality a name is the gateway to learning whatever may be known about the organism you’re wondering about. What I didn’t know, but learned very quickly, is that “dichotomous keys are written by those who don’t need them for those who can’t use them”. Experts write them for novices and they can be quite challenging to use. Successful use of a dichotomous key typically requires a substantial knowledge of arcane terms with very specific meanings. In the context of identifying a flowering plant that might include such questions as: “is the ovary inferior or superior?” Or, “how many carpels does it have?” Maybe even “is the plant monoecious or dioecious?” It’s easy to make the incorrect choice and end up with a name that looks nothing like the plant you hold in your hand.

Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) by Jim Colbert

I was sitting in the grass near the edge of the road next to my dorm pondering a small plant with striking blue flowers. Other students walked past looking at me with considerable skepticism. One young woman stopped and asked what I was doing and I explained that I was trying to figure out the name of this plant. She was apparently expecting some deep philosophical or spiritual insight and immediately went on her way. I was confused by the features of the blue-flowered plant and continued to muddle my way through the dichotomous key, past various “dead ends”, until I arrived at name that fit: Scilla siberica; “Siberian squill”. It wasn’t as easy in those days, but in today’s world knowing the name “Scilla siberica” allows near immediate access to a wealth of information about this lovely little plant. For example, it’s not native to Siberia. It’s native to southwestern Russia and Turkey. Even scientific names can be confusing and misleading. Siberian squill has been widely planted as an ornamental. It spreads easily and, in some instances, can become invasive. Some regard it as a “classic case of gardening gone awry”. Be that as it may, the sense of accomplishment I felt after successfully identifying Siberian squill was profound and helped lead me to a lifetime of studying plant (and fungal) biology.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) by Dan Haug

Having one successful solo plant identification under my belt emboldened me to seek to learn the names of the native early spring wildflowers blooming in the nearby Iowa woodlands. I had previously spent a great deal of time wandering around in Iowa’s woodlands, but until that spring I had taken very little notice of the “spring ephemerals” that decorated the floor of Iowa’s early spring woodlands in their quest to produce progeny that would ensure the future of their species. I starting taking walks in the woods with the express purpose of finding, and seeking to identify, spring wildflowers. I had been “not noticing” a lot.

White trout lily (Erythronium albidum) by Dan Haug

I came to be on a first-name basis with “blood root” (Sanguinaria canadensis), “eastern spring beauty” (Claytonia virginica), “liverleaf” ( Hepatica americana), “toothwort” (Cardamine concatenata), “false rue anemone” (Enemion biternatum), “white trout lily” (Erythronium albidum), and “Dutchman’s breeches ( Dicentra cucullaria) amongst others. Each species exploding in a small, but colorful, display of sexual reproduction before the leaves on the trees emerge and shade the forest floor. By early summer these spring ephemerals have returned to a dormant state waiting for spring to once again rouse them to produce leaves and flowers on the sunny floor of a leafless woodland.

For reasons that are not clear to me it’s very easy to be oblivious to things you don’t know the name of. Once you know the name it seems to be near impossible to not notice its presence – or even its absence. You notice the people you know the names of even in a large crowd and might find yourself enquiring about an absent friend, “hey – where’s so and so?” I cannot walk through an Iowa woodland in spring and NOT notice these plants. Many of us go through life largely oblivious to our non-human neighbors. It’s very hard to care at all about things you don’t notice. But preserving and protecting Earth’s biodiversity will require exactly that – “caring”. So, go out and learn the names of some of your neighbors, and not just the birds and mammals. Maybe if fewer of us are oblivious and more of us care we won’t drive quite as many of our neighbors to extinction.

More Bees, Please – Creating a Pollinator Friendly Ames!

by Guest Contributor | May 14, 2025

Article guest written by Lisa Kuehl, a volunteer member of the Pollinator Friendly Ames group

DID YOU KNOW that the City of Ames is a national leader in pollinator conservation? An exciting new 10-year plan, developed in 2023, aims to support bees, butterflies, insects, and birds through education, research, and collaboration. The Pollinator-Friendly Ames Plan is a dedicated effort between the City and Prairie Rivers of Iowa, with partnerships growing between many businesses, organizations, schools, homeowners’ and neighborhood associations, and, of course, the residents of Ames.

Thanks to the hard work of the Ames Pollinator-Friendly Community Task Force, this detailed plan is now in place, providing guidance and goals for helping Ames help our pollinators. Among these goals are creating more diverse habitats in yards, parks and green spaces, monitoring the numbers and kinds of pollinators observed, reducing pesticide use and sharing with the citizens of Ames ways in which they can help and become involved.

Why is any of this important to you? Because if you like to eat, chances are you can thank a pollinator! These busy insects, primarily bees, are what allow our fruits and vegetables to become our food. Other pollinators, such as butterflies, moths, insects and birds, scatter pollen, helping to grow beautiful native plants. Native plants are also what help purify our drinking water through their long, deep root systems that filter the groundwater. And native plants host caterpillars which provide critical food sources for many species of baby birds.

So, how can you be part of this amazing effort? Caring and supporting pollinators can be as simple as reducing your use of lawn pesticides, potting one native plant on your porch or converting part of your lawn into a diverse habitat to nourish pollinators in every stage of their lives. The City of Ames has many great resources for helping you get started! You can visit the City website or the Prairie Rivers of Iowa website to learn more.

On both websites you and your family will find ways to be a “Butterfly Bestie” and start taking steps towards helping the City meet its goals. Remember, even the most simple of actions can make a very big difference for our pollinators! If you’d like to know more about volunteering your time and talents, you are welcome to join one of the Plan’s four current committees: Education, Policy, Research or Partnerships. We would love to have you on board!

Pollinator-Friendly

Ames Needs You!

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you can help. Join the Pollinator Team and contribute to protecting bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators.

Do you have pollinator habitat in your yard? Self report your habitat to help our group keep track of the pollinator friendly sites in Ames!

Pollinator habitat is an area that has any blooming flowers, whether on fruit trees, veggie gardens, or flower gardens!

Are you interested in learning more about the plan and what your group can do to help? We will present to your group/club/organization! Just click the button below to sign up.

Join The Committee

Self Report Habitat

Request a Presentation

Don’t Pull Those Weeds and Help the Bees!

by Katelyn Rinicker | Apr 18, 2025

You might think it is time to start cleaning up your yard and gardens. The sun has finally come out, and everything is starting to warm up. As little flowers start popping up all over your yard, you might be tempted to pull them, but don’t, or at least hold off for a little longer!

Did you know that there are over 40 million acres of turfgrass in the U.S., and roughly 2/3rds of that is home lawns. This contributes to the habitat loss that pollinators are facing. The least we can do is let a couple of weeds grow for a while.

Dandelions, Violets, Creeping Charlie, and Henbit are only a handful of blooming weeds that help provide critical nectar resources for pollinators! Leaving the weeds also helps reduce soil erosion and soil compaction. Once other plants and trees start flowering, and it is consistently 50°F or above, you can start getting your yards and gardens ready. This is when insects are out of diapause, something we would think of as hibernation, and there are plenty of nectar resources available.

If you don’t want to leave the weeds, but still want to help the bees, here is one alternative! You can plant native early spring blooming species! This actually helps pollinators more than just leaving the weeds because they provide more nutrients and nectar resources. Our native pollinators coevolved with these native Spring Ephemerals, meaning that they actually seek them out!

Below is a list of great species you could plant in your gardens or even in pots!

pexels-forhad-hossain-103842032-19388966

Pasque Flower Anemone patens

Sun: Full

Soil: Dry, native to Loess Hills area

Height: 6 inches

Bloom time: April, May

Plant in rock or dry prairie gardens, goes well with Prairie Smoke, Blue-eyed Grass, and June Grass

Shooting Star Dodecatheon meadia

Sun: Part Shade

Soil: Dry to Medium

Height: Up to 20 inches

Bloom Time: April, June

Grows in prairies and woodland edges, naturally found in high quality sites.

Grows well with Golden Alexanders, Wild Geranium

Prairie Smoke Geum Triflorum

Sun: Full

Soil: Dry to Medium

Height: 1 foot

Bloom Time: May, June

Plant in rock or dry gardens, goes well with Pussy Toes, Nodding Wild Onion, and Golden Alexander

Dutchman’s Breeches Dicentra cucullaria

Sun: Part Shade to Full Shade

Soil: Moist, well drained

Height: 4 – 12 inches

Bloom Time: April, May

Plant in rich soil that gets a lot of shade as this plant is a woodland species.

Virginia Bluebells Martensia virginica

Sun: Part Shade to Full Shade

Soil: Moist to Wet

Height: 1 – 2.5 feet

Bloom Time: April, June

They love sun in early Spring but need a shaded area as Summer begins. These plants transplant quite well, but not tolerant of sunny dry locations.

All in all, anything you can do to reduce pesticide use, create habitat and nectar resources, or increase nesting sites is a huge help in pollinator conservation. You don’t have to do a lot to have an impact on these small but mighty creatures.

I challenge you to take a walk around your yard, garden, or some green space. I want you to take it slow so you can notice all of the life that depends on the Earth. Look at all of the insects moving around, filling their niches. See all of the birds feeding on these insects and helping control populations. Notice the squirrels spreading the seeds of trees. Observe how the breeze moves the plants or how the plants move toward the sunlight.

It is up to YOU to help keep our environment healthy and thriving.

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