Clean Water
We work to improve water quality in rivers and lakes found in Iowa. We accomplish this work through robust education, monitoring, and by partnering with both private landowners and local government.
Here is what we’re up to now:
Water Monitoring in Story County
Water quality in most creeks and lakes in Story County is not tested by state agencies, so in 2020, we worked with 9 partner organizations to plan for how we could sustain a monitoring program at the local level. We continue to support the effort by collecting samples, organizing volunteer events, and making sense of the data.
Creek Clean Ups
So far, we have helped organize six volunteer events that removed over 12,700 pounds of trash from Ioway Creek, the Skunk River, and other streams in central Iowa. Depending on the weather, we may be walking, wading, or paddling canoes, but it’s always a good time!
Educational Videos
FAQ
What’s a watershed? Confused about water quality? Here’s an FAQ with links to some of our most accessible resources.
Past Projects
Past projects have focused on the Ioway Creek and Skunk River watersheds in Story, Boone, and Hamilton counties.
Conservation Connection Blog
A big part of our work is telling engaging stories to help explain the science and policy behind the environmental issues we work on. Here are three of our latest posts from the Conservation Connect Blog.
Inch Your Way to Loving Worms!
We won’t be talking about love or flowers this Valentine’s Day, but we’ll talk about some love-able critters that eat flowers! We’re talking about CATERPILLARS!
Metrics from the 2023 monitoring season
We’re still crunching numbers from the 2023 monitoring season in Story County, but here’s a few numbers that should be left uncrunched.
Can Infrastructure Spending Help Iowa’s Polluted Rivers?
Maybe! This case study from the Raccoon River shows why we can’t ignore point sources of pollution, and why we need more transparency about the permit decisions that drive costs and timelines for wastewater treatment.