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.
End the No Swim Era
If you went to a beach at an Iowa state park last summer, you had a 1 in 4 chance of seeing a “Swimming Not Recommended” sign. 2025 was also a bad year for E. coli in the waters we monitor locally. What do we do about it?
How bad was nitrate in 2025?
When the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, nitrate in the Raccoon River was once again above the drinking water standard, closing out a bad year for water quality in Iowa. I compared this year’s nitrate levels to long-term averages at 47 sites to get a sense for where and when nitrate was highest and what was unusual about 2025.
A Year Later, Where Does the Monarch Butterfly Stand with its Listing Under the Endangered Species Act?
The monarch butterfly has been fighting to be listed under the Endangered Species Act for over a decade. This is an overview of its journey and where it stands now.