Conservation Connection
Prairie Rivers of Iowa Director Leaves Behind a Dynamic Tenure of Leadership
Prairie Rivers of Iowa Executive Director Penny Brown Huber has established a culture of teamwork, insight, and encouragement for over a decade.
Prairie Rivers of Iowa Has Had a Busy and Productive 2023
Prairie Rivers of Iowa has had a busy and productive 2023 in Iowa, working on a variety of important initiatives related to creating a healthier natural environment and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Iowa. As we end this year, we have touched kids, families, landowners, historic homeowners and business owners, communities, natural resource professionals, like-minded not-for-profits and oversaw a national prairie conference in Iowa.
Unexpected Friends: Bugs Are Not Invading Your Home
This time of year we seem to notice more bugs indoors. In this article we discuss accurate sources of information about bugs, common misconceptions, and bugs you may see in your home this time of year.
Five Stages of Watershed Awareness
October is Watershed Awareness Month, by proclamation of Story County Conservation Board and city councils in Ames, Nevada, and Gilbert. Okay, so what exactly do we want people to be aware of?
How to Have a Delightful Halloween Hike
While most people will be putting up lights and hoarding candy for Halloween, you can hit the trails to see some of the most interesting and spooky beings found naturally, right here in Iowa! Here we compile all-things-October to give you the best time to hike, where to find fairy fires and ghostly plants, and tips to spotting curious birds this autumn.
Monarch Magic in Ames Was a Day of Adventurous Fun!
Prairie Rivers of Iowa hosted the family-friendly event Monarch Magic on Saturday, September 9 at Ada Hayden Heritage Park in Ames. Attendees had the experience of tagging a monarch butterfly to help scientists track their migration and participated in many fun activities to learn more about this butterfly and other pollinators.
The Magic of Monarchs
Last weekend Prairie Rivers of Iowa and their partners hosted Monarch Magic, an activity-filled monarch butterfly tagging event, at Ada Hayden Heritage Park in Ames. In case you missed this event, or just want to refresh your monarch knowledge, we discuss why we tag monarchs during their migration south, and review some very fun monarch facts!
Appreciating Water and Wastewater Workers
Let’s recognize water and wastewater workers this week and learn about how their communities are protecting water quality through better sewage treatment.
Glitter in Your Grass: The Secret Lives of Fireflies
While the season of twinkling twilight in Iowa has nearly ended, fireflies (aka “lightning bugs”) live in Iowa year-round! What do you really know about these mysterious sparks of light? They are not just magical glittering displays – they are real insects that serve important ecological and medicinal roles and are threatened by habitat loss and light pollution.