Conservation Connection
Tips for Creating a Native Landscape in Iowa
Interested in creating a native space and supporting our local wildlife but not sure where to start? Here’s some advice to getting started.
Ioway Creek Could Lose Protection
Ioway Creek Could Lose Protection written by Dan Haug, Watershed Coordinator for Story County ConservationEPA’s latest attempt to redefine “Waters of the United States” could strip protections from...
Iowa’s E. coli Problem: Tracking the Source with DNA Forensics
It's no secret that Iowa's waters are in rough shape. Nitrate is on the news, beaches are closed, the list goes on. Just take a look at the Iowa DNR Impaired Waters report for 2026. As the graph on...
10 Native Shade Plants for Your Yard
Native plants are a wonderful addition to any landscape. Here in Iowa, we often times focus on tallgrass prairie plants. This is because historically, most of Iowa was just that; a tallgrass...
Mussel Relocation at Hannum’s Mill Dam
Buttons and Pollution: Mussels in Peril Fresh water mussels are among the most threatened group of animals on earth. In North America, over 70% of the continent's roughly 300 species are threatened,...
Pollinator Week: Its History & Why it Still Matters
Support pollinators during “National Pollinator Week”. This international celebration happens every year!
Frequent Fliers: Birds on the Move
This is perhaps my favorite time of year! Flowers are blooming. Trees are getting their leaves back. The weather is getting nicer. Animals are emerging. And one of my favorite things…the birds are back! I absolutely love waking up in the morning to the birds chirping.
Iowa Women In Conservation
March was not only Iowa History Month, but also Women’s History Month! While women have not always had recognition for their efforts, they have always been involved.
The 2026 Impaired Waters List
St. Patrick’s Day is the only day of the year it’s acceptable to have bright green water. It’s also the last day to make public comment on Iowa’s 2026 Impaired Waters List, which features some waters that sometimes turn green for other reasons.