Ames Archives - Prairie Rivers of Iowa

Historical Gas-Food-Lodging Stop at the Reed-Niland Corner

September 11, 2018 by Janice Gammon Comment Closed

If you are looking for a unique, historical experience in middle America look no further than the Reed-Niland Corner in Colo, Iowa. This restored cafe, motel, and museum-like gas station location is a premiere stop on the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway. Whether it is the enticing good food, more-than-reasonable motel rates, or glow of the neon light in the Iowa landscape, this one-stop location has an appeal for the traveler like no other location in Iowa or even in the nation. Photo credits: City of Colo It is literally in the middle of America. The Lincoln Highway was designated in 1913 and runs east and west at the north side of the town of Colo. It is now known as County Road E41. The Lincoln Highway begins in Times Square in New York and travels to San Francisco in California. The...

Watershed Awareness Month

June 13, 2018June 13, 2018 by Dan Haug Comment Closed

Everyone lives in a watershed. What's your watershed? June is a good month to find out, and learn more about what can be done to reduce and clean the runoff leaving your farm or your neighborhood. Story County Board of Supervisors and Conservation Board proclaimed June 2018 to be Watershed Awareness Month. Over the last two weeks, the cities of Ames, Nevada, and Gilbert have made similar proclamations. We applaud their commitment to water quality. The full text of the Story County proclamation is included below, along with scans of the proclamations by the cities (click the thumbnail to download a PDF). WATERSHED AWARENESS MONTH PROCLAMATION June 2018 WHEREAS, the county’s rivers and lakes provide recreational opportunities and wildlife habitats that enhance the quality of life of Story County residents, and WHEREAS, protecting and restoring the quality of groundwater and surface water is a goal of the Story County Comprehensive Plan, and WHEREAS, water quality and flooding issues in rivers and lakes cannot be mitigated without good...

Upgrade your sewage treatment plant, get a free bioswale!

February 28, 2018February 28, 2018 by Dan Haug Comment Closed

Does the State Revolving Fund (SRF) do infomercials for its Clean Water Loans? I think they should because SRF Sponsored Projects are a classic case of "buy-one-get-one-free." We usually focus on conservation efforts by farmers but today let’s give some credit to the municipal wastewater departments—they do a lot to keep our rivers clean. As a nation, we’ve generally been more successful in regulating and treating the pollutants coming out from sewage treatment plants and factories than we have been in dealing with the pollutants that wash off of farm fields, turf grass and parking lots. We’ve now reached a point where the water coming out of the local sewage treatment plant is cleaner in some respects than the water in the backyard creek. I’m not kidding: Ames Water and Pollution Control can’t exceed 126 E. coli colonies per 100mL in their treated effluent—E. coli levels in Squaw Creek for 2016 were eight times higher. Repairing an aging sewer system or installing...

Prairie Rivers of Iowa has moved!

October 4, 2017 by Prairie Rivers Administrator Comment Closed

We are excited to announce that Prairie Rivers of Iowa has moved to a new office! We officially moved to our new location in West Ames at the beginning of September and have since kept busy unpacking, settling into this new space, and continuing our work. Our new office is located at 2335 230th Street, which is the past residence of Kinzler Construction. It was getting a little cramped in our old office and one thing this new building offers us is plenty of space. Each program has its own area to work with plenty of room to spread out and expand, when the programs grow. Storage space on the second floor alleviates some of the workspace clutter, and between a designated conference room and a kitchenette with a breakroom, there are spaces large enough to accommodate everyone when we have large meetings. We are sharing this space with the team at EOR Iowa. Prairie Rivers of Iowa and EOR have collaborated...

Ames Water Treatment Plant Tour – March 23

April 19, 2017July 21, 2017 by Kayla Hasper Comment Closed

Through our relations with the City of Ames in our watershed work, Prairie Rivers of Iowa board and staff members got the opportunity on March 23, 2017 to tour the water treatment plant that the city is building on East 13th Street. The Director and Assistant Director of Ames Water and Pollution Control, as well as the Superintendent of the plant and a plant Engineer led the group around the plant in groups. The $75 million plant will continue providing "award-winning" clean drinking water to the citizens of Ames. They showed off the various treatment bays that will treat up to 15 million gallons per day, increasing the capacity from the maximum of 12 million that the expansion to the old plant provided. Drinking water in Ames is from ground water sources, which is in the form of several wells located in the area. The process of water treatment includes cascade aeration, lime softening, chloramination, filtration, and fluoridation. Because the plant is still under construction,...

Watershed Educator Hired

February 1, 2017February 1, 2017 by Kayla Hasper Comment Closed

We would like to welcome our newest staff member, Dan Haug. He is the Watershed Educator here at Prairie Rivers of Iowa. Dan grew up in Ames, Iowa, where he became involved in prairie restoration and community-supported agriculture. In his free time, he enjoys family, playing music, and exploring the outdoors through canoeing and cross-country skiing. He is passionate about involving community members in environmental problem-solving and communicating science to the public. He worked previously at the Wisconsin DNR and holds an M.S. in Water Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dan will be working on the educational component of the Squaw Creek Water Quality Initiative Project, as well as the facilitation and coordination of the Conservation Innovation Grant, which is to fund the development of a Management Plan for the Keigley Branch of the South Skunk River Watershed. Make sure to take a second to introduce yourself to Dan and make him feel welcome! His email address is dhaug@prrcd.org, and as always, feel...

Visit us at the Ames Eco Fair 10-2 March 29th

March 28, 2014 by Jessica Johnson Comment Closed

The third annual Eco Fair will be held this Saturday, March 29th from 10-2pm at the Community Center Gymnasium (515 Clark Avenue). The purpose of this free event is to educate the public on water conservation, reducing electrical consumption, among other green initiatives. There will be over 40 vendors of various businesses and clubs that want to make a difference with different activities on a green lifestyle. Events include door prizes, giveaways, and handouts. Please stop by the Prairie Rivers of Iowa booth to visit with us on our various programs we have. Our Log Products Coordinator, Mike Brandrup will be there to answer question about our Iowa Oak Cabins, and to answer questions to Squaw Creek. Ruth Powell, our Local Foods Coordinator will also there to answer questions....