Watersheds and Wildlife
A Story County Water Quality Monitoring & Interpretation Plan 2021 -2030 has been completed by Prairie Rivers of Iowa in partnership with the Story County Iowa Water Monitoring Planning Team. The supporting chapters of the report including maps and data analysis were prepared by Prairie Rivers of Iowa Watershed Educator Daniel Haug. Read the full report here.
What we are learning is that many stakeholders have an interest in improving water quality, but guidelines for interpreting using water quality data is sorely lacking.
Most rivers and streams in Story County either do not meet the
recreation standard or have not been officially assessed.
Over 100 species of butterflies and 400 species of bees, along with many other species found in Iowa, need your attention.
Our goal is to create diverse habitats, and plant native prairies and grasslands to restore pollinator, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian populations while improving soil health.
We are working with landowners to provide for Iowa’s pollinators and wildlife by mapping and cataloging flyways and ecosystems, assisting with small to large landowner habitat design, providing conservation assistance, harvesting and providing native seeds while conducting environmental outreach and education.
What matters is the actions we are taking plus the information and relationships we have assembled puts local government, landowners, and our many partners in a good position to tackle these challenges!
What’s carried with snowmelt?
When snow melts, salt applied to melt snow on sidewalks, roads, and parking lots can make its way to streams. Freshwater critters don’t like living in saltwater.
What’s in a (creek) name?
“Squaw Creek” in Story, Boone, and Hamilton County is now “Ioway Creek.” We discuss why this should be a welcome and uncontroversial change.
Weather whiplash
Cover crops could be especially important next spring if we get rain. Weather whiplash (a dry fall followed by a wet spring) can flush accumulated nitrogen out of the soil, leading to elevated nitrate concentrations in rivers.
