Watersheds and Wildlife
The Watersheds and Wildlife Program works to improve water quality in rivers and lakes and to restore habitat for the 100 species of butterflies and 400 species of bees found in Iowa. We accomplish this work through robust education and monitoring, and by partnering with both private landowners and local government.
Past projects have focused the Ioway Creek and Skunk River watersheds in Story, Boone, and Hamilton counties.
Here is what we’re up to now:
Ames Pollinator-Friendly Community Plan
Prairie Rivers and the City of Ames have a vision to become a leader in developing and sustaining pollinator habitat that will enrich the quality of life for the human and biological communities of Ames.
Enrolling working lands into butterfly habitat
This upcoming project will help farmers and landowners create habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators, and enhance the value of existing conservation lands for monarchs. The project has a special focus on women landowners.
Creek Cleanups
Over the past few years, we helped plan five volunteer events that removed over 9000 pounds of trash from Ioway Creek 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! Keep an eye on our Events page–we do at least one a year.
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. Prairie Rivers continues to support the effort by collecting samples, organizing volunteer events, and making sense of the data.
Movement Infrastructure for Clean Water in Iowa
We were able to build relationships with some of the wide range of groups that do water monitoring across Iowa, as well as dive deep into analysis of a statewide dataset, thanks to grant from the Water Foundation which wrapped up in November of 2024.
Relationships between water quality and livestock density
We spotted some interesting patterns in a statewide database that reveal some ways in which manure can impact Iowa’s rivers, and some ways it doesn’t. Our finidngs were presented to the Raccoon River Watershed Association (which helped fund the project) and the 2024 Iowa Water Conference.
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.
The Good, the Bad, and the Alternatives to No Mow May
The idea is that leaving your mower parked for a month in spring will allow dandelions and other lawn-associated flowers to grow, providing food for emerging pollinators at a time when there aren’t many flowers blooming yet. This sounds easy and beneficial, but is it really? Are there better options, or is this the answer to pollinator-friendly yarding? Let’s mow through the jargon, discuss different viewpoints, and offer simple alternatives.
Mayflies Should Be Normal
I’d like to introduce you to some friends that I met hiding under a rock in the creek. It’s perfectly normal for me to be doing this, and Baetis here is telling me this is normal creek.
Story County Conservation – Prairie Rivers of Iowa Featured Partner
Story County Conservation maintains over 3,500 acres of parks and natural areas preserving native environments, stopping the spread of invasive species, and water quality.
Katelyn Rinicker
Pollinator Conservation Specialist
Dan Haug
Water Quality Specialist