Northeast Iowa RC & D connecting communities and youth to urban conservation

This summer, construction of several innovative urban stormwater conservation practices was completed as part of a new Regional Urban Stormwater Demonstration Site at Northeast Iowa RC & D. The site, across from City Hall, provides real-life examples of several different urban  stormwater  conservation practices, which were installed as part of partnership between the City of Postville, Northeast Iowa RC & D, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Alliant Energy and other funders. It features several urban conservation practices, including rain gardens, bio-swales, soil amendments and tree plantings, as well as bilingual interpretation depicting each practice. Each of the practices works independently and in tandem to reduce flooding and improve water quality but perhaps more importantly, the site is an outdoor classroom for community leaders, teachers and students from around the region. The RC & D has also developed correlating lesson plans and hands-on learning for teachers and students who visit the site.

Northeast Iowa RC & D Executive Director Lora Friest noted, “We have been working to help communities and schools understand water quality and flood prevention concepts for decades. The new demonstration site and the associated Watershed Guardian Program will help us expand learning and outreach through fun hands-on learning. It also has provided an opportunity for us to create a new grant program that will empower classrooms around the region who may want to implement urban conservation practices at their school or in their communities. Also, what child wouldn’t love to be a ‘Watershed Guardian?’”

To schedule a class tour be a Watershed Guardian Sponsor, or for more information on the Watershed Guardian Program visit www.northeastiowarcd.org/projects/stormwater or contact Tori Nimrod at Northeast Iowa RC & D at (563) 864-7112.

Read the full article in the October 10 edition of the Postville Herald.