Category: Watershed Management Authority

By Posted on Posted in Clean Water, Flood Mitigation, Watershed Management Authority

Innovative research on northeast Iowa’s Turkey River may herald a breakthrough in state efforts to mitigate future flood damage.

“This really is the first time that hydro modeling has been done in advance of project implementation to get the highest value for the investment,” said Larry Weber, director of IIHR — Hydroscience & Engineering, the parent organization of the Iowa Flood Center.… Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Watershed Management Authority

On January 31st, community leaders from twenty-three communities, seven Soil and Water Conservation Districts and five counties will gather for the kick-off planning meeting of the Turkey River Watershed Management Authority or TRWMA.  The Iowa Economic Development Authority recently selected the Turkey River Watershed as one of three watersheds in Iowa to develop a watershed flood reduction plan that could be used as a model for other Iowa watersheds and watersheds nationwide that are looking to reduce the economic and environmental impacts of flooding.… Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Clean Water, Watershed Management Authority

A brand new program, the “Water Resource Restoration Sponsored Projects” will help cities, watershed organizations, landowners and others address local water quality problems.  A total of $15 million will be available per year for watershed protection practices such as stream buffers, wetland restoration and green infrastructure.

The Iowa General Assembly initiated the effort in 2009 when lawmakers authorized a new funding mechanism. … Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Watershed Management Authority

On June 29th, thirty five cities, counties, and SWCDs in the Turkey River Watershed voluntarily agreed to work together to:

  • assess and reduce the flood risks,
  • assess and improve water quality,
  • monitor the federal flood risk planning and activities,
  • offer education to residents of the watershed regarding flood risks and water quality, and
  • allocate moneys made available for purposes of water quality and flood mitigation in the watershed.
… Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Watershed Management Authority

POSTVILLE, Iowa – June 7, 2012 – On May 31st, 40 community leaders met to discuss the final steps in forming the Turkey River Watershed Management Authority. This authority will seek to assess and reduce flood risk; assess and improve water quality; monitor federal flood risk planning and activities; educate residents of the watershed regarding flood risks and water quality; and allocate moneys made available to the authority for purposes of water quality and flood mitigation.… Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Watershed Management Authority

By Keri Bugenhagen
News Editor, Cresco Times Plain Dealer
http://www.crescotimes.com/articles/2012/04/10/news/doc4f8447f5c9772282453276.txt 

POSTVILLE – A meeting regarding the Turkey River Watershed Management Authority (TRWMA) project was held in Postville, Iowa, on Thursday, March 29. The watershed was one of six in the State of Iowa selected to establish a management authority, which entails a formal partnership between various governing entities in the seven-county watershed area.… Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Watershed Management Authority
Thursday March 29th, 2012 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Postville YMCA Community Room (Directions) The Turkey River Watershed was one of six watersheds in the state selected to establish a Turkey River Watershed Management Authority! This is a great honor and a useful tool; it also draws statewide attention to our watershed. A Turkey River Watershed Management Authority will be a formal partnership established through a 28E agreement between cities, counties and soil & water conservation districts. Its formation will enable us to do many things, including secure funding for watershed planning and project implementation to improve water quality and reduce flooding in the Turkey River Watershed. The first step in establishing a Turkey River Watershed Management Authority is to bring all the political jurisdictions in the watershed together. Although many County Soil and Water Conservation Districts, County Engineers and other partners have been participating in the TRW Alliance, we have never invited the cities in the Turkey River Watershed to participate in the discussion or planning. We have also never formalized our partnership. On Thursday March 29th, we will have a Turkey River Watershed Alliance meeting from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the RC&D in Postville. This meeting will give us an opportunity to review our water monitoring protocol, funding and data. After a break for lunch we will be moving over to the Postville YMCA community room to have a Turkey River Watershed Management Authority meeting. Seven counties, thirty-seven incorporated cities, and each of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts in the watershed will be invited to attend this afternoon meeting from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. At this meeting you will find out more about what a Watershed Management Authority is and how you can participate.