Clean Water, Fishing

Dave Vetrano, retired Wisconsin DNR fisheries biologist, has more than 32 years of cold water stream management in the Driftless Region. His presentation, given to our neighbors, the Basin Alliance for the Lower Mississippi in Minnesota (BALMM), gives a short history of land use changes in the Driftless Area since the time of European settlement, and then discusses the effect those changes have had on the coldwater streams.
“In well managed grazing systems, soil erosion, manure, pesticide and herbicide runoff is reduced to almost zero.”
Clean Water, Water Sampling

In the December Issue of Clean Water Starts With Us, read about beginning farmers and sustainability, a new study on how farmers make conservation decisions, new outreach tools available, working with schools on conservation practices, and more. View the December issue here (PDF) or past issues here.

Clean Water Starts With Us is a quarterly electronic newsletter from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship – Division of Soil Conservation (DSC) and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).… Read more ›

<a title="Turkey River Whitewater Brochure" href="http://www.elkader-iowa.com/City_Hall/whitewater-brochure.pdf">Download the Turkey River Whitewater Brochure</a> (PDF)
Water Trail

News
  • September 13, 2012 (Des Moines) – The Vision Iowa Board, through the RECAT program, awarded $62,000 to a Turkey River project that includes developing a whitewater feature at the low-head dam in Elkader. The smaller of the two dams in Elkader will be modified with special placement of large and small habitat boulders and a wave catalyst structure.
… Read more ›
Event, Water Trail

Report by Larry Stone:

More than 60 adults and youth gained a greater appreciation of the Turkey River last Saturday at Turkey River Rocks! sponsored by Iowa Rivers Revival and a great group of local hosts and supporters. IRR board members Jerry Peckumn and Susan Heathcote were part of the crew for this special day of river activities that began in Elkader with a welcome by Elkader’s Mayor Robert C.… Read more ›

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 ›
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 ›

Organization, Water Sampling

The Iowa Geological and Water Survey is an indispensable partner in the Turkey River Watershed Alliance, allowing those of us in the Turkey River Watershed to implement water quality monitoring and assessment, complete GIS analysis, participate in outreach activities and programs like Project A.W.A.R.E. and IOWATER, and gain a better understanding of the geology and groundwater systems that are critical to how the watershed functions.… Read more ›

Flood Mitigation

The Iowa Flood Center and IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering (IIHR) at the University of Iowa have announced the selection of four watersheds for the initial phase of the Iowa Watershed Projects.

The selected entities and respective watersheds include:

  • Clayton County for the Turkey River.
  • Dallas County for the Middle/South Raccoon River.
  • Davis County for Soap Creek and Chequest Creek.
  • Floyd County for the Upper Cedar River.
… Read more ›
Fishing, Point of Interest

By Rich Holm, Fayette County Union

Twenty-four miles from West Union is the largest coldwater spring in Iowa. The Big Spring Watershed is one of the most well-known and studied sites in the nation in a limestone-dominated landscape.

Flows from the spring usually range from 20,000-30,000 gallons per minute but can exceed 150,000 GPM after a heavy rainfall.

Scientists marvel at this geology in northeast Iowa, but sportsmen from all over the state have only one thing in mind when they come here – trout!… Read more ›