What's being done to help Dry Run Creek?
The Dry Run Creek Watershed Improvement Project has a number of conservation practices for farms and
urban living. Landowners in the Dry Run Creek watershed can improve the creek by
partnering with the Dry Run Creek Watershed Improvement Project.
Together, Rebecca Kauten, watershed project coordinator, and Craig Thede, watershed program specialist, can work with you to evaluate your
property and identify practices that can help both the creek and your land or yard. Kauten
can also help find financial assistance to install those practices.
The goal of the Dry Run Creek Watershed Improvement Project is to develop a
comprehensive watershed project that involves many different groups, all with an invested
interest in producing a model for other urban and rural watersheds.
The Dry Run Creek Watershed Improvement Project helps residents use conservation
practices to protect water quality in Dry Run Creek, educates residents, businesses and
other groups on storm water management, and supports a monitoring program to provide
data on the effectiveness of demonstrated conservation practices.
Existing demonstration projects include several related to the University branch of Dry Run
Creek, projects adjacent to Prairie Lakes Church in Cedar Falls, and a new residential
development in the northwest portion of the watershed. Residents can visit these
demonstration sites and see how the practices are improving Dry Run Creek.
The watershed project is monitoring storm water runoff to document the effectiveness of
conservation practices designed to reduce pollutants in storm water and the amount of
storm water reaching the creek from storm sewers.
"The educational efforts and the demonstration of new storm water management practices
In the urban part of the watershed are paving the way for a new approach to storm water management," said Kauten.
"Today water quality protection is integrated with the traditional flood control objectives of storm
water management so that both water volume and the quality of its contents are taken into account. We hope this
project inspires other urban areas to take a similar approach to storm water management."
The watershed project is also working with developers, design professionals, municipal
officials, educators, materials suppliers, private landowners and other interested
organizations on low-impact development strategies and storm water issues.
Low-impact development practicess encourage minimal disturbance to a landscape as construction occurs. This strategic approach to land use developmentreduces the disturbance to the land and minimizes the amount of soil and other pollutants that flow from the property during storm events when land is not stabilized properly. Low impact development begins when the site is under construction, but it also includes how land is used once construction is complete. The goal is to soak up as much rainfall and snowmelt as
possible onsite, reducing erosion and pollutant runoff and restoring the natural hydrology to Iowa soils.
In addition, the Dry Run Creek Watershed Improvement Project works with local teachers
and media outlets to spread the word about improvement efforts. Elementary students in Cedar Falls schools can learn about Dry Run Creek and water quality through classroom
programs developed by Hartman Reserve Nature Center, part of the Black Hawk County
Conservation Board.
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What can I do to help?
Landowners and other watershed residents can consider installing conservation practices -
whether on a farm or in an urban backyard - to control the amount of sediment, nutrients
and other pollutants reaching Dry Run Creek.
Financial assistance is available, and the benefits extend beyond cleaner water - often
conservation practices can include financial benefits, create recreational opportunities and
provide habitat for wildlife.
Residents of Dry Run Creek can volunteer as part of IOWATER,
the volunteer water monitoring program through Iowa DNR. Throughout the Dry Run Creek watershed there are 40 snapshot
sites where monitors collect information on the
levels of nitrates, nitrites, dissolved oxygen, pH, chloride and phosphate in the creek.
Some monitors also report on the water's temperature and color, and on biological life in
the monitoring area, which is often an indicator of water quality.
Monitors report their data to the IOWATER online database, where the public can view water
monitoring results from across the state at IOWATER.
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What is the future of Dry Run Creek?
"The process of improving the Dry Run Creek watershed is a slow process," said Rebecca
Kauten, project coordinator. "Dry Run Creek was once seen as an eye-sore, but it now has the potential to become a key water feature throughout the town."
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