Explore Eastern Iowa's
Maquoketa River
Watershed
Current Projects:
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HYDRO-Sensors from Iowa Flood Center coming to the Maquoketa Watershed. (see story below)
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Manchester Storm Water Wetland Project- Completed in Fall 2022. Read more here.
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DNR County Sign Grant- we have placed ~60 watershed signs around the 1.1 million acre area to identify streams and let folks know when they have entered our watershed.
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Water quality monitoring of 45 locations throughout the watershed. This is our 4th year to sample 3 times a year. Thanks to our amazing volunteers who make it happen.
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Check out our homepage for upcoming events
Maquoketa River to receive sensors.
Past Projects
Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC)
Thanks to the City of Manchester, the Maquoketa River Watershed Management Authority in 2020 received the 'gift' of a team of University of Iowa students to help us with our Watershed Management Plan. Phase I of the plan was completed in May 2021. See the MR WMA Phase I plan and other details here: https://iisc.uiowa.edu/maquoketa-river-watershed-management-plan.
We enjoyed our experience SO MUCH with the students, faculty and staff we included the request for funds to continue to work with the University in our grant proposal to the Iowa DNR. Work on Phase II of our Watershed Management Plan (WMP) started fall of 2021 and will focused on sub-watershed priority areas. Phase II is now complete and you can see the entire plan and even download here.
As a part of our partnership with IISC, the MR WMA has the capacity to work with more than 100 University of Iowa faculty and students on several additional planning projects.
Projects Completed:
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Watershed Management Plan Phase II (2 semesters)
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Camp Courageous Stormwater Quality and Detention Demonstration Site
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Camp Courageous Sourcewater/Well Head Protection-Best Practices
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Camp Courageous Cultural Education Center for Water Quality
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Camp Courageous Multipurpose Trail System/Public Access to Demonstration Sites
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Transportation & Watershed Resilience Story Map
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Manchester Fish Hatchery Mural (underway)
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Maquoketa River Watershed Interactive Map
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MR WMA Short Film
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MR WMA Governance and Organizational Effectiveness
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MR WMA Sustainability Marketing
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Monticello Floodplain and Prairie Restoration
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MR WMA Website Development Recommendations
Phase II of the MR WMP
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Transportation & Watershed Resilience Story Map
Meet Erin Erickson, MR WMA Watershed Coordinator
Erin Erickson joined the Maquoketa River WMA in July 2021 after moving to Linn County, Iowa. Originally from Missouri, she started her love for nature as a young girl and continued her conservation work throughout her career. After her graduation from Missouri State University, she moved to Colorado to work for the Department of Agriculture. Those five years working for the U.S Forest Service as a trail crew member, wildlife technician, and wildland firefighter had a huge impact on her career and work ethic. She learned to be resourceful, and to give it her all with limited resources. She also learned the importance of communicating with the crew around her.
Erin is excited to be the Watershed Coordinator for the Maquoketa River WMA. She is looking forward to showing her young daughters all the beautiful rivers, creeks and lakes where her family can paddle their canoe. She believes this will be an amazing opportunity as well as to have a positive impact focused on clean water and conservation in Iowa. You can reach Erin via email at erin@limestonebluffsrcd.org or by calling 319.826.1132.
CONTACT
NAVIGATE
OFFICERS
Don Schwenker, Chair
Mick Michel, Vice Chair
Steve Leonard, Secretary/Treasurer