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Explore Eastern Iowa's
Maquoketa River
Watershed

Current Projects:

Stream Sensor in the main stem of the Maquoketa. The data is uploaded every 15 minutes- see it HERE!
Maquoketa River Cover Crop Initiative- paying $30/ an acre for farmers in the Maquoketa who meet the historically underserved criteria. Application opens June 1, 2025.
HYDRO-Sensors from Iowa Flood Center coming to the Maquoketa Watershed. (see story below)
Manchester Storm Water Wetland Project- Completed in Fall 2022. Read more here.
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.
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.

Check out our homepage for upcoming events

HYDROLOGIC MODELING AND EVALUATION OF DISTRIBUTED FLOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE MAQUOKETA RIVER WATERSHED

DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT

Maquoketa River receives 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:

Watershed Management Plan Phase II (2 semesters)
Camp Courageous Stormwater Quality and Detention Demonstration Site
Camp Courageous Sourcewater/Well Head Protection-Best Practices
Camp Courageous Cultural Education Center for Water Quality
Camp Courageous Multipurpose Trail System/Public Access to Demonstration Sites
Transportation & Watershed Resilience Story Map
Manchester Fish Hatchery Mural (underway)
Maquoketa River Watershed Interactive Map
MR WMA Short Film
MR WMA Governance and Organizational Effectiveness
MR WMA Sustainability Marketing
Monticello Floodplain and Prairie Restoration
MR WMA Website Development Recommendations

Phase II of the MR WMP

To see all the project deliverables

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Transportation & Watershed Resilience Story Map

Meet Judy Joyce, MR WMA Watershed Coordinator

Judith brings more than 30 years of experience as a geomorphologist working with soil and water resources. As a planner, she has collaborated with landowners, communities, organizations, and agencies throughout Iowa and the Midwest. Her career has included extensive private-sector work and service on numerous nonprofit boards, including as Executive Director of Take a Kid Outdoors.Over the past 10 years, Judith has served as a consultant to the City of Dyersville on the Bear Creek restoration, assessment and planning for the North Fork of the Maquoketa River, and the Field of Dreams stormwater wetland.

Throughout her career, she has led watershed planning and restoration efforts, secured funding, and built partnerships that connect technical work with local priorities.As Watershed Coordinator, Judith will support the Maquoketa River WMA’s programs and partnerships while strengthening communication, expanding collaboration, pursuing funding, and advancing practical approaches to water quality, flood risk reduction, agriculture, and community resilience.

Her new email is: judy@limestonebluffsrcd.organd phone is 319-330-2988.