The Black Hawk Soil & Water Conservation District is partnering with Green Iowa AmeriCorps to gather water quality data on the Dry Run Creek watershed located in the Cedar Falls area. This event is being made possible thanks to a financial grant from the Resource Enhancement and Protection Conservation Education Program (REAP-CEP) grant as well as support from the University of Northern Iowa GeoTREE, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Dry Run Creek Watershed Improvement Project.
A snapshot water quality monitoring event will be held on Earth Day, Saturday, April 23rd. Volunteers are asked to help collect water samples and field data as part of this event. Since 2002, a variety of snapshot samplings have been conducted all across Iowa. A snapshot sampling is when multiple sites throughout a geographic area are tested within a short period of time to provide an overall picture of water quality.
Volunteers will meet outside of the Center for Energy & Environmental Education on the University of Northern Iowa campus at 9:00 a.m. Individuals will be grouped together and assigned several water monitoring locations. After a brief training on water monitoring procedures, groups will be sent out to collect water samples and field data.
Snapshot events provide an opportunity to be actively engaged within your community and to raise awareness on pressing environmental issues. Data gathered from these events provides information to more accurately treat sources of pollutants and to work toward a measurable impact on improving the quality of all urban water bodies, including Dry Run Creek.
This event will take place rain or shine so please plan and dress accordingly. Individuals, families, and groups (both large and small) are all welcome. No previous experience is required.
