Be a part of a city-wide water quality monitoring snapshot of the Dry Run Creek watershed. Black Hawk Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is partnering with IOWATER, Iowa’s statewide volunteer water quality monitoring program, on a fall “snapshot” water quality monitoring event in Cedar Falls.
Details:
10:00 AM: Meet at the Cedar Falls Visitor Center
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Collect sample data from Dry Run Creek
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Return to the Visitor Center with water and data
The Cedar Falls Tourism & Visitor Center is located at 6510 Hudson Road in Cedar Falls. Volunteers will get information there on sites to be monitored and instructions on how to collect the data needed for the snapshot.
After the program, volunteers will depart and collect water samples for analysis from assigned sites. Sites will be marked where volunteers are to sample. Teams will then collect the samples and follow detailed instructions on how to analyze the samples. Once data sheets are filled out and samples are taken, groups then return to the Tourism & Visitor Center for refreshments and to turn in the data sheets.
Area residents who are IOWATER certified are encouraged to participate in the snapshot. However, IOWATER certification is not required. Volunteers are asked to RSVP, however people may also simply show up the day of the snapshot to participate. If groups want to monitor specific locations or want to work as a group, a call to participate is requested.
Water quality monitoring includes physical, chemical, biological, and habitat assessments. Physical assessments document the physical attributes of a water body, such as temperature and water clarity. Chemical testing includes pH, nitrogen, phosphate, chloride and dissolved oxygen monitoring. Biological monitoring includes identification of “benthic macroinvertebrates,” or organisms that live in streams, rivers, and lakes. Habitat assessments can be used to document the suitability of water bodies to sustain aquatic life.
Dry Run Creek is currently listed as one of Iowa’s impaired water bodies. A project funded by the Iowa Watershed Improvement Review Board is working to build awareness for issues and concerns related to the creek and its watershed. Anyone interested in water quality and the health of Dry Run Creek is encouraged to participate in the events.
For more information or to RSVP for a snapshot event contact Rebecca at 319-610-7507 or
by email. For information on IOWATER, snapshots and IOWATER certification visit
www.iowater.net. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.