Golden Hills' 2025 Annual Report is now available

2025 was a busy, successful year for Golden Hills!

Check out our latest annual report to learn about our work collaboratively developing and leading community, conservation, & cultural initiatives to improve quality of life in rural western Iowa:

We're hiring a Trails Coordinator!

Golden Hills RC&D is seeking a Trails Coordinator to lead the development, maintenance, and promotion of recreational mixed-use trails for Pottawattamie County as part of our outdoor recreation and tourism team. This position works closely with the Pottawattamie County Trails Association (PCTA), County Conservation, local governments, and regional partners to implement collaborative, long-term vision for trails and bike-related initiatives.

This role is ideal for someone passionate about outdoor recreation, active transportation, and community development with experience in project planning, coalition management, and public engagement.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until June 1, 2026.

Learn more & apply.

Explore Siouxland for World Migratory Bird Day!

Looking for a weekend getaway that’s a little different? Trade crowded destinations for birds, brews, and scenic views in the Siouxland area near the northern end of Loess Hills National Scenic Byway! 🌿🦅🦬🍺

Centered around Sioux City — a designated Bird Friendly Iowa community — this region sits along the Missouri River Flyway where prairies, wetlands, woodlands, and the globally unique Loess Hills create an unusually diverse birding landscape. That means more species, more scenic stops, and more reasons to slow down and explore.

Plan your trip around the World Migratory Bird Day Celebration at Bacon Creek Park on May 9, then spend the weekend discovering local breweries like Marto Brewing Co. and Jackson Street Brewing, attractions like the Sioux City Railroad Museum and Sioux City Art Center, trails at Stone State Park, bison at Broken Kettle Grasslands, and hidden birding hotspots across the Siouxland area like Owego Wetland Complex.

Can’t make it for World Migratory Bird Day? This Siouxland birding itinerary is a great year-round escape, with every season bringing new migrations, scenery, and outdoor experiences.

Streambank stabilization offers water quality & other benefits in western Iowa waterways

Water quality is a salient topic across Iowa today. While significant discussion focuses on things like pesticide and fertilizer runoff, one lesser-acknowledged cause of impaired waters is soil erosion, particularly from streambanks and stream beds.

Streambank stabilization, a practice eligible for cost-share in our West Nishnabotna RCPP, is one way to reduce erosion and improve water quality.

Learn more about bank erosion, restoration options, and find additional resources in our blog post:

New high tunnel will help grow native plants

With support from Mad Ag, Golden Hills has purchased and is installing a high tunnel at our office in Oakland! The structure will be used to propagate local ecotype native plants that we hand-harvest locally, and allow for educational programming.

We plan to announce our 2026 Native Plant Sale dates next week, so stay tuned!