Hello Mike,

Note from the Director

Do You Have a Way with Words? We Could Use Your Help!

Prairie Rivers of Iowa is looking for a volunteer with an interest in communications to help with our monthly newsletter, social media posts, and occasional short writing projects. If you enjoy writing, organizing content, or sharing meaningful stories, this could be a rewarding way to stay involved and support conservation in our community. Could this be you? Reach out to Tina at tvandyk@prrcd.org.

Editor's note:

The staff were busy too write articles this month, except for Dan, who has gone off the deep end writing a 2,000 word article about poop in the water, instead of finishing his annual report. The text is written at the seventh grade reading level with most of the numbers in a separate attachment, the pictures are all very nice (families at the beach), and it addresses an important topic, so you should definitely read it. It's just... we could use something shorter and more upbeat now and then!

Conservation Connection

Pollinator of the Month:

Primrose Moth (Schinia florida)

by Katelyn Rinicker, Pollinator Conservation Specialist

This cute little moth is the Primrose Moth! They have a 1-1.5 inch wingspan with pink forewings. Yellow bands can be found on the forewings and they also have a yellow thorax and abdomen (body). Their hindwings are a cream color and hidden under the forewings in this photo. The coloring reminds me of strawberry lemonade, which would be a perfect summer drink to enjoy while looking for the caterpillars on their host plant, the Evening Primrose.

The Primrose Moth lays its eggs in the flower buds of the Evening Primrose. The flower not only provides food but also a safe place for the adults during the day. These moths are nocturnal and active from late June to early September. They can be found in prairies, fields, meadows, roadsides, or wherever their host plant finds a way to grow.

The Primrose moth can be confused with the native Rosy Maple Moth as it is also a bright pink color. The Rosy Maple Moth has pink and yellow stripes across the forewings and is a brighter pink color than the Primrose Moth. The Rosy Maple Moth also lives in forested areas with plenty of its host plant, the Maple tree.

Calibrate Your Disgust

by Dan Haug, Water Quality Specialist

There is a 100-fold difference in E. coli levels between Iowa’s cleanest lakes and Iowa’s dirtiest rivers, and between new and outdated sewage treatment systems. That leaves a lot of wiggle room to enjoy Iowa’s waters while protecting your health, and to make things a little better by repairing our infrastructure.

9 Minute Read

Watersheds and Wildlife Events

PACRAT: Paddle And Cleanup Rivers Around Town

April 26, 9am-2pm

Stuart Smith Park, Ames

Canoe Ioway Creek with frequent stops to pick up trash. If you don't mind getting your feet wet and your hands dirty, you'll have a good time! Lunch is provided. Registration is closed, all our canoes are spoken for.

Byway Events

Lincoln Highway Tour

June 18- June 25

The Lincoln Highway Association's 2025 Middle Third Tour of the 1928 Lincoln Highway alignment comes through Iowa on June 19-21 with overnight stops in Cedar Rapids and Ames. Daily itinerary here.