Prairie Rivers of Iowa has had another wonderful year because of your support! We are incredibly grateful for the donations we have received. We are able to continue our conservation, environmental, and cultural work, because of you!

If you want to help us start 2026 right,

give today!

Read all about our water quality, pollinator conservation, and cultural conservation accomplishments in 2025 in our annual report.

We are working to get the word out about the seed bank! We already have 3 presentations scheduled in the Ames area and are looking for more communities and groups to give them to! These presentations are given by our Pollinator Conservation Specialist, Katelyn Rinicker, and include information on what the seed bank is, how it supports native pollinators, and how community members can get involved. We also provide a sample pack of seeds for people to take home and grow!

If your group would like a presentation, contact Katelyn at krinicker@prrcd.org

Carnegie Libraries Byway Tour: Clinton Public Library

by Jeanie Hau, Byway Coordinator

Whether accessed in person, online, or through interlibrary loan, the library’s multimedia offerings continue to serve Clinton, Iowa as more than just a building.

Pollinator of the Month

Eastern Tailed-Blue Cupido comyntas

By Katelyn Rinicker, Pollinator Conservation Specialist



The Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly is one of my favorites! While they are common, they can easily be missed since their wingspan is only 0.75 - 1”. Males have blue wings bordered by a brown band, while females have brownish-gray wings. Both sexes have wings that are outlined in white and have 1 or 2 small orange spots above a hindwing tail. They can be more blue/bright in the spring. Their ventral is a silvery-gray with dark dots and bands, and on the hindwing, there are 2 orange spots near the tail. 

Story County Water Quality Updates

by Dan Haug, Water Quality Specialist

If the soil isn't too dry and the frost isn't too deep, nitrate-rich water can flow from fields to tiles to rivers all winter long. Every stream we tested in December had nitrate of 10 mg/L or higher.

A Year Later, Where Does the Monarch Butterfly Stand with its Listing Under the Endangered Species Act?

By Katelyn Rinicker, Pollinator Conservation Specialist

The monarch butterfly has been fighting to be listed under the Endangered Species Act for over a decade. This is an overview of its journey and where it stands now.

This flow chart is from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and shows the process for getting listed under the ESA.

How Bad was Nitrate in 2025?

by Dan Haug, Water Quality Specialist

When the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, nitrate in the Raccoon River was once again above the drinking water standard, closing out a bad year for water quality in Iowa. I compared this year’s nitrate levels to long-term averages at 47 sites to get a sense for where and when nitrate was highest and what was unusual about 2025.

Science Bytes: Interview with Sara Carmichael

by Mike Meetz with KHOI

Are you interested in water quality and monitoring? Listen to Sara Carmichael, Story County's Watershed Coordinator, chat with Mike Meetz on KHOI.

Just click the button and search for the Science Bytes program from 12/27/25.