We have been hard at work in June, hosting some successful pollinator and byway workshops and events! Our staff and board are continuing this momentum and excitement by giving back to the city of Ames and participating in community events like Rummage RAMPage and the Ames EcoFair. We also have some exciting events coming up and are working on developing some new ones, so keep an eye out for those announcements! | |
What kind of events would you like to see?
We are looking ahead to our next fundraising event, but we want to hear your thoughts on what
you would like to attend! We want to create opportunities that interest you and help us achieve
our mission. Are you looking for a fun run, an art event, a lecture from a local expert, or
something completely different? We’d love for you to take a quick poll and let us know what you
want to see!
| | | | Long-time volunteer Shellie Orngard attended the REAP Assembly in Story County recently. She hosted a table on her work with the National Register of Historic Places. This event was a great opportunity to spread awareness about the project and work we are doing at Prairie Rivers of Iowa, but also a great way to learn about all the other wonderful work being done in the area. | | Photo by Joanna Gilkeson/USFWS | |
Polyphemus Moth Antheraea polyphemus
By Katelyn Rinicker, Pollinator Conservation Specialist
The Polyphemus Moth is a member of the giant silk moth family, Saturniidae. This beautiful lepidoptera is ton colored with large eye spots on its hindwings. The average wingspan is 6 inches. They love to float around forests, orchards, wetlands, and can even be seen in urban settings. They will lay their flat brown eggs on a variety of host trees. The caterpillar can eat 86,000 times its weight in the first 8 weeks of life. It needs all this food because an adult polyphemus moth does not feed. Instead, it spends its time mating and laying eggs.
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America 250 Stops in 250 Days along the Iowa Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway
By Jeanie Hau, Byway Coordinator
I have been asked to share the America 250 Stops in 250 Days along the Iowa Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway posts for those without Facebook. Here you go….
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It's All in the Numbers...
By Jeanie Hau, Byway Coordinator
On June 14, 2026, the Jefferson and Lincoln Highway Heritage Byways hosted, “A Celebration of the Reed-Niland Corner.”
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Story County Water Quality Updates
Intense rains caused flash flooding in Ames and other parts of Iowa on June 11 and June 17. This month’s results don’t reflect that. Samples were collected on June 10, when water levels in the South Skunk River near Ames were just a little higher than normal.
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In Your Nature: Variety - It's the Spice of Life
by Jim Colbert, PRI Board Member, photo source
Many people driving by my home would think: “Now – there’s somebody who does NOT care about weeds.” And they would be right in at least two respects. First, “weed” has no biological meaning. Weed is a human construct that means: “A plant somewhere I don’t want it.”
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Help us out this July!
This month, consider giving to Prairie Rivers to further our efforts in water quality monitoring. We are passionate and trying to make a change.
You can also use your Thrivent dollars to give!
| | Watershed and Wildlife Events | | | | |
3rd Annual Monarch Magic
August 29th, 10-1 pm, Ada Hayden Heritage Park in Ames
Discover the amazing world of monarchs and pollinators! Bring your family to enjoy activities & learn. There will be Fun crafts, an obstacle course, a temporary tattoo station, and games. Become a citizen scientist by joining our Bioblitz and uploading your observations to iNaturalist. And don't forget to buy tickets for great raffle prizes!
This event takes a lot of help, so if you are interested in volunteering, contact Katelyn Rinicker
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Water Quality Snapshot
July 15th, 9-11:30 am
With support from the Izaak Walton League Endowment and the Story County Soil & Water Conservation District, staff and volunteers will collect samples from up to 23 locations. We'll evaluate new monitoring methods that may help us better understand bacterial sources and compare volunteer-collected data with laboratory results.
We'll start with a brief training session before dividing into four sampling teams. No experience is necessary, and all equipment will be provided.
Contact Casey Greufe to RSVP and learn more
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Check out our Byways Events Calendar!
Keep up to date with all of the Byways' latest events and happenings.
If you have events to add, email Jeanie, jhau@prrcd.org
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Byway Event Highlight
50107 Summerfest in Grand Junction, IA – Family Fun & Local Festivities
July 30th -Aug 1st, 401 S. 12th Street
3 days packed with family-friendly entertainment, live music, great food, and
community fun. This annual celebration offers
something for all ages. Saturday is filled with activities from morning to night, including a 5K run/walk, petting zoo, parade, car show, vendor fair, face painting, water slides, bingo, bags tournament, and multiple live music performances.
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Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway
America 250: Horatio’s Drive showing at the Camelot Theatre
July 4, 12:30- 2 pm- the Camelot Theatre, Nevada.
Join the Lincoln and Jefferson Highways as they show this historic road trip, which was the beginning of automobile transcontinental travel.
A Hi-Way Inn Holiday
July 9-11, 7 pm each night at the Wieting Theatre, Toledo.
A local comedy play in 3 Acts and stop by for the Annual Stoplight Festival Friday night from 5 pm -9 pm on the Courthouse Lawn!
America 250: After Ike: A Journey that Changed America at the Bijou
Chalk the Walk
July 11, 3 pm-the Bijou Theater in Mount Vernon during the Heritage Days Celebration.
Join the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway Coordinator as you view a new documentary on the 1919 Army Convoy across the Lincoln Highway—free-will donation to benefit the Iowa Lincoln Highway Association.
RAGBRAI
JULY 19, 21, 22
July 19: Dunlap Theme: We put the AG in RAGBRAI
July 21: Ogden Theme: Embrace Our History; overnight town Boone Theme: Cool Down in Boone July 22: Colo Theme: Tracks, Tractors & Tails, State Center Theme: Splash Into State Center, overnight in Marshalltown Theme: All Wheels Welcome
| | Prairie Rivers of Iowa Socials | | Lincoln Highway National Heritage Byway Socials | | Iowa Valley Scenic Byway Socials | | We are a federal 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization uniquely focused on serving natural and cultural resources. We rely on the generosity of our supporters. | | |
All rights reserved. © 2025 Prairie Rivers of Iowa.
Prairie Rivers of Iowa | 3116 South Duff Avenue Suite 201 | Ames, IA 50010
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