Books for the Byways

by Jeanie Hau, Byway Coordinator

Do you like to read about a place before you visit? I have always reached for books about a place before I venture out so that I can really understand where the place has been. Join me for a list of my “to read” books about the byways.

5 Minute Read

Conservation Connection

Decision Guide for

Undecided Boaters

by Dan Haug, Water Quality Specialist

It should go without saying that there are decisions on the ballot that will affect the environment, but if you need a break from election news and commentary, read this Undecided Boater Guide for some low-stakes environmental education and take an opportunity to lower your stress levels by getting out into nature!

3 Minute Read

Pollinator of the Month:

Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)

by Katelyn Rinicker, Pollinator Conservation Specialist

This little butterfly is the Silver-spotted Skipper! They are very common and can be found throughout North America. They love open ranges with plenty of nectar plants such as native prairies, forest edges, and swamps. They use their long tube-like mouthpart, proboscis, to drink nectar from a variety of flowers. Curiously they have been observed to rarely visit yellow flowers, and favor those that are blue, pink, or purple. On average, their wingspan is 2 inches and they only live about 2 months. During our hot summer days, the Silver-spotted Skipper hangs out on the underside of leaves to keep cool. They are diurnal just like us and are active during the day and sleep at night!

Story County Water Quality Update

by Dan Haug, Water Quality Specialist

Much needed rain the day before Halloween raised water levels in Ioway Creek by a foot and swept away someone's jack-o-lantern! However, the creek was dry when we did our monitoring route in mid-October.

View the latest data

Five volunteers helped me survey benthic macroinvertebrates in Ioway Creek when drought nixed our plans for a fall water quality snapshot. Not very many kinds or many bugs total, but a few species were sensitive to pollution, so the overall score was "fair." That's more consistent with drought stress than with poor water quality.