Greetings!

Turning a Page in our Leadership

Prairie Rivers of Iowa's most recent Director, Tina VanDyk, has resigned to take another local position and spend more time with her family. We have been blessed with her talent and with the dedication she exhibited as we worked together. Tina has helped us better organize our entire organization; more clearly understand the opportunities we have and has tightened our team cohesion with her leadership. We shall miss her efforts and smile.

With every challenge comes opportunity! Prairie Rivers board leaders have carefully considered this Director position and are seriously considering increasing this position to full (or nearly) full-time. We believe this Executive Director position in the future will additionally be involved in relationship building and development.

With many opportunities in front of us, it continues to be extremely important to grow our organization financially and programmatically. Below is our new posting!

If you or anyone you know is interested please contact us or share this with those you know.

Reed Riskedahl, Prairie Rivers of Iowa board president

We’re Hiring! Executive Director – Prairie Rivers of Iowa. Lead our mission to sustain Iowa’s natural, cultural, and historical resources through programs in Water Quality, Pollinator Conservation, and Iowa Byways. Based in Ames, this role oversees staff and finances, drives fundraising, and builds community partnerships.

We want strong leadership, with nonprofit management, fundraising experience, and a passion for conservation and community impact. Check us out: www.prrcd.org

Apply now to: search@prrcd.org or Prairie Rivers of Iowa Resource Conservation and Development, 3116 South Duff Ave. Suite 201, Ames, IA 50010

Seed Bank Update

Fall is the perfect time to plant your native gardens! Stop by to collect some seed for your next native space! Or if you already have a native space, donate seed from it.

We are open from 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Thursday. We have over 30 species just waiting for you to plant!

Seed Inventory

Byway Buzz

Haunted Places are Popular Destinations on the Byways

by Jeanie Hau, Byway Coordinator

Whether you tour a museum, spend the night in a haunted hotel, or explore a cemetery by candlelight, October along the byways is the most ghoulish time of the year.

2 Minute Read

Conservation Connection

Lesser Long-nosed bat by Merlin D. Tuttle Bat Conservation International

Pollinator of the Month:

Lesser Long-nosed Bat

(Leptonycteris yerbabuenae)

by Katelyn Rinicker, Pollinator Conservation Specialist

It’s October and that means it’s spooky season!

Bats are often portrayed as scary and disease ridden when in reality they are cute, helpful, and essential to ecosystems. Many bats in the USA are insectivores and help keep insect populations, like mosquitoes, in check. Others, like the Lesser Long-nosed bat, drink nectar and are important pollinators.

While it is not native to Iowa, it is one of the few nectar feeding bats native to the USA. They help pollinate Saguaro cacti, which bloom for less than 24 hours. They also feed on other Mexican succulents including Agave. So if you drink tequila, you can thank this bat!

Their bodies are about 3 inches long and can weigh between 15 and 25 grams. They have a long narrow snout with a triangular nose that looks like a leaf. Their tongues are brush tipped with ridges, making them ideal for drinking nectar. They can be found beginning in the Spring in southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico and migrate south beginning in September.

These sweethearts are federally listed as endangered and are threatened by habitat loss as urban landscapes expand and invasive grasses take over.

Our Nitrogen Moment Video Series

by Dan Haug, Water Quality Specialist

"Hi, do you have a moment to talk about the nitrogen cycle?"

We've already released five short videos on our YouTube and Instagram channels:

Why does Iowa have a nitrogen problem?
Is nitrogen pollution a recent problem?
Are nitrate test strips accurate?
Is there nitrate in my tap water?
What's up with ammonia?

And we'll continue adding to the playlist each week through the end of the year. Future videos will break down the components of a nitrogen budget, how nitrate gets into wells and rivers, and how conservation practices can prevent nitrogen loss or remove nitrogen from polluted water. We hope many Iowans will spare a moment, get better informed, and join the conversation!

Watch here!

Story County Water Quality Updates

by Dan Haug, Water Quality Specialist

Finally, some good water quality news! Stream stabilization projects are underway on West Indian Creek in Nevada and Ioway Creek in Ames, and the new sewage treatment plant has reduced bacteria levels in West Indian Creek.

View the Latest Data

Watersheds and Wildlife Events

Water Quality Breakfast

October 11th, 8:30 am - 11:00 am

Cottonwood Shelter, North River Valley Park, Ames.

Dissolved oxygen has a daily cycle, so join us bright and early to learn about water quality, help us with stream monitoring, and eat pancakes!

Seed Harvest

October 14th, 4 pm - 6 pm

Jennett Heritage Area South Parking Lot, Story County

We need YOU to helps us collect Iowa Native Seed to enhance pollinator habitats!

No experience necessary! Training will be provided on-site.

Long pants and sturdy shoes are recommended. Dress for the weather and bring water. If able, bring your own gloves and clippers; there is a limited amount available on site.

Byway Events

Iowa Valley

Annual Mystery & Mayhem Weekend

Oct 31st - Nov 1st, Hotel Millwright, Amana. Participate in a murder mystery dinner on Friday night, and then on Saturday, join the Iowa City Ghost Hunters on a paranormal investigation looking for the Ghosts of Millwright!

Lincoln Highway

54th Annual Westside Craft & Flea Market

Oct 12th, 9 am - 3 pm, Westside. With over 70 vendors, this is one of the best Flea Markets on the west side of the M & M divide!

Lisbon's Halloweentown 2025

Oct 31st, 5 pm - 7 pm, Lisbon. Not just trick-or-treating but a vendor fair, games, and hayrack ride.

The Official Halloween Bar Crawl

Oct 31st - Nov 1st, Cedar Rapids. Haunt the bars in costume and enjoy creepy drinks, food specials, and surprises during this crawl through the downtown Lincoln Highway bar scene.