Hello Mike,

This month's issue is short and focused on milkweed, water, and our upcoming conservation events. We'll have more Byway Buzz in October!

Conservation Connection

The Legacy of IOWATER

(Plus "Why is this lake green?")

by Water Quality Specialist Dan Haug

The IOWATER volunteer stream monitoring program was ended years ago but its legacy of citizen science and watershed education is alive and well. This article is an invitation to the upcoming Iowa Water Summit, a reflection on this year’s river cleanup with Iowa Project A.W.A.R.E., and a cautionary tale about Lake Darling.

4 Minute Read

Pollinator of the Month:

Red Milkweed Beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus)

by Pollinator Conservation Specialist Katelyn Rinicker

Red Milkweed Beetles are a vibrant red with black spots and beautiful, long antennae. As you might’ve guessed, the common milkweed is this beetle's host plant. Just like the monarch butterfly, the beetle feeds on the milkweed making it taste bad to predators.

Red Milkweed Beetles are an important part of the milkweed plant’s pollination. While these bright red bugs are feeding on the flowers, they accidentally poke a leg further into the flower. This is where the milkweed pollinia (milkweed doesn't have ‘normal’ loose pollen) is and gets stuck on their legs. They then travel to the next milkweed flower with the pollinia stuck to them and pollinate it!

Iowa's Native Milkweed Species

by Pollinator Conservation Specialist

Katelyn Rinicker

Milkweed are important! Not only do they provide beautiful flowers, but they are the host plant of Monarch Butterflies. Iowa has 18 native species of Milkweed.

2 Minute Read

Story County Water Quality Update

by Water Quality Specialist Dan Haug

The kids are back to school and water quality in Story County streams is back to normal after an unusually bad spring and early summer.

View the latest data

Watershed and Wildlife Events

Monarch Magic

Saturday, September 7, 10am-1pm

Ada Hayden Heritage Park, Ames

A free, family-friendly event for all ages taking place at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. Experience the magic of tagging a monarch butterfly to help scientists track their migration. Participate in many fun activities to learn more about this butterfly and other pollinators.

Iowa Water Summit

Tuesday, October 8, 9am to 4:30pm

Izaak Walton League Des Moines Chapterhouse

Interested in water quality and water monitoring? We will be bringing together speakers representing nonprofits, county conservation and academic institutions to cover topics including:

Starting a Volunteer Monitoring Initiative
Microbial Source Tracking
Tools and Tips for Data Analysis
Effective Communication About Water Quality

Check out the agenda and register by September 20 so we can get an accurate head count. Registration is just $20 and includes lunch.

Message from our Board of Directors

Our Board has been active behind the scenes, working to keep the Prairie Rivers of Iowa ship viable and pointed in the right direction. We are managing our dollars carefully, while making sure we do all that we promise to do. We operate a lean operation, and several Board members have filled some of staff roles, yet getting and keeping talented staff to continue to perform all our programs and projects. Our financial prudence has helped us to bring our financial condition into a healthier level.

We anticipate re-starting our search for our Development Director very soon, so if you or someone you know would be interested in this position, email us at Search@PRRCD.org .

With schools and colleges back in session, we are also actively looking for a student or students to assist us with some of our projects as well as public relations efforts.

If you attend Monarch Magic on September 7 or the Ames ECO fair on September 28th, you will see our Board volunteering beside our staff!

Reed Riskedahl, Board President