Watershed Planning for Communities

Plan for growth and development. Minimize effects of flooding. Protect drinking water resources. Each of these goals has something in common – they all occur within a watershed. Yet traditional urban and community-based planning does not always take a ‘watershed approach’.

The Iowa Stormwater Education Program and Iowa DNR have partnered to bring the “Watershed Planning for Communities” workshops to the Cedar River Watershed. Local decision makers are invited to attend, including local elected officials, city and county level planners, planning and zoning commission members, developers, and anyone else with a vested interest in watershed planning. The workshop will be held in three locations – Washington on May 1, Mason City on May 7, and Hiawatha on May 8.  Each workshop will take place from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.

Here are some of the topics that will be addressed through presentations from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, RDG Planning & Design, MSA Professional Services, and the Iowa Association of Regional Councils of Government.

• Watershed 101 – Learn more about the natural functions of watersheds and how we can design communities to mimic watershed processes
• Integrating Watershed Planning and Land Use Planning
• Financial Benefits – Learn how planning at a watershed scale can lead to partnerships and efficiencies for individual communities
• Case Studies – Hear about other communities in Iowa that have adopted a watershed-based planning process
• Watershed Planning for Communities ToolKit: A toolbox will be distributed with essential resources for communities.

Dates: Tuesday, May 7, Wednesday, May 8 - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Locations: 5/7 Mason City, 5/8 Hiawatha 

A registration form is available here: Watershed Planning for Communities Registration

Please feel free to contact Stacie Johnson of ISWEP (sjohnson@iamu.org) or me (marybeth.stevenson@dnr.iowa.gov) if you have any questions.

 Thursday, May 30, 7:00-9:00pm, "Trouble the Water" Art Exhibit and Reception at Legion Arts (CSPS Hall), 1103 3rd Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

For more information, please visit the event website: http://ppc.uiowa.edu/forkenbrock/five-years-out-trouble-water. This event is free and open to the public.

Friday, May 31, 8:30am-3:30pm, "Five Years Out: Ongoing Impacts and Challenges of the 2008 Floods" Symposium at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, 1400 Inspiration Place SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

For more information, including a detailed program schedule, please visit the event website: http://ppc.uiowa.edu/forkenbrock/five-years-out. Please register in advance online. This event is open to the public.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Liz Watson at (319) 335-6817 or elizabeth-m-watson@uiowa.edu.

These events are co-sponsored by the Department of Geography in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Digital Studio for Public Humanities, Forkenbrock Series on Public Policy and Housing & Land Use Policy Program at the Public Policy Center, IIHR - Hydroscience & Engineering and the Iowa Flood Center, Obermann Center for Advanced Studies, and the School of Urban & Regional Planning at the University of Iowa; Iowa SourceMedia Group; Legion Arts; and the University of Iowa Community Credit Union.