“Spring leaf out” is occurring earlier than average in northern states due to a warm March. In Iowa, in the Interstate 80 corridor and areas south, spring leaf out is occurring nearly two weeks earlier than normal.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says that Prairie Chicken Day, typically held the first week in April, was canceled due to the bird’s decline in population that has resulted in only sporadic sightings at a typically popular site in Ringgold County.
New friendships were forged in this anticipated outing
As a Nature Everywhere Community, Cedar Rapids schools will add “greenery” to some school yards and playgrounds. That could be anything from nature — like putting down more grass or installing a garden — to building infrastructure that’s stormwater and flood resistant and incorporates heat protection.
An Iowa carbon dioxide pipeline company has asked courts to pause or dismiss its pending legal fights against landowners and a state regulator in South Dakota after that state’s adoption of a law that prevents the company from using eminent domain.
Wildcat Bluff Recreation Area in Benton County, a park known for its camping, hiking and renowned disc golf course, is doubling in size after two years of collaborative work by Benton County Conservation and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.
Outdoor recreation is Iowa’s top source of tourism and accounts for $8 billion annually in economic output, according to a recent study.
An analysis by Investigative Midwest found that a substantial share of Iowa’s rivers and lakes labeled as impaired have remained in poor condition for at least a decade, highlighting persistent pollution risks for swimmers, boaters, and others who regularly use these waters.
On March 13, the organization officially launched its reservation system allowing community members to reserve the chairs at no cost for use at the nature center — the first of its kind in Cedar Rapids.
Hot fishing spots and how to snatch a good haul are top secrets on the water
Robins, red-wing blackbirds, geese and open water fishing are good signals
The number of monarch butterflies that spent the winter in Mexico doubled this year, giving hope for a species that has faced decline in recent decades. And while conservationists welcome that news, they warn those numbers still lag and more work is needed.
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