Flood preparation seminar slated in Elkader

Elkader, a community that is no stranger to flooding, will host the first of four community seminars to help Iowans better understand the 2008 floods and how to be better prepared for future flooding.

The Elkader seminar is titled “Anatomy of Iowa Floods: Preparing for the Future.” Refreshments will be served following the seminar and a limited number of free copies of the book, “A Watershed Year: Anatomy of the Iowa Floods of 2008,” will be available to those who attend.

The seminar, which is free to the public, will be from 4 to 6 p.m., Sept. 7 at FreedomBank Community Room, 210 S. Main St., Elkader.

The agenda includes:

• Trends in Iowa precipitation and run-off, Chris Anderson, PhD, scientist, assistant director, climate science initiative, Iowa State University
• Floodplain management strategies, Lori McDaniel, Department of Natural Resources Flood Plain Management/Dam Safety supervisor
• The Iowa Flood Center: Nathan Young, associate director, Iowa Flood Center
• Rural-urban watershed coalition building, Wayne Petersen, Urban Conservation Program Coordinator, Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
• Cedar Falls Floodplain Initiative, Kamyar Enshayan, Cedar Falls City Council
• Discussion of state public policy issues, Sen. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque
• Question and answer session

For more information, visit

www.cgrer.uiowa.edu.