Cedar River Watershed Coalition meets Friday in Parkersburg

PARKERSBURG — "Renewed Urgency in the Cedar River Watershed" is the theme of the fall meeting of the Cedar River Watershed Coalition, which meets Friday in Parkersburg.

State Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, is to explain how last month's Cedar River flood increases the need for intensified efforts to build more absorbency into the watershed.

Other speakers include Larry Weber, director of University of Iowa's Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research — Hydroscience and Engineering, and Nicholas Longbucco of The Nature Conservancy, who are to talk about efforts to restore wetlands in the middle and upper Cedar River Watershed.

The meeting also features a driving tour of the Big Marsh Wildlife Management Area, a large wetland complex that straddles the West Fork of the Cedar River.

The first part of the meeting takes place from 10 a.m. to noon at the Veteran's Memorial Building, 101 Colfax St., Parkersburg.

After lunch, Department of Natural Resources biologist Jason Auel leads the driving tour from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m.

The Cedar River Watershed Coalition was formed in February 2010, in response to the Flood of 2008. It includes state and local elected officials and staff, government agency representatives, landowners, farmers, business owners, conservationists and other concerned citizens.