“Living With Floods” Upcoming Events

Posted on May 21, 2013 by

Flooding

Photo by Marion Patterson; Flickr

The Living With Floods project is a statewide organization that commemorates, celebrates, and raises awareness about the flooding in Iowa and the recovery progress that has been made.

With the fifth-year anniversary of the 2008 floods coming up, these events will be taking place:

Thursday, May 30, 7pm: “Five Years Out: ‘Trouble the Water’” Curator Talk and Reception
Legion Arts at CSPS Hall, 1103 Third Street SE, Cedar Rapids
For more information, visit: http://ppc.uiowa.edu/forkenbrock/five-years-out-trouble-water
Friday, May 31, 8:30am: “Five Years Out: Ongoing Impacts and Challenges of the 2008 Floods” Symposium
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, 1400 Inspiration Place SW, Cedar Rapids
For more information and to register, visit: http://ppc.uiowa.edu/forkenbrock/five-years-out

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On the Radio: Drake and Coe Lower Bottled Water Waste

Posted on May 19, 2013 by

Water bottles

Photo by Bryan Peters; flickr

Listen to this week’s radio segment here, or read the transcript below. This week’s segment covers the efforts of Coe College and Drake University to reduce bottled water waste on their campuses.

Drake University and Coe College are among the many Iowa schools cutting down on bottled water waste.

This is the Iowa Environmental Focus.

Continue reading →

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Farm Runoff Causing Record Level of Nitrates

Posted on May 14, 2013 by

Des Moines River

Photo by dtruzchi, Flickr

While drinking water is still safe in the Des Moines area, local officials say it is difficult to keep it that way.

Des Moines Water Works has turned on the nitrate-removal system for the first time in six years; one of the largest facilities of its kind.

Agricultural chemical runoff has caused the nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers to rise to health-threatening levels.

Read more about the issue and what is being done here.

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On the Radio: ISU’s BioBus Club uses vegetable oil to create fuel for local buses

Posted on May 13, 2013 by

Photo by manop, Flickr.

Photo by manop, Flickr.

Listen to this week’s radio segment here or read the transcript below. This week’s segment discusses the BioBus Club at Iowa State University.

Iowa State University’s BioBus Club recycles vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel.

This is the Iowa Environmental Focus.

Continue reading →

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MidAmerican makes big investment in wind energy

Posted on May 9, 2013 by

Photo by ali_pk, Flickr.

Photo by ali_pk, Flickr.

MidAmerican Energy will invest 1-point-9 billion dollars towards wind energy in Iowa.

This investment will add about 656 new wind turbines by 2016.

The new wind turbines could mean that about 39 percent of the energy used by MidAmerican Iowa customer would come from wind by 2016.

Read more here.

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Tips for a “green” office

Posted on May 8, 2013 by

Photo by brianhendrix, Flickr.

Photo by brianhendrix, Flickr.

The Iowa Chamber of Commerce has released a list of tips for making offices more sustainable.

The suggestions include switching to LED light bulbs, using more natural light and sharing a recycling program with other nearby businesses.

Read more about these tips here.

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Conservation Reserve Program in Iowa

Posted on May 7, 2013 by

Tom Vilsack announcing adding 400,000 acres to the CRP. Photo by USDAgov, Flickr.

Tom Vilsack announcing adding 400,000 acres to the CRP. Photo by USDAgov, Flickr.

Iowa Public Radio details the efforts of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in Iowa.

The CRP is a program where farmers receive money to keep portions of their land out of production. This reduces runoff, prevents erosion and creates more habitats for migrating birds.

Read about CRP and its future here.

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