Squaw Creek Watershed Coalition
Exec Board Meeting
7 p.m. Thursday, March 29, 2007
City Hall

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Pre-Snapshot Meeting: Monday May 7th (tentative date)

In attendance: John Pohlman, Jim Colbert, Erv Klaas, Mike Lazere, Rick Dietz

Discussion began with a recap of the March 5th Annual Meeting, and our
appreciation of the guest speakers - Erv, Ashley, and David Rowe. And
many thanks to Jim for his previous years of leadership.

Rick reported on the dam conversion project in Story City. Construction
could begin there as the river allows, and once complete it will be a
model of what can be done on Squaw Creek at Veenker and at Lincoln Way.
Dam removal is preferred over rock weir conversions but removal is not
always possible. That seems to be the case with both the Veenker and
Lincoln Way dams.

The conversion at Story City would include a portage path, as would
those on Squaw Creek. Erv mentioned that this would blend well with the
city's long-range plans to establish a greenway through town along Squaw
Creek, but for now their focus is on the Skunk River between River
Valley Park and the Hunziker Youth Sports Complex.

Erv reported on the consultant's draft study of two proposed sites for a
new aquatics center. Other sites could still be considered but this
study looked only at a location along 13th Street north of Brookside
Park, and at the new Middle School. Community members will be invited to
hear about the study and comment on the proposals at four public
meetings in April. (April 12, 17, 25 and 27)

We discussed our planned participation in the May 12th IOWATER Snapshot.
A pre-snapshot meeting has been tentatively set for Monday May 7th and
we anticipate that it will be organized the same as last fall. IOWATER
volunteers should be checking the expiration dates on their chemicals
and comparators. If you would like to be re-supplied with chemicals or
equipment at the pre-snapshot meeting, please check them now so that
those arrangements can be made.

Jim provided an update on our efforts to establish a canoe access on
Squaw Creek at Cameron School Road. The Cameron Pines Homeowners
Association were not willing to allow access across their property due
to concerns of parties and vandalism, and because they have other plans
for the area that the access road would cross. We'll continue to explore
and inquire about other potential access points.

John will send a letter of support for a project which will study how
forest remnants may help capture nutrients and keep them from entering
nearby streams. The letter is to the National Integrated Water Quality
Integrated Research, Education, and Extension program in support of a
study proposed by ISU Drs. Thompson, McMullen, and Randall and their
collaborators.

Erv reported on several projects of the Prairie Rivers RC&D and on
activities of the Soil & Water Conservation Commission. A cooperative
project between the city and the RC&D will establish a Rain Garden in an
empty lot on 5th Street behind the library. The site will be used as a
demonstration project for 3-5 years, at which time the library is
expected to expand. Other programs involve informational workshops on
rain garden design and maintenance, and grants to assist neighborhoods
with the expense of Rain Garden installations.

A meeting was scheduled for April 25th with the expectation that we'll
attend to any last-minute snapshot details, and begin scheduling summer
activities such as a community canoe float and installation of storm
drain markers.


Submitted by Rick Dietz

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