Cultivating a shared responsibility
Cultivating a shared responsibility to sustain a healthy watershed now and into the future
The Lower Cedar River Watershed is in eastern Iowa encompassing seven counties and twenty-five cities and is generally thought to include the most biologically diverse landscape in Iowa. The Lower Cedar River and its tributaries spans 703,060 acres, beginning in central Linn County and eventually joining with the Iowa River in northern Louisa County.
Resource concerns in the watershed include flooding, high bacteria levels, excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and erosion. In 2017, concerned stakeholders came together to form a Watershed Management Authority (WMA), pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 466B.22. The Lower Cedar Watershed Management Authority was officially formed as a separate legal entity in January 2018. A watershed planning process was completed in 2022 that will serve as a guide to improve the watershed and address the environmental concerns.
What is a watershed and why should I care?
A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that falls into it and drains off goes to a common outlet. Watershed can be as small as a footprint or large enough to encompass all the land that drains water into a river.
Watersheds are impacted by:
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People
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Livestock
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Cities
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Towns
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Roadways
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Farming Practices
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Extreme Weather Events
Watersheds support:
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People
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Livestock
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Cities
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Towns
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Roadways
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Farming Practices
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Extreme Weather Events
Understanding what a watershed is helps us manage flood water, keep drinking water clean, and safeguard recreational experiences.
