Brookside Park Water Quality Project
2022
About
Grant award
$100,000
Total project
$1,200,000
Description
The Ioway (formerly Squaw) Creek flows through Brookside Park, a park recognized as Ames’ crown jewel by its citizens. In order to improve water quality and reduce nutrients and pollutants in and along the Ioway Creek stream corridor within Brookside Park, the city will use WQI funds to restore two oxbow wetlands, plant new native vegetation areas in the stream corridor and its bank, and install signage for public education.
Runoff from a large portion of the Ioway Creek watershed in Ames enters the creek undetained and untreated. The proposed oxbows will be the first constructed oxbows in the City of Ames and as part of a floodplain bench along the creek will serve these multi-purpose goals:
• Nutrient reduction
• Reduction of urban contaminants
• Flood reduction
• Groundwater recharge
• Additional habitat and ecosystem diversity
• Recreational opportunities along the adjoining path system
• Educational opportunities
Conservation Practices
