Residents in the Turkey River watershed are invited to attend a community kickoff meeting to learn more about the Iowa Watershed Projects, a multi-year study aimed at reducing the adverse impacts of flooding. The kickoff meeting is scheduled for June 19 at the Freedom Bank Community Room, Elkader, from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

The Iowa Watershed Projects kickoff meeting will provide an overview of this study, which is being conducted in partnership with the Iowa Flood Center and IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering at the University of Iowa. The initial phase will include the completion of a detailed hydrologic assessment of the Turkey River watershed, which will identify areas where the implementation of flood mitigation projects is most likely to reduce downstream flood damages.

Funds may be available during the second phase of the project for the design and construction of flood mitigation projects in identified areas of the watershed.

Larry Weber, director of IIHR, will give an overview of the Iowa Watershed Projects, including a discussion of the study’s phases, timeline, and anticipated outcomes for both the Turkey River watershed and the state of Iowa.

Northeast Iowa RC&D will present information about the watershed, including current projects, programs, and community involvement in watershed initiatives.

A discussion and question-and-answer session with community members will follow the presentations.

Funding for the Iowa Watershed Projects is provided through the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Relief allocation and is available only to the 85 counties (or cities within those counties) declared federal disaster areas during the 2008 flood.