The Raccoon River Watershed Association met Saturday morning at the Hotel Pattee in Perry. Issues of water quality again topped their agenda.
The August meeting featured Adam Schnieders, water quality coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Schnieders is addressed the group on statewide progress on point-source pollution. Point sources of water pollution typically discharge from pipes coming from, for example, municipal wastewater treatment facilities or privately owned factories, such as packing plants.
Ray Harden of Perry gave a presentation on bird phenology in the Raccoon River basin. He discussed the migration times and mating habits of several dozens of birds in the watershed.
Harden illustrated his discussion with pictures from his own extensive collection of wildlife photographs.
After lunch, several members of the raccoon River Watershed Association took a guided walk at Tipton Prairie, a four-acre hill slope prairie in Greene County, about 30 minutes from Perry by car. Tipton Prairie lies west of the Raccoon River on County Road E57, between Rippey and Cooper. The area is described as “a compact, four-acre, very high quality remnant” of virgin prairie.
The never-plowed ground is home to more than 100 species of native wildflowers. Access to the prairie is not marked by signs, but it shares the access point for the Old Franklin Cemetery, which is marked.
Recommended gear for the half-mile walk includes boots, long pants, sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
