By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan CEDAR RAPIDS – Even as they moved items to safety and sandbagged their buildings, some Czech Village business owners questioned whether or not they would return, as they prepared for what could be the second worst flood in the city’s history. As of Sunday, Sept. 25, the National Weather Service predicted […]
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Category: Environment
Flooding concerns rise in Iowa; help nee...
Iowans who experienced the floods of 2008 are closely watching forecasts, as rain continues and river levels rise, potentially to near-record flooding. As of Saturday afternoon, (Sept. 24, 2016) the National Weather Service had moderated its flood stage prediction for the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, back down to 24 feet by Tuesday morning. Uncertainty, […]
What is that blue flower on Iowa’s roads
If you drive on nearly any Iowa county road and many main highways, too, you’ve undoubtedly seen light blue flowers brightening the roadside. Although not native to North America, chicory (Cichorium intybus) has become ubiquitous in the state, and many others, as well. According to Polk County Conservation, Chicory was introduced to North America from […]
Photo gallery: EcoFest 2016
Pollinators have been a worthy focus of habitat restoration efforts, one of the themes at this year’s EcoFest in the New Bohemia area of Cedar Rapids. Members of Monarchs in Eastern Iowa, along with numerous willing young volunteers, made milkweed seed balls during the event, which will be used by RAGBRAI riders to spread across […]
EcoFest and nature walk among Earth Week...
Live music, environmental documentaries, a butterfly show and more are scheduled for this year’s EcoFest, on Saturday, April 23, 2016, in New Bohemia in southeast Cedar Rapids. Other activities are taking place during Earth Week, in the days leading up to Earth Day on April 22. Related: Earth Month activities in Iowa City Trees Forever […]
Earth Month celebrated with film screeni...
The University of Iowa Office of Sustainability and Johnson County Green Team have events under way this April to celebrate Earth Month and Earth Week 2016. Additionally, Friends of Historic Preservation in Iowa City and the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center will hold a screening of Blue Vinyl at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 13. […]
Iowa goes all-in on oil pipeline
The promise of jobs won out over the rights of property owners, as both the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Utilities Board today gave the go-ahead to use Iowa farmland to run an oil pipeline through the state, despite an outcry from the landowners and environmentalists. Eminent domain will be allowed to be […]
Emerald Ash Borer found on University of...
IOWA CITY – Woodpeckers helped pinpoint emerald ash borer, an invasive pest that kills all ash trees, on the University of Iowa campus. Johnson County’s confirmation brings to 30 the number of counties where emerald ash borer has been found in Iowa. That includes Linn County, where live larva of the beetle was detected in […]
Cedar Rapids removes more healthy trees ...
By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan CEDAR RAPIDS – Losses continue to stack up in the Czech Village neighborhood, where another round of trees have been given the axe, in the name of flood control. The neighborhood was inundated with floodwaters from the nearby Cedar River in 2008, after which numerous homes were demolished, leading to a […]
Cedar Rapids Washington asbestos case go...
By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan A state commission will decide whether or not to refer a case involving the Cedar Rapids Community School District to the Attorney General’s Office for further enforcement. The Environmental Protection Commission will take up the question regarding asbestos removal at Cedar Rapids Washington High School at its meeting Feb. 16, 2016. […]