A watershed project can never be fully successful without the support of the community. Educating the public about the issues that face the watershed, as well as the steps each of us can take to protect it, helps foster an awareness and lead to its preservation.

The Iron River Watershed Project has a number of projects designed to develop a better understanding and appreciation for the watershed.  The following list details the activities scheduled for promoting interest in the Iron River watershed.

BLUE RIBBON BRAGGING BOARDS

“Blue Ribbon Bragging Boards” located along the Apple Blossom Trail, present some basic information about the Iron River and give a general description of the watershed. The namesake of the sign contains a bulletin board that can be changed to display new information such as project updates, information about different problems and sources of pollution, insect identification charts and hatch schedules, as well as an area to showcase photos of fish, wildlife, or landscapes people have taken in the watershed.

STORM DRAIN MARKERS

Many of the storm sewers in the communities throughout the watershed drain directly into the Iron River. As part of the watershed project, Iron River storm sewer inlets have been clearly marked with signage that tells people not to dump their waste down the sewers. These markers serve as a constant reminder of the connection between the city and the river. Local 5th graders from West Iron County Middle School helped install the markers and distributed door hangers that explained about the watershed and the project.

THE IRON RIVER WATERSHED NEWS

A high-quality brochure has been published for distribution to watershed residents and other interested persons. It includes detailed information about the watershed size and components, information about the watershed council and project, elements that contribute to the degradation of a watershed, and what we can all do to contribute to watershed protection.
 

IRON RIVER WATERSHED SIGNS

Signs have been located at many stream crossings that identify those waterbodies within the Iron River Watershed.  The signs familiarize the community with the size of the watershed and give them a better understanding of their place within that watershed.

Click on image above to download an
 8-page PDF version (about 560 Kb).

NEWSLETTERS & ARTICLES

Newsletters and articles continue to be published informing the public on project activities, as well as watershed topics in general.  The quarterly newsletter, the Iron River Informer, is distributed as part of the Dickinson-Iron Conservation District newsletter.  Coverage of the Iron River Watershed Project, and the Iron River Watershed Council is given periodically in the local newspaper, the Iron County Reporter.

ADOPT-A-RIVER CLEAN UP

The annual adopt-a-river clean up day is a day in which local high school students and the Iron River Watershed Council work together to remove garbage and unnatural debris from the Iron River.  Typically, tons of garbage are removed each year during this event.  This activity is vital to the information and education strategy as it gives the school kids a connection with the river and reminds the community of one way that we can all make a positive impact.

WATERSHED EDUCATION TRAINING

Working together with the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District, and the Dickinson Conservation District, a workshop was conducted for science teachers to aid them in teaching watershed issues to their students. They were given an introduction to watershed science and were taught field techniques for conducting water quality tests and habitat evaluations. The workshop participants also went on a “watershed tour” that compared quality natural areas within a watershed to areas that have been affected by negative impacts. It showcased rehabilitation projects and explained how those projects are improving the watershed. Apart from the knowledge and experience acquired from being a participant, each school that was represented received toolkits that contained equipment and materials to use both in the classroom and in the field. They contain supplies to educate students on watershed issues, basic stream ecology, and water chemistry.

WEBSITE PUBLICATION

With White Water Associates' help, an informative website was developed and published, describing some of the challenges and accomplishments of the Iron River Watershed Project. Please take some time to explore the Concerns/Pollutants and Projects pages, each of which have several separate webpages.