By Mikael Mulugeta
On March 1, 2017, Jody Bailey began serving the English River WMA as the project coordinator for the Iowa Watershed Approach.
Along with her colleague Ben Curtis, a project manager for the English River WMA, Bailey is responsible for facilitating stakeholder engagement in watershed improvement efforts, developing educational programming, coordinating implementation of the best management practices for water quality improvement and flood reduction goals, and has administrative responsibilities at the English River Watershed Management Authority (ERWMA).
Originally from Iowa City, Bailey received her B.A. in sociology and her M.S. in urban and regional planning from the University of Iowa.
We caught up with Bailey to discuss her new position.
Q: How long have you been working at the English River WMA?
A: I have been working at the English River WMA since 2013 and led the initial watershed assessments and planning efforts.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in your new position?
A: On the local level, my biggest priority is to engage more landowners in watershed protection efforts through education and financial incentives provided by the HUD project. On a broader level, we are hopeful that the HUD project successfully develops a roadmap for implementing statewide resiliency projects across other states who may need it.
Q: How did you hear about the opening and what was appealing about the position?
A: The Project Coordinator position was especially appealing to me as I have been with the English River WMA since its inception in 2013 and it’s exciting to be on board for the next phase, the implementation phase, where ideas become “shovel ready” projects.
Q: Is there anything you’d like to tell the English River WMA and IWA partners?
A: Ben and I are both looking forward to where the IWA project takes us, and continuing to be part of the amazing team of water resource professionals involved in this project.
Q: What’s a hobby of yours?
A: Riding horses through Iowa’s river valleys.
Q: What is the last book you read?
A: David Sedaris’ “Me Talk Pretty One Day”
Q: What’s your favorite movie?
A: “Apocalypse Now”
Q: What’s your favorite food?
A: Crusty French bread and amazing cheese.
Q: Where would you like to go that you’ve never been?
A: It’s on my bucket list to take a train ride through the Rocky Mountains with my family.
Q: What’s your hidden talent?
A: My dad raised me right; I drive a manual transmission and can change my own oil.
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Ben Curtis, a project manager for the English River Watershed and the City of Kalona, will assist Bailey with the operations of the English WMA.
Originally from Lake Zurich, Illinois, Curtis received his bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from Drake University and his master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Iowa, specializing in land use and environmental planning.
Curtis had this to say about his role as project manager.
Q: What are the responsibilities of your position?
A: As a project manager for the English River Watershed and the City of Kalona, I was brought on board to assist the project coordinator with developing sub-watershed plans and implementing conservation practices in our watershed through the IWA project. I also work on planning projects for the City of Kalona. I started as an intern in the summer of 2015 and have been involved with the watershed and city since.
Q: Where did you work before you took this position?
A: After graduating from Drake, I worked for both the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. I worked for the Planning, Design, and Construction department at the University of Iowa during my graduate career.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in this as project manager?
A: In addition to helping the project coordinator implement many conservation practices across our watershed, I hope to promote the English River Watershed, and all other watersheds in Iowa, as tools for achieving good planning. Watershed groups foster partnerships that allow for sharing data and local-knowledge that is necessary to prepare solid plans.
Q: How did you hear about the opening and what was appealing about the position?
A: The idea of watersheds is appealing from a planning standpoint. The notion of geographically similar communities, faced with similar challenges related to water, working together across political boundaries is a powerful concept.
Q: What’s a hobby of yours?
A: I enjoy biking and kayaking.
Q: Where would you like to go that you’ve never been?
A: I would love to travel to Italy. And/or explore Europe by train.
Contact Jody at jbailey@englishriverwma.org and Ben at bcurtis@englishriverwma.org, or by phone (319) 656-2310
