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  • North Raccoon River Watershed

    The North Raccoon River Watershed Project includes activities in the upper watershed to reduce flooding and improve water quality, as well as infrastructure projects in the city of Storm Lake to mitigate flooding.

    Fact Sheet

North Raccoon River

The North Raccoon River Watershed Project includes activities in the upper watershed to reduce flooding and improve water quality, as well as infrastructure projects in the city of Storm Lake to protect commercial and residential property from flooding.

The North Raccoon River in Central Iowa is a tributary of the Des Moines River, flowing mainly through the Des Moines Lobe landform, which retains imprints of glacial occupation, such as abundant moraines and shallow wetland basins. Flat land and poor surface drainage dominate this “prairie pothole” landscape. The North Raccoon River Watershed (NRRW) is heavily tiled; approximately 85% of the land is in row crop production with a corn-soybean rotation. The NRRW landscape is considered the most important and threatened waterfowl habitat in North America, supporting more than 300 migratory bird species.

In addition to watershed activities that will take place in the NRRW, the city of Storm Lake is also receiving funds to help make the community more flood resilient. Projects in Storm Lake will include upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant, reconstruction of streets with pervious pavement, and the construction of wetlands.

In 2013, the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy named the NRRW a priority watershed. Many organizations are currently active in the watershed and existing projects will complement the activities of the Iowa Watershed Approach.

A North Raccoon River Watershed Management Coalition (NRRWMC) was formed in 2016 to bring partners together to address watershed concerns.

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Details

Grant Award: $3,776,575

Storm Lake Infrastructure: $6,474,750

Lead County: Buena Vista

Project Coordinator

  • Jonathan Gano
  • JAGano@dmgov.org

Contact Jonathan Gano, City of Des Moines Public Works Director, for any questions or comments you may have about the North Raccoon River Watershed project.

Planning Consultant

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc.

Project Engineer

WHKS & Co.

North Raccoon In the News

June 13, 2022

Pond-wetland complex to reduce Raccoon flood pressure, filter water

June 9, 2022

Iowa Watershed Approach Brings End-of-Project Tour to Storm Lake

April 15, 2021

Raccoon River Listed In The Top Ten of America’s Most Endangered Rivers

December 11, 2018

Iowa Watershed Approach consults farmers, seeks volunteers

April 10, 2018

North Raccoon River WMC seeks Watershed Planning Services

Upcoming Meetings

Resources

  • North Raccoon River Watershed Management Plan
  • North Raccoon River Watershed Hydrologic Assessment
  • North Raccoon River Fact Sheet
  • North Raccoon River Watershed Hydrologic Modeling webinar presented by Dan Gilles on March 31, 2020

Meeting Materials

JULY 19, 2019

  • Agenda
  • Presentations
  • Minutes

APRIL 12, 2019

  • Agenda
  • Presentations
  • Minutes

JAN 25, 2019

  • Agenda
  • Presentations
  • Minutes

OCT 26, 2018

  • Agenda
  • Presentations
  • Minutes

AUG 24, 2018

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JUN 22, 2018

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MAR 23, 2018

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JAN 26, 2018

  • Agenda
  • Presentations
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DEC 13, 2017

  • Agenda
  • Presentations
  • Minutes

SEP 20, 2017

  • Agenda
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MAY 17, 2017

  • Agenda
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MAR 28, 2017

  • Agenda
  • Presentations
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NOV 29, 2016

  • Agenda
  • Presentations
  • Minutes

SEP 08, 2016

  • Agenda
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