Clear Creek Watershed Coalition Meeting Wednesday, October 19, 2016 @ 5:00 PM Coralville City Hall Attendees: Allen Bradley, Ashlee Johannes, Greg Houseal, Karen Kee, Larry Johnson, John Lundell, Kate Giannini, Ben Clark, Tracey Mulcahey, Jennifer Fencl, Jim Bartles (Tiffin), Aaron Gwinnup, Amy Foster, Mel Schlachter, Adam Wilke, Charles Beebe, Avery Mumm, Kevin Richards, Mary Beth Stevenson, Antonio Arenas, Craig Just, Dave Bennett, Keith Schilling, Art Bettis 5:02 PM Meeting called to order - Introductions - Administrative Update: Jennifer Fencl - Iowa Watershed Approach Update Iowa Flood Center o Larry Weber shared an update on contracting for the Iowa Watershed Approach. HUD and IEDA currently have an agreement in place. IEDA is now working to secure and finalize contracts with counties and funded partners. The UI is still negotiating the contract to come to an agreement about intellectual property (IP). The IFC team has been attending regular WMA quarterly meetings and have begun preliminary hydrologic assessment and communication/outreach work for the project. Weber emphasized the importance of the WMA in the HUD project. The WMA will serve as the vehicle for communication and decision making across the watershed. A new website for the IWA project is now publicly available and can be accessed here: http://www.iihr.uiowa.edu/iwa/ The website contains important resources and information such as a calendar of upcoming meetings and events, partner contact information, and quarterly meeting information that will be shared. - IFC Hydrology update: Antonio Arenas o IFC Research Engineer Antonio Arenas shared a presentation discussing current flooding and rainfall trends across Iowa and the Midwest. Studies show we are experiencing more frequent flooding and heavier rainfall, but not larger floods. o Arenas also discussed a new Agriculture Conservation Planning Framework screening tool they are using for each watershed to map potential conservation practices. It was noted that Calvin Wolter would be invited to attend a future meeting to discuss the work he and his team are doing to inventory existing BMPs in each watershed. The WMA would then have access to current and potential practices to help with watershed planning. - Breanna Shea noted that the UI has prepared a list of services to provide to the WMAs to let them know what services will be provided to them through
the IWA. The list is available on the IWA website, along with other resources that DNR/IDALS/ - Adaptations and resilience: David Bennett o Bennett has been working with Marian Muste on a project that will work in the Iowa/Cedar River Basin looking at climate change, landuse change, hydrology, etc. They are looking at information systems to integrate this information. Currently the Decision Support System is available for the watershed. - Prairie on Farms Project: Greg Houseal o Greg Houseal attended the meeting to represent the UNI Tallgrass Prairie Center and discuss the benefits of incorporating prairie on the landscape and into farming practices. Housel discussed the multiple benefits of prairie, noting that they are a very cost-effective practice for landowners to implement. - Clear Creek Watershed Planning Process Update: Jennifer Fencl o Fencl noted the CCWC is moving forward with the planning for the DNR grant. The CCWC Tech Team has been meeting regularly and have determined locations for water-quality monitoring. Interns are working to geo-locate stormwater inlets/outlets in Coralville and surrounding communities. Eleven water quality monitoring sites have been identified that will be tested monthly following IOWATER protocol. The sampling has been done since July and job duties will be taken over by the project coordinator that is hired for the HUD grant. CCWC partners are working together to decide how to complete a RASCAL assessment of the watershed. The social assessment for the watershed will be completed using HUD planning money instead of DNR planning money. Johnson County has their contract from IEDA and are ready to approve. The next steps will be to release an RFP for planning services through the WMA. ECICOG cannot be involved in the RFP since they will be applying for these funds. IEDA has a sample RFP available for the counties to use as a template. The county could have multiple RFP s since consultants each have different skills. The County will manage this process and it will be one of the first items they will complete. - Coordinator position: There currently is money in the contract for the project coordinator that is shared with the ERWMA, but money will flow through Johnson County. Partners are currently looking at where the position will be housed. A committee will then be involved to help with the hiring process. IFC will contract with Johnson County to do the monitoring. - CCWC logo and website: o Fencl noted that the CCWC logo is available and ready to be used by partners. In addition, a website has been completed and Fencl asked
for attendees to provide any photos that could be shared on the website or social media sites. - Additional comments: o Fencl noted that Larry Wilson (CCWEB) had reached out and wants to know how the CCWEB can help the watershed and stay active and involved. They are looking for a project to lead and coordinate. want to stay active and involved. Ideas will arise as the group moves forward with the DNR and HUD grant process and Fencl will reach out to Wilson and other CCWEB members. o Events: The Johnson County SWCD is having a water sampling event on November 17 th at the USDA Field Office. o Events: November 15 th is the Flood Risk Management Workshop being held by HSEMD. o Events: ECICOG Legislative Open House, Tuesday November 22 at Coralville City Hall Next Meeting: November 30 th @ 5 PM, Coralville City Hall - Adjourn: 6:09