Waterloo Creek (IA)

Waterloo Creek is one of Iowa's most promising future trout streams. In an area still recovering from heavy farming, a conservation-minded landowner and TU member has made it his goal to restore his land to its pre-settlement condition. Working with an Embrace-A-Stream grant from TU, Spring Creeks and Iowa Driftless Chapters of TU, NRCS, Northeast Iowa RC&D, and Department of Natural Resources technicians, the project has already involved removing invasive trees and replanting native grasses. Prairie burning will enhance native prairie regrowth, which will improve insect populations. Ditches that diverted natural springs from the river also limited the health of the system. Removing the ditches, reconnecting these springs, and returning the stream to its original meandering bed has combined to notable improvement in water quality and habitat.