Overview

Our mission is to provide educational and technical resources
to communities, agencies and others to promote positive action
on the part of the public to protect water quality.

 

 

Brief History
The Iowa Storm Water Education Program was created in 2004 to address the educational
needs of cities and others impacted by storm water regulations. The program has grown over
the past few years to include the following:

• Quarterly Resource Program
• Technical Services
• Workshops and Training

Quarterly Resource Program
This program is supported by annual MS-4 city membership fees.

• Provide educational resources on a quarterly basis to assist members with their
  education and outreach needs
• Membership available to communities and other interested groups involved in
  education and outreach
• Resource toolbox and user guide with creative educational materials using various
  media designed for specific target audiences
• Networking amongst community storm water professionals
• Website for Iowa storm water needs and quarterly newsletter

Technical Services
This part of the program is funded contractually with an individual city or organization.

• Training programs designed based on individual needs
  • Watershed assessment
  • Pollution prevention and good housekeeping
  • Fertilizer and Pesticide Management
  • Low Impact Development
  • Conservation Design
• Ordinance development
  • Construction site runoff control
  • Post Construction
  • Illicit discharge
• Watershed assessment plans
  • GIS maps
  • Water quality monitoring data analysis
  • Land use, watereshed or action plans
• Meeting facilitation
  • Based on individual needs

Workshops and Conferences
(This part of the program is funded by registrations)
Designed and developed based on needs

Members

• MS-4 and City Members
• Associate Members
• Supporting Memberships

The Partnership

In order to understand and comply with NPDES regulations, and to help ensure that statewide design standards and specifications are available to support good storm water runoff management practices, several organizations came together to form the Iowa Stormwater Partnership (ISP) in 2004.

 

The mission of the ISP is to improve water quality in Iowa by promoting
methods, design guidelines, standard specifications, educational activities,
and research and demonstration projects for the purpose of reducing
storm water pollutants in Iowa streams.

The objective of ISP is fourfold:

• Provide uniform, properly reviewed design standards and specifications for public improvements involving erosion and sediment control and storm water quantity and quality, using SUDAS as the statewide standard.

• Help Iowa communities meet permitting requirements for storm water discharge related to construction activities and municipal storm sewer systems.

• Disseminate information and provide education opportunities.

• Support research and demonstration projects that can help improve design standards and specifications.

The Iowa Stormwater Runoff Control (ISRC) project is a collection of related activities conducted and funded by various partners. Through the ISRC Steering Committee, the Iowa Stormwater Partnership currently oversees the following parts of the Iowa Stormwater Runoff Control project:

I. Update IDNR's Construction Site Erosion Control Manual

II. Revise storm water sections of the Iowa Statewide Urban Design and Specifications Manual. SUDAS Manual

III. Provide technology transfer through continuing education opportunities.

IV. Demonstration and research on Best Management Practices (BMPs).

V. Develop Iowa Stormwater Runoff Control Interactive Manual.

 

Rainscaping

The Iowa rain garden manual and training program have been developed due to the increased interest in rain gardens and storm water quality best management practices in Iowa.

 

The manual and education program are endorsed by the following organizations:

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Iowa Department of Economic Development

Iowa Storm Water Partnership

Iowa Storm Water Education Program

 

A 4.5 hour rain garden training program has been developed, the first event was held on March 27, 2008 in Ankeny. A proficiency certificate is awarded to those that attend the training and pass a written exam held the day of the training. Those that have passed these requirements are listed on this website. Please visit the "Continuing Education / Training" section of the website to learn when the next training program will be held.

 

Speaker Contact Information

Iowa Rain Garden Manual

Training Certificates Awarded

 

RG Installed

A rain garden installed in a morning by Heard Gardens