Since 2008, the City of Des Moines has been leading Earth Day Trash Bash which is now Iowa’s largest Earth Day volunteer event. Today the event focuses on engaging citizens and businesses in volunteer projects throughout the Des Moines metro area and has grown to be a collaboration between the Cities & citizens of Des … Continue reading Trash Bash: bringing volunteers and positive change to Easter Lake

Reducing stormwater runoff and pollutant loading throughout the watershed is a critical part of restoring Easter Lake. As new developments have been built around the lake, sediment and pollutant loading has increased. To protect Easter Lake now and into the future, addressing new urban developments is key. When a new housing development was planned near the … Continue reading Stormwater Wetland Reduces Pollutant Loading into Easter Lake

In 2016, a study by the USGS in Madison, Wisconsin revealed the removal of fallen leaves can reduce phosphorus concentrations found in stormwater by 80%. Further, it was found leaf litter and other fall organic debris contributed 56% of the annual total phosphorus load in urban stormwater. This was reduced to 16% when streets were … Continue reading Keep leaves off the streets: the easiest thing you can do for water quality this fall

Each year during the Polk County Fair, the Polk Soil & Water Conservation District presents awards to landowners, businesses, conservation driven homeowners and volunteers, organizations, high school graduates seeking environmental degrees and county and city departments for their continued and often unnoticed soil & water conservation work in Polk County. In 2018, two of the … Continue reading Local Resident and Volunteers Recognized for Contributions to Easter Lake

Polk County Conservation December 20, 2017 The Mark C. Ackelson Trail winding around Easter Lake provides an ideal place for outdoor recreation and scenic views for park visitors. Cycling, skating and hiking opportunities along the trail lie adjacent to playground equipment, fishing piers, a boat ramp, and several picnic areas. Parking and trail access is … Continue reading Mark C. Ackelson Trail Bridge Plaque Campaign

On July 28th, 2018 thirty volunteers joined the Easter Lake Watershed Project  for a cleanup event and removed a total of 1429 pounds of trash from Yeader Creek in just 2 hours. United by Blue, a Philadelphia based retailer, teamed up in with local retailer Active Endeavors of West Des Moines for their first ever joint waterway cleanup. … Continue reading Volunteers Remove 1429 Pounds of Trash from Yeader Creek

One of the most exciting parts of the Easter Lake Watershed Project is our ability to work with landowners to install conservation practices to improve our local watershed. In 2017, the Easter Lake Watershed Project was able to work with Dr. Karen Stiles, a retired marine biologist, to install a variety of conservation practices including native … Continue reading Making an impact in your “own little corner of the world”