The Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) conservation webinar taking place Jan. 22, at noon CST will feature Andrew Rust, freshwater restoration specialist, The Nature Conservancy. Rust works throughout Iowa facilitating efforts to restore wetlands in key watersheds across the state. His primary role involves engaging landowners and conservation practitioners to rehabilitate oxbow wetlands in areas of the highest impact, aiming to improve water quality, create habitat for critical species such as the Topeka shiner and enhance flood retention. 

In the webinar, “Iowa’s Oxbows Reborn: Bringing Life Back to One of Iowa’s Vital Ecosystems,” Rust will showcase the Oxbow Restoration Toolkit and discuss how it is being used by conservation practitioners, landowner and others interested in learning about effective oxbow restorations. He will provide a brief on the history and environmental benefits of oxbows, and will cover the basics of oxbow restorations, from how to identify potential oxbow restoration sites using spatial imagery to designing restorations that benefit critical species such as the Topeka shiner. Rust will provide information on accessing the toolkit from The Nature Conservancy as well as through the Frontiers in Environmental Science Journal, which published a peer-reviewed article entitled, “Shaping the Future of Conservation: A model for Restoring Oxbows in Iowa and Beyond.”

“Oxbows are naturally occurring features of the Iowa landscape, and the many degraded oxbows scattered across the state present a significant opportunity for restoration efforts that can unlock numerous environmental benefits,” said Rust. “This webinar will equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to understand and plan restoration activities. I hope that participants will gain a new appreciation for the prevalence of oxbows in Iowa’s landscape and the incredible potential for conservation impacts available through restoration. In addition, conservation practitioners and landowners alike should come away with greater confidence in identifying oxbows for restoration, whether they are currently involved in restoration activities or not or have a potential restoration site on their (or their neighbor’s) property.”

Participants are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.

Up Next: Wednesday, Jan. 29, “Practical Robotics in Conservation,” with Josh Peschel, Iowa State University

Upcoming Webinars in the Series:

Feb. 5: Justin Meissen, Tallgrass Prairie Center – University of Northern Iowa
Feb. 12: Aaron Daigh, University of Nebraska – Lincoln