Prairie Restoration at Chicaqua Bottoms Greenbelt

Join us for a hands-on day restoring Iowa’s natural solution to current water quality issues – our tallgrass prairie habitat. Once covering nearly the entire state, this critically endangered habitat now survives on 0.01% of its original range. Its loss is a significant factor in the serious environmental issues threatening our lands and waterways today. Alongside staff and fellow volunteers, you’ll collect seed from native plants ready for harvest. These seeds will be planted into the landscape and grow into deep-rooted native plants that naturally filter water, trap excess nutrients like nitrates before they reach rivers, and protect against flooding and soil loss. Your efforts directly help Polk County Conservation expand prairie across our parks and conservation areas, reducing contaminants at their source and improving water quality for everyone. You’ll also gain plant identification skills, learn about the connection between prairie and clean water, and be part of a team directly tackling one of Iowa’s biggest environmental challenges. By bringing prairie back, we bring back the land’s natural ability to clean the water. Join us to be part of the solution – for our community, our land, our rivers, and future generations.