Emerald Ash Borer, The Green Menace, April 2006

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a very small but very destructive beetle. Metallic green in color, its slender body measures 1/2 inch in length and 1/8 inch wide. The average adult

Pest Alert: Emerald Ash Borer, September 2008

A beetle from Asia, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), was identified in July 2002 as the cause of widespread ash (Fraxinus spp.) tree decline and mortality in southeastern Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Larval feeding in the tissue between the bark and sapwood disrupts transport of nutrients and water in a tree, eventually causing branches and the entire tree to die. Tens of millions of ash trees in forest, rural, and urban areas have already been killed or are heavily infested by this pest.

08023-013 DMACC Lake Final Report

The DMACC Lake Watershed Improvement project will focus on water quality and quantity as well as channel and lake restoration. Roadway, parking lot, and roof drainage from the west and northwest portions of the campus add significant amounts of pollutants and silt to the lake. Severe channel erosion exists along the northern creek channel with exposed cut banks ranging from 2-10 feet in height devoid of vegetation. Heavy lake sedimentation and algae blooms are a result of accumulated sediment being conveyed to the lake. Most sections of the north channel have grades of between 0.5% and 1%. This channel receives large scouring flow velocities. There are no natural riffle or pool systems. There are five areas where these riffle and pool systems may need to be created in order to slow overall channel velocities. This will create a series of rock riffles and a still pool that will mimic the conditions that natural channels tend to create, protecting the channel from undercutting. Multiple practices will need to be implemented to address the pollutant, silt, and channel erosion. Improvements will be specifically tailored to address problems observed within the north channel, on-site drainage from the west and northwest, as well as off-site drainage to the north of the campus and east of Ankeny Blvd (Hwy 69). The result will be improved quality and quantity of site drainage and a channel with a more natural appearance and reduced scour velocities. Sections of the north channel will require grading to establish slopes that can support deep rooted vegetation and to improve maintenance access. Areas with eroded banks will require slope pull back and may also require toe armor protection to stabilize. A constructed wetland will collect and treat runoff from the west on site parking lot, before being discharged into the lake. This project will create educational opportunities to both students and the general public as well as interested parties outside of the local area for how an existing system can be retro fitted for improved watershed quality.

07042-016 Kettle Creek Watershed Final Report

The urban portion of the Kettle Creek Watershed is experiencing severe bank and bed erosion due to unchecked stormwater runoff and a steep stream slope. The Kettle Creek Urban Watershed Improvement Project will reduce sediment input to the stream by stabilizing the steam bed with rock-riffle stream stabilization structures and stream bank improvements at select locations. Other components of the watershed are being addressed for excess sediment loads including the agricultural portion by constructing sediment detention basins, and the urban stormwater component by separating the existing combined sanitary and stormwater systems. The urban stream erosion factor represents the weak link in the current watershed impairment. The benefits of the all the watershed improvements components will be realized by all the residents of Kettle Creek Watershed as well as the citizens of Ottumwa.