Nominations are Open for River Town of the Year

The annual River Town of the Year award recognizes an Iowa town or city for outstanding efforts to reclaim river-fronts as anchors for economic development, recreation, and good ecological practices. 

Iowa River Town of the Year applicants must demonstrate community commitment and involvement in protecting and maintaining river quality and promoting the river as an asset to your town. Click the button below for award requirements and application form.

The application deadline is September 1st, 2022. 

The River Town of the Year award highlights a city’s outstanding work to enhance connections to its river. Examples of past winners include:

  • Dubuque was honored for making the Mississippi the heart of a remarkable cultural, environmental, and economic renaissance over the last two decades.
  • Central City used the Flood of 1999 as a crucial turning point and now features recreation, tourism and economic development related to the Wapsipinicon River. 
  • Charles City was honored for responding to severe floods in 1999 and 2008 “by embracing the Cedar River with new ideas and bold projects,” including transforming a low-head dam into Iowa’s first whitewater kayak course and installing the state’s largest permeable paving system. 

This award is an opportunity to celebrate the many vibrant river communities across the state that are reclaiming riverfronts as anchors for economic development, recreation, and ecological practices, as well as to address some challenges and solutions related to the quality of the water in Iowa’s rivers.

Applicants must demonstrate commitment to protecting and maintaining river water quality and promoting the river as an asset to the town.

For any questions contact info@iowarivers.org.

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