Recognition

Iowa Rivers Revival (IRR) named Dyersville the recipient of the 2023 River Town of the Year award. This award recognizes an Iowa town or city for its outstanding efforts to reclaim riverfronts as anchors for economic development, recreation, and good environmental stewardship. According to IRR, applicants must demonstrate a commitment to protecting and maintaining river water quality and promoting the river as an asset to the town. Impact7G nominated the City of Dyersville for this award through an application process highlighting Dyersville’s “One Water” Watershed Vision Plan, proven past and current projects, detailed future plans, letters of support, and non-project specific watershed impacts. The City has demonstrated its desire and dedication to improving water quality efforts and increasing community connection to rivers by implementing a variety of successful projects such as Bear Creek Restoration, Field of Dreams Stormwater Wetland Water Quality Improvement, and Contaminated Site Cleanup projects, with continued efforts planned such as the future Dyersville Downtown Driftless Float Park.

In 2021, the City of Dyersville received the Stormwater and Urban Watershed Development Award from the Iowa Stormwater Education Partnership. This distinction recognizes outstanding performance related to urban watershed protection and improvement of water quality in Iowa. This award is given to a jurisdiction or group that has implemented green infrastructure and resource conservation policies, programs or projects.  The Vision Plan motto is “if you clean the water, they will come”! The City of Dyersville was recognized during the 2021 virtual Iowa Water Conference in April for the completion of the Bear Creek Stream Restoration, Green Infrastructure Project.