Skunk River News

Iowa is encouraging communities to remove small river dams that have been blamed for nearly 100 deaths over the years, but the state can't afford to help, officials said.

The Ames Water Department is asking the city council to approve a plan that's a stepping stone to a new water treatment plant.

At the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt in Polk County, researchers have developed a novel tool for restoring biodiversity to a landscape choked by invasive species: Set loose a herd of hungry goats.

Work is expected to begin late this week or early next week on repairing damage done to Des Moines County 99 when the highway was ravaged by flash flooding in May 2010, causing dirt to slough off the roadside.