A regional REAP assembly later this month will give northwest Iowa residents a chance to help shape future conservation and cultural projects.
The July 23 gathering is open to residents of Region 3, which includes Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto and Sioux counties. The meeting begins at 1 p.m. at the Maser Monarch Lodge in Okoboji.
REAP — the Resource Enhancement and Protection program — has invested nearly $430 million statewide since its creation in 1989, supporting water quality improvements, habitat protection, roadside prairies, historic preservation, parks, trails and conservation education. The biennial regional assemblies give Iowans a formal opportunity to review REAP expenditures, learn about successful projects and help set priorities for the next five years.
This year’s Region 3 assembly will open with a showcase of local REAP‑supported projects from Dickinson County Conservation, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Peterson Point Preservation Foundation, the City of Milford and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Organizers say the presentations are intended to highlight what REAP funding has already made possible in the region and offer ideas for future efforts.
Attendees will also be invited to contribute to a “Citizen Idea Wall,” where residents can share project concepts or needs specific to their communities. Those ideas will help shape regional recommendations and guide each county’s five‑year REAP plan. Participants will also elect five delegates to represent Region 3 at the REAP Congress on Aug. 29 at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.
Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management equipment purchased through REAP will be available for viewing before and after the meeting, and refreshments will be provided.
