University of Iowa will do up to 15 projects in Decorah and Winneshiek County

The University of Iowa's "Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities" will be conducting an ambitious number of project in the City of Decorah and Winneshiek County over the next 12 months.

IISC representative Chuck Connerly and Nick Benson met with city and county officials Monday to outline their list of mutually chosen projects.

Headlining the IISC projects are several involving the frac sand mining issue.  There will be  studies on the impact of frac sand mining on the local economy, a study of its impact on roads and the transportation infrastructure, as well as a legal analysis of regulatory options for frac sand mining and mapping of potential sand mining sites.

Other projects planned by the Iowa graduate students and professors include storm water and utility planning in Decorah; designs for the future Neste Valley Recreation Area; a Turkey River and/or Upper Iowa River watershed analysis; creation of nisse artworks on the Trout Run Trail; and creation of a marketing plan promoting the natural resources of Winneshiek County.

University of Iowa researchers will begin their projects in Winneshiek County on August 28th.