Upper Iowa River Watershed Management Authority Board hires Matthew Frana as manager

Upper Iowa River Watershed Manager Matthew Frana

The Upper Iowa River Watershed Management Authority Board will meet at 5:00 p.m. Thursday at Decorah City Hall.

The meeting will include updates on watershed activities. The meeting is open to the public, including city and county officials, soil and water conservation district staff, emergency managers, ag partners, landowners, community members, and all others interested in watershed planning and improvement efforts.

The Upper Iowa River Watershed has hired Iowa native Matthew Frana to manage the project.

In this new role, Frana will work with the UIRW to facilitate watershed planning activities, manage the implementation of flood resiliency conservation projects, and share information with the public across the watershed to ensure the program's effectiveness. He will help identify suitable locations to install conservation practices designed to retain water and reduce flooding, as well as assist landowners as they work to reduce soil and nutrient loss while enhancing wildlife habitat.

Originally from Conover, Iowa, Frana received a BA in general studies and a master's in ecosystem management from the University of Northern Iowa.