Non-Profit Hopes Rain Barrels Will Reduce Flooding | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and Weather | Local News

With all the snow and ice this winter, the National Weather Service says Iowa’s at a slightly greater risk for flooding this spring.

The Indian Creek Nature Center is determined to beat those odds. Don’t let the Indian Creek fool you. The waterway is relatively calm in the winter. But it has a reputation for causing trouble when the weather warms up.

There was major flooding in 2008 and flash flooding last year. It’s neighbor, the Indian Creek Nature Center, is determined to stay dry this year.

“Water barrels have been around for hundreds of years. We’re bringing back the idea to see if it helps with our flood situation,” said Margaret Wolter, Indian Creek Nature Center.

The Nature Center is encouraging people to buy this recyclable rain barrel called the Moby.

Its purpose is simple.. to reduce run off and keep extra water out of local creeks and ultimately the Cedar River.

“Here’s how the rain barrel works. You place it next to a down spout and you cut it off so the rain water drips into the top here. There’s a guard to prevent leaves and bugs from going in, and then you use the spicket to get the water out to water your lawn or garden.”

“We believe this is one part of the larger product of helping reduce flooding,” said Don Johnson, Nature Center Board member.

The Nature Center says selling at least 1,000 Mobys will help reduce the impact of flooding in Linn County this season.

“Our estimate is that we are able to sell 1000 over the course of the summer, that would be about a million gallons of water held back from the rivers and streams.”

The Nature Center is calling this effort the Million Gallon Challenge. Hopefully it’ll keep the Indian Creek and other waterways just as calm in the summer as they are in the winter.

The Indian Creek Nature Center wants to have 1000 Mobys in place between Earth Day in April and the anniversary of the flood in June.

The Mobys cost $100 each. The non-profit organization does not get any of that money.