Sustainable Environment 2

Sustainable Environment DASHBOARD

Sustainable Environment includes a total of eleven (11) recommendations across five (5) sub-categories: Clean Water, Clean air + Energy, Neighborhoods, Land Conservation, Eco Education. The bar chart below highlights the status of the 11 recommendations. For more detail on the status of specific recommendations, please scroll down to the Recommendation Tracker. Status information will be updated periodically to reflect the work of our community partners, coordinators and champions who are tracking updates.

Each recommendation has a unique identification number, linking it back to it's category (in this case, Sustainable Environment is B) and differentiating it from the 109 other plan recommendations.

Recommendation Highlight - Emerald Ash Borer Readiness Plan #B3b - link to the map

A dedicated team of Dubuque residents and community partners are helping turn our city's comprehensive plan, into a reality. These coordinators, connectors, and champions are tracking projects and metrics across each of the 7 categories, 32 subcategories and 110 recommendations of Imagine Dubuque. The information herein highlights just some of the community indicators related to Economic Prosperity. For additional information and questions, please contact Jason Duba with the City at jduba@cityofdubuque.com.

Tracking Definitions

Needs Resources: Recommendation implementation has not yet begun. Needs will vary and may include funding, coordination, time, and staffing. The impacts of Covid may be a root cause of resource needs, deferment, and disruption of implementation timelines.

Getting Started: Recommendation implementation is in the early stages of moving forward by way of active organizing, connecting with partners, planning and data collection, and/or a few early action items.

Underway: Recommendation implementation is moving forward, with multiple actions in motion and steady progress being made towards realizing the recommendation.

Complete / Ongoing: Recommendation implementation has been completed or is ongoing with continuity and growth in progress. Many recommendations will never be complete because ongoing focus and attention is required to maintain and further the success of each recommendation.

Needs Resources

1 of 11 Recommendations

Underway

5 of 11 Recommendations

Getting Started

2 of 11 Recommendations

Complete / Ongoing

3 of 11 Recommendations

- Data Will be Updated Bi-Annually to Align with Council Reports -

Recommendation tracker

Clean Water Clean Air + Energy Neighborhoods Land Conservation Eco-Education

Clean Water

RECOMMENDATIONS - AT A GLANCE

► Complete and monitor Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation - B1a
► Implement the Catfish Creek Watershed Management Plan - B1b

RECOMMENDATIONS - DETAILS & STATUS

Continue the efforts of the Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project to mitigate health and environmental hazards in Washington, Point, and North End neighborhoods. B1a

► Status: Underway

Lower and Upper Branches of Bee Branch Creek Complete. See the December 2020 Update newsletter.
Connection of two branches slated for Summer 2021.
National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium (NMRMA) Mussel Drop in 2020 to improve health of the creek.
Multicultural Family Center's Summer Teen Employment Program (STEP) Program engaging youth in stewardship days, in partnership with the City and NRMRA.

Continue to implement the Catfish Creek Watershed Management Plan to protect creeks, sensitive ecological habitats, and promote conservation-minded development. B1b

► Status: Complete/Ongoing

Plan implementation continues, and has evolved to include a Nutrient Reduction Program, a partnership of the City, County (under the Soil & Water Conservation District) and Iowa Department of Natural Resources. It serves as the first of it's kind in Iowa and a model for other communities.
In August 2020, the City of Dubuque hosted a Farmer Field Day. Check out the videos created about the Nutrient Reduction Program:
- by Iowa Public Television
- produced for Iowa Corn Stewardship
Get the downstream view with the Mississippi River Watershed Report Cards:
- 2020's report card
- 2015's report card

Clean Air + Energy

RECOMMENDATIONS - AT A GLANCE

► Implement the Climate Action + Resiliency Plan - B2a
► Support mobile air quality monitoring - B2b

RECOMMENDATIONS - DETAILS & STATUS

Continue to implement the 50% by 2030 Climate Action Resiliency Plan by focusing on waste reduction, transportation improvements, and energy efficiency of homes and businesses to achieve climate goals and renewables. B2a

► Status: Underway

The Community's Climate Action and Resiliency Plan has been updated multiple times. From 2003 to 2019, there was a 27% reduction in green house gas emissions.

Support mobile air quality monitoring to increase citizen awareness and identify and target toxic hot spots. B2b

► Status: Needs resources

Monitoring developed and equipment supplied by CLE4R (Clean Air in the River Valley) still needs a local administrator.

Neighborhoods

RECOMMENDATIONS - AT A GLANCE

► Continue Healthy Homes strategies - B3a
► Implement the Emerald Ash Borer Readiness Plan - B3b
► Increase native plant, pollinator, and edible landscaping - B3c

RECOMMENDATIONS - DETAILS & STATUS

Continue Healthy Homes strategy as part of the CHANGE and Bee Branch revitalization efforts. B3a

► Status: Underway

The Bee Branch Healthy Homes Resiliency Program is making impacts to housing, families and the neighborhood.
Watch the story of Cletus, a resident positively affected by this program.
Program Partner the Visiting Nurses Association tracks over 30 measurements for households served.

Continue to implement the Emerald Ash Borer Readiness Plan to maintain safe and healthy neighborhoods. B3b

► Status: Underway

A GIS StoryMap is a dashboard for Ash Tree removal and treatments city-wide.
Replanting delayed due to COVID-19 and tightening market for replacement trees due to the 2020 Derecho. Plans to replant in Spring 2020.
Funding from public and private sources support almost $100,000 in replanting.

Seek partnership opportunities to increase localized native plant, pollinator habitat, and edible landscaping in public spaces. B3c

► Status: Underway

Mowing to Monarchs grant programs for public and private entities is implementing installations.
Dubuque Co. ISU Extension Master Conservationist program helping to build capacity.
Installations of edible landscaping in public locations like the Bee Branch Creek and City Hall.
Non-profits Convivium Urban Farmstead and Dubuque Rescue Mission are models for teaching citizens about growing and utilizing fresh fruits and vegetables.

Land Conservation

RECOMMENDATION - AT A GLANCE

► Conserve natural areas - B4a

RECOMMENDATION - DETAILS & STATUS

Conserve areas near water trails and canoe launches, serene places to escape the city, and viewpoints to watch migratory birds, shown on the Environmental Factors Map. - B4a

► Status: Getting Started

Dubuque County Conservation Board's (DBBC) Natural Resource Outdoor Recreation Plan complete???
REAP Program funded conservation projects ongoing at Eagle Point Park and Four Mounds Site.
Other conservation programs ongoing at Bee Branch Creek, Valentine Park.
DBBC's "Watertrail" plan for kayaks????

Eco-Education

RECOMMENDATIONS - AT A GLANCE

► Promote children’s environmental education - B5a
► Improve backyard and curbside composting - B5b
► Explore a community-wide Zero Waste Policy - B5c

RECOMMENDATIONS - DETAILS & STATUS

Promote educational programming and partnerships that enable children to experience nature. B5a

► Status: Underway

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium's programming is available for many age groups.
Programming through Swiss Valley Nature Center and Mines of Spain serve thousands of children and school groups.
City of Dubuque/Four Mounds/Dream Center partner for the Adventure Day Camp, bringing engaging outdoor activities to urban youth.
City/ Iowa Department of Natural Resources agreement in development for natural playscape.
Story Trails at Swiss Valley and Heritage Trail.

Explore incentives for backyard and curbside composting that reduce the proportion of landfilled food waste. B5b

► Status: Underway

Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency's (DMASWA) grant program has supported classes at Convivium Urban Farmstead on composting and urban gardens, and composting at schools and gardens across Dubuque.
DMASWA's staff is available to speak to groups about composting and other waste reduction issues.
Curbside service pickup for food composting continues year-round.

Explore a community-wide Zero Waste Policy that creates a closed-circuit economy of low-impact or reduced consumption lifestyle and marketplace for post-consumer products. B5c

► Status: Needs Resources

Addressed under the DMASWA Solid Waste Study.
Climate Action & Resiliency Plan addresses zero-waste.

QUESTIONS + INFORMATION

Please contact Jason Duba with the City of Dubuque
jduba@cityofdubuque.org
(563) 589-4223