Are you interested in improving natural and cultural resources for the direct benefit of Webster County? Please join us at 11 a.m. on July 9 for lunch and to share ideas for how Iowa’s premier funding program for outdoor recreation, conservation and historic preservation can assist your county and communities.

Established in 1989, the Resource Enhancement and Protection program has funded nearly $430 million for projects that have included water quality improvements, habitat protection, roadside prairies, historical development, park and trail development, and conservation education. Check out REAP County Expenditure Data to discover projects close to where you live.

Every two years, Iowans gather for Regional Assemblies to direct the future of our state’s natural and cultural resources. This year we are reimagining the Assembly by putting local voices and proven projects that have transformed our communities and improved quality of life at the center of the conversation. This is your chance to learn about REAP, connect with like-minded citizens who are interested in natural and cultural resource work, and voice how REAP can better serve your community and your region.

What to Expect:

The Showcase: Each region opens with a spotlight on local REAP projects. You’ll hear how regional projects were realized through REAP funding, providing a blueprint for what is possible in your own backyard.

The Citizen Idea Wall: We invite you to add your ideas to a regional “Citizen Idea Wall.” What does your region need next? Your input will form the basis of your regional recommendations and inform your county’s five-year REAP plan.

The Civic Mandate: Per Iowa Law, this is your official opportunity to review REAP expenditures and recommend changes to state policy. You will elect five delegates to carry these ideas to REAP Congress, held on Aug. 29, 2026 at the Iowa State Capitol.

Success is built. Our resources. Your voice. Endless opportunity. Join us to see what we’ve built together and help us decide what we will achieve next.

Learn more at Iowa REAP: https://www.iowadnr.gov/programs-services/resource-enhancement-protection-reap.

If you go:

What: Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center, 20 N. First St., Fort Dodge

When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday

Lunch served at 11 a.m.