Thomas Stoeffler, a research assistant at the University of Iowa’s IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering department, collects a water sample from the Iowa River on Thursday at Waterworks Prairie Park in Iowa City. It costs $8,500 a year to operate a river sensor, the IIHR director said.
The University of Iowa’s network of real-time water monitoring sensors in rivers received no direct funding from the state in the 2025-26 legislative session, but it is still operating.
Thomas Stoeffler, a research assistant at the University of Iowa’s IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering department, inspects a water sample he took from the Iowa River on Thursday at Waterworks Prairie Park in Iowa City. IIHR sensors track nitrate levels in Iowa rivers, providing real-time readings of water quality in the state.
Thomas Stoeffler writes down the date before collecting a water sample from the Iowa River on Thursday in Iowa City. The samples are tested for pollutants the river monitors don’t track.
Thomas Stoeffler, a research assistant at the University of Iowa’s IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering department, walks through foliage Thursday to collect a water sample from the Iowa River at Waterworks Prairie Park in Iowa City.
Thomas Stoeffler, an IIHR research assistant, works at his computer in front of the custom-built data logger on Thursday at Waterworks Prairie Park in Iowa City. Seventy IIHR sensors update water quality information on Iowa rivers every 15 minutes, which is posted online.
Thomas Stoeffler, a research assistant at the University of Iowa’s IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering department, inspects a water sample he took from the Iowa River on Thursday at Waterworks Prairie Park in Iowa City. IIHR sensors track nitrate levels in Iowa rivers, providing real-time readings of water quality in the state.
Thomas Stoeffler writes down the date before collecting a water sample from the Iowa River on Thursday in Iowa City. The samples are tested for pollutants the river monitors don’t track.
Thomas Stoeffler, a research assistant at the University of Iowa’s IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering department, walks through foliage Thursday to collect a water sample from the Iowa River at Waterworks Prairie Park in Iowa City.
Thomas Stoeffler, an IIHR research assistant, works at his computer in front of the custom-built data logger on Thursday at Waterworks Prairie Park in Iowa City. Seventy IIHR sensors update water quality information on Iowa rivers every 15 minutes, which is posted online.
Thomas Stoeffler, a research assistant at the University of Iowa’s IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering department, collects a water sample from the Iowa River on Thursday at Waterworks Prairie Park in Iowa City. It costs $8,500 a year to operate a river sensor, the IIHR director said.
