Description: Soil quality is an overlooked but critical part of stormwater management. This presentation shares findings from a study in Clive, Iowa comparing two neighborhoods with and without topsoil preservation requirements. Results show that investing in soil quality up front can reduce runoff and the need for costly downstream stormwater practices.

Authors: Loulou Dickey, Pete DeKock

Author Bios: Loulou Dickey is Executive Director of the Iowa Stormwater Education Partnership (ISWEP), a nonprofit that promotes resilient stormwater management through education, training, and advocacy. ISWEP serves 75 member organizations across Iowa, including cities, counties, universities, and professional firms. Loulou is a water resources scientist who earned her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University, with research focused on urban and agricultural water management. In her role at ISWEP, she works to translate research into practical tools that help Iowa communities protect water quality.

Pete De Kock joined the City of Clive team as Assistant City Manager in April 2018. He collaborates with colleagues, elected officials, business leaders, and residents to promote community vitality and craft inspiring stories about Clive. He also partners with colleagues on management, government affairs, water resources, economic development, AI adoption, and other strategic initiatives.