Rural Iowa farmers are helping climate scientists get a better understanding of soil moisture levels across the state, data only available at the local level until now. The Iowa Flood Center has erected “hydrostations” in more than 50 counties to monitor the environment.

On July 4, 2025, the Guadalupe River basin received 5 to 11 inches of rain in just a few hours. The river rose 37 feet in 45 minutes, sweeping away homes, cars, businesses, and cabins, leaving behind a ravaged landscape and taking 139 lives. Iowa Flood Center researchers are taking on the challenge of providing accurate, timely flash flood forecasts that can save lives.