Partnership among USGS, IGS, and others helps RAGBRAI riders learn what’s under their tires

Iowa Now - Research

RAGBRAI riders will want to keep an eye out for the 2017 Learn About the Land brochures from the University of Iowa.  The idea of distributing information about the natural resources along the RAGBRAI route first came about in 2005. United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Iowa Geological Survey (IGS) staff produced a brochure for each day of the ride, explaining the topography and hydrology of the land beneath the riders’ tires.

Follow riders across the state—and learn about the University of Iowa’s impact all along the route—on social media by using #RAGBRAI and #forIowa.

This effort has highlighted the work both agencies do individually and collaboratively, while providing riders with a better understanding of the state. 

“We want people to realize how interesting Iowa really is,” says IGS geologist Ryan Clark. “People tend to only think about mountains and beaches as being interesting and worth visiting, but we hope people realize there is natural beauty within the state that is worth seeing.”

Originally, IGS and USGS staff handed out the brochures with information about the next day’s ride at each overnight stop. However, demand for the brochures grew rapidly, and riders began asking for them at the beginning of the week. Today, 1,500 packaged brochures are printed for RAGBRAI each year.

Every year, the IGS and USGS teams write articles, draft elevation maps, and provide a daily dictionary of unfamiliar terms. IGS does most of the compiling, designing, and printing; USGS staff members distribute the packets at RAGBRAI campgrounds, talk science with the riders, and answer questions.

“Our organizations would be thrilled if we could educate people on the fact that a large amount of people in Iowa are working to the benefit of the state,” says Clark. “There are people dedicating their careers to understanding the natural resources we have and how to utilize those resources in ...

Read More