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There are 2 beach advisories for the week of 6/18

2 Beaches with an E. coli-related Advisory:
Denison Beach (Black Hawk Lake, Lake View, Sac County, IA)

Lake Darling Beach (Brighton, Washington County, IA)


*Data from the Iowa DNR State Park Beach Monitoring Program

Outside Again! Returning to In-Person Collaboration 

IEC is, at its core, a coalition organization. Connecting diverse people and organizations is essential to our mission. Because the health of the environment affects everyone, we work to build awareness and identify shared values the importance of the environment to folks’ daily lives. 

Coalition building can be many things: a one-on-one discussion, collaborating on problem solving, partnering to host an event, sharing content with respective audiences, or finding common ground from which to work. But most importantly, it is about listening, educating others, sharing the work, and including all voices in the solution.  

Covid-19 may have stretched our definition of coalition-building, but it definitely didn’t stop it. And now that we can get outdoors and mingle with other vaccinated Iowans, we’re excited to be back into building mode once again. 

This past week was an excellent example of IEC’s coalition building work.  Brian Campbell, Executive Director, joined me to attend a regenerative agriculture field day hosted by Mitchell Hora and Continuum Ag at the Washington County Fairgrounds. The event featured presentations and panel discussions about cover crops, soil health, emerging markets, diversifying operations, and carbon sequestration. Our partners from Iowa Interfaith Power and Light, Trees Forever, Iowa Farmer’s Union, and The Nature Conservancy also attended, along with hundreds of farmers from across the state and across the country who are embracing regenerative practices. We had the chance to speak with Sec. Mike Naig about opportunities to support conservation practices, farmers, and rural communities, and what lessons can be learned from the shortcomings of the Nutrient Reduction Strategy as we look toward potential carbon reduction policies. After the event, the Hora family graciously invited attendees to their farm to see cover cropping in action, share a meal, and discuss transforming agriculture operations across the state for the better. 

Irene DeMaris of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light with Ingrid Gronstal

Washington County farm field visit

 

Nominate a Pro H2O Award Winner

Know a friend, family member, neighbor, community leader, colleague, or another Iowan who has made a positive impact on water quality and awareness? Nominate them for an award from IEC!

Consider the people in your sphere who deserve to be celebrated for their efforts at Pro H2O this September.

The nominations deadline has been extended to June 30. But don't delay! Check out the page and share it with others. Submit your nomination(s) and share with your network!

Join us to discuss Iowa's CAFO Problem 6/29

Join IEC, Sierra Club Iowa Chapter, and a panel of experts for eye-opening panel discussion about how Iowa is sacrificing our water for the benefit of big ag.  

We'll dig in to the Supreme Beef CAFO approval process as an example that demonstrates the threats and impacts CAFOs bring to water quality, how the CAFO approval process got us to where we are, and why its critical to protect our water.

Register today and share with concerned friends and neighbors!

Fertilized to Death

From mining, to production, to application, to the Gulf Dead Zone nitrogen and phosphorus pollution devastates Gulf communities. This interactive maps allows you to Follow the Fertilizer Pollution Cycle and learn more about this cycle and its harmful effects.

Where to Paddle

The Iowa DNR has an interactive paddling map you can use to identify water hazards, obstructions, and more around the state. The webpage also has other kayaking and canoeing resources you can explore such as water trail maps, water levels, and paddle groups.

 

Share Your Summer with IEC on Instagram

Follow us at @iowawaterwatch

Photo by @lwpindc

Photo by @allihugheshall

 

Get Our New Iowa Water Watch Sticker!

We want to share our new sticker with you! Check out Iowa Water Watch on Instagram and give us a follow. Tag us on your photos using @iowawaterwatch and the #iowawaterwatch hashtag.

If you tag us and share your Iowa water images with us, whether you're out having fun or spotting a problem, we will send you our new Iowa Water Watch sticker shown here. Decorate your water bottle, laptop, or kayak with it!

We may also feature your image in our Instagram section above with a link to your profile, so readers can check out your photography and give you a follow.

 

What's New in Iowa's Water News

Double whammy: Heat, toxic algae bedevil water sector (E&E News)
Speakers: Turn public spaces into draws for residents, businesses (IA Capital Dispatch)
• Iowa Supreme Court rules against allowing a lawsuit challenging state's protection of Raccoon River to proceed (Des Moines Register)
• To Understand How Warming is Driving Harmful Algal Blooms, Look to Regional Patterns, Not Global Trends (Inside Climate News)
Iowa Hot and Dry, But Flood Prevention Efforts Continue (Public News Service)
As drought deepens, here's what you need to know about Des Moines Water Works' water shortage plan (Des Moines Register)
'We Pray For Rain': Utilities Implement Water Restrictions As Drought Conditions Linger (Iowa Public Radio)

Upcoming Water Events

Freshwater Aquatic Studies - Hitchcock Nature Center, Pottawattamie County - June 19
Fly Fishing Instruction and Demonstration - Oak Grove & Big Sioux Park, Sioux County - June 19
Animal Spotlight - Ornate Box Turtle - Central Park, Jones Co. - June 19
Youth Kayak Program 1 - Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, Woodbury County - June 22
Urban Fishing Opportunities in Des Moines - The Des Moines Chapter of the IWLA - June 22
Summertime Fishing & Fun - Gabrielson Park, Buena Vista Co. - June 22
Youth Kayak Program 2 - Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, Woodbury County - June 22
Youth Paddle: Van Buren County - Des Moines River, Bentonsport Boat Ramp - June 23
Microscopic Organisms, Monumental Problems: Bacteria Pollution in Our Waters - Online - June 23
Kayaking Beginners Class - Kennedy Mem. Park, Webster Co. - June 24
Fireside Chat - Mussels & More - Camp WaNoKi, Webster Co. - June 24
Yaks and Brews - Teachers Park, Buchanan Co. - June 24

 

Iowa Environmental Council
505 Fifth Ave., Suite 850 
 Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2317
515-244-1194 | iecmail@iaenvironment.org

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