The Iowa Environmental Council’s lakeshore party last Saturday was the first outreach event in which a statewide advocacy organization visited Storm Lake in-person.  

A crowd of around 25 gathered at Sunrise Park to enjoy bocce and giant Jenga for the benefit of IEC’s Iowa Water Watch, a monthly informational on water issues happening across the state.  

The outcome was expected 

Staff made a handful of contacts with community leaders. Research scientists at Buena Vista University made themselves available to IEC for information about lake and watershed health.  

The kids that were there liked the novelty Jenga. The Frisbees were tough to throw. Turnout was modest, a common occurrence for an introductory event. The event is the first public gathering a statewide advocacy organization has held in Storm Lake in recent memory.  

People in Storm Lake aren’t familiar with the council  

Water Program Director Ingrid Gronstal intends to change that. Gronstal, a native of Carroll, understands rural Western Iowa can seem disengaged from statewide advocacy organizations.  

The first event is the olive branch in more outreach to Storm Lake and other communities that rely on natural resources as economic engines. King’s Pointe Resort isn’t viable without a healthy Storm Lake. The fledgling Storm Lake Marina under the management of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources isn’t viable without a healthy Storm Lake.  

Storm Lake is a hub of eco-tourism. So are the Iowa Great Lakes, Clear Lake and Lake View, home to Black Hawk Lake. Gronstal believes IEC can be an essential part of those communities by way of their natural resources. Clean water is a closely monitored issue at the state level. The issue has a history of spurring change from the federal government to the statehouse. See Storm Lake’s decade-long dredging operation.  

In an interview after the event, Gronstal pointed to a host of communities voicing concern over algal blooms last summer. Last year Storm Lake suffered its worst algae bloom since dredging started in 2002. Lakewatchers expressed alarm. They wondered what caused the issue. 

Algal blooms were a frequent topic on IEC’s Water Watch. Gronstal said the organization will continue to focus on it.  

Getting on the water to develop leadership in marginalized communities

Iowa Rivers Revival (IRR) and the American Canoe Association (ACA) are partnering on the ACA Leadership Exploration and Development Initiative (LEAD), opportunity for historically marginalized individuals to develop community leadership through paddlesports. 

The initiative will be an all expenses paid, four-day training August 15 - August 18. The training includes ACA's 'Level 1: Introduction to Paddling' course and their signature justice, equity, and inclusion program.

There are 12 spots available. Each participant must identify as a racial minority and be 18 years of age or older to qualify for the program. The application deadline is Sunday, July 31. Apply today to be part of the program! 

Clean Water Act Section 401 rule open for public comment

Earlier this month, EPA published a proposed rule about Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. The public comment period is open until August 8. 

Section 401 of the Clean Water Act creates a state-tribal-federal partnership, giving individual states and Tribes the ability to review the impacts of federally licensed projects  like oil pipelines on waterways and wetlands within their borders. 

The Clean Water For All coalition will be circulating  resources in advance of EPA’s July 18 hearing on the proposed rule which is open to the public. EPA also is taking written comments through August 8.

What's New in Iowa's Water News

Upcoming Water Events

• Des Moines River Paddle - Austin Park, Keosauqua - July 16
• Water Exploration - Scharnberg Park, Clay Co. - July 17
• Kayaking Beginners Class - Kennedy Memorial Park, Webster Co. - July 17
• Wapsi Wanderers - Buchanan County Conservation Offices, Buchanan Co. - July 18
• Upcoming Public Hearing on Proposed CWA Section 401 Water Quality Certification Improvement Rule - Online - July 18
• Youth Fishing Program - Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, Woodbury Co. - July 19
• Summertime Fishing & Fun - South Cove Park, Buena Vista Co. - July 19
• Nature Playdate - Stream Walk - Thomas Mitchell Park , Polk Co. - July 20
• Outdoor Skills Series: Intro to Fly Fishing 1 - Johnson County Education Programs, Johnson Co. - July 21
• Sunset Eco Cruise - Rock Creek Marina & Campground, Clinton Co. - July 21
• Yaks and Brews - Buchanan County Conservation Offices, Buchanan Co. - July 22