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There are 11 beach advisories for the week of 7/16

8 Beaches with an E. coli-related Advisory:
Backbone Beach (Dundee, Delaware County, IA)*
Beed’s Lake Beach (Hampton, Franklin County, IA)*
Lake Darling Beach (Brighton, Washington County, IA)*
Lake Keomah Beach (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, IA)*
Lake Macbride (Solon, Johnson County, IA)*
Lower Pine Lake Beach (Eldora, Hardin County, IA)*
North Overlook Beach (Lake Red Rock, Pella, Marion County, IA)**
Prairie Rose Beach (Harlan, Shelby County, IA)*

3 Beaches with a Microcystin-related Advisory:
Green Valley Beach (Creston, Union County, IA)*

Lake Darling Beach (Brighton, Washington County, IA)*
Lower Pine Lake Beach (Eldora, Hardin County, IA)*

*Data from the Iowa DNR State Park Beach Monitoring Program
**Data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District

Seeing What Lies Ahead for the Mississippi

Communications Director Angelisa Belden reflects on her family's visit to the headwaters of the Mississippi River and what that visit reveals for the future of the Great River.

Last month my family finally took our much-anticipated vacation to northern Minnesota. As a child growing up in northeast Iowa, we annually traveled north to camp or stay at a resort with longtime family friends to do all things Northwoods: camping, fishing, swimming, and eating lots of marshmallows.

We continued that tradition this year, heading to Island Lake, just north of Park Rapids. The area is in the heart of Minnesota Lake Country, and just 20 miles from Lake Itasca, the headwaters of the Mississippi River.

It was with much excitement that one day we embarked for Itasca State Park to take our kids across those headwaters, which is only about 15 feet across and barely knee deep at its start. That’s hard to comprehend when you consider the size of the Mighty Mississippi just a few hours south in the Twin Cities, its grand scale by the time it reaches Lansing, IA, or the miles-wide mouth at the Gulf of Mexico.

On its 2,550+ mile journey through the US, the Mississippi is met by thousands and thousands of tributaries that carve through mostly agricultural land in 32 states and two provinces, totaling 40% of the continental United States, spilling into growing rivers and gathering force as the waters head toward the Mississippi. Those rivers carry storm water, sediment, trash, and other runoff gathered as the water travels downstream.

There is much ahead for that water. Read more. 

 
 

The Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI) is a federal funding program. The goal is to secure $300 to $350 million dollars per year in federal funding that would then come back to all of our ten mainstem river states that are part of the coalition and are impacted by the river. The program seeks to restore the habitats and natural processes that contribute to the River’s resilient nature. Take action today to support MRRRI.

 

First ever Iowa Gives Green kicks off August 4

IEC is excited to announce the inaugural Iowa Gives Green fundraiser! This is a day for Iowans to unite in their support for Iowa’s environment. Ten Iowa environmental and conservation nonprofits are participating in the day of giving, and we anticipate more will sign on by the 4th.

Visit IowaGivesGreen.org to see the partnering organizations. Please consider supporting IEC for Iowa Gives Green to help us meet our matching gift of $2,500! You can give now or on August 4 to help us make our goal. Thank you!

 

Microcystin: What to Watch for When You're Swimming

It’s important to know the causes and risks of HABs in recreational waters.

Our newest video shares the economic and health impacts of HABs to Iowa business and families. Watch and share to help protect yourself and others you care about. Then subscribe to our YouTube channel to continue exploring our library and get access to the latest videos.

Please share this video on your social media channels to help spread the word about the health threats microcystin has to Iowans.

Tell your lawmakers to invest in a more resilient future for Iowans 

The science is clear — our climate is changing, and we need Congress to act now to help build a more equitable and resilient future for all Iowans. Extreme weather events such as flooding, heat, and drought affect all corners of our state. Now more than ever, Congress needs to come together to strengthen investments in our state's clean energy and natural infrastructure projects. 

Your voice matters. Tell your lawmakers to support critical investments in Iowa's infrastructure today. 

 

Share Your Summer with IEC on Instagram

Follow us at @iowawaterwatch

Photo by @ grimmy1

Photo by @ treppp1

 

What's New in Iowa's Water News

•  Lake Darling not fit for swimming: Water contains toxins not safe for people, pets (Southeast Iowa Union) 
•  Iowa’s culture of water quality denial runs strong (The Gazette) 
•  Opinion: What if I told you that a solution to Iowa's water quality was right in front of us all along? (Des Moines Register) 
•  Iowa family that once hosted Khrushchev will sell 2,000 acres, but only to buyers who agree to care for it like they have (Des Moines Register) 
•  Green water is costing Iowans millions of greenbacks (Iowa Capital Dispatch) 
•  Iowa drought conditions may cost Des Moines residents $30 million (The Center Square) 
  Interview: Lack of ‘conservation compliance’ highlights need for stricter federal oversight (Environmental Working Group) 
 Meet The Volunteers Cleaning Iowa’s Rivers, One Plastic Bottle At A Time (Iowa Starting Line) 

Upcoming Water Events

Black Hawk Lake Summer Water Carnival - Lake View - July 16-18
• Central Park Family Beginning Canoeing - Jones Co. - July 17
Youth Canoeing Program 3 - Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, Woodbury Co. - July 20
Critter Camp (Ages 5-7) - Pammel State Park, Madison Co. - July 20
Summertime Fishing & Fun - South Cove Park, Buena Vista Co. - July 20
Aquatic Habitats & Animals Nestling (5-6 yrs) Summer Day Camp - Gateway Park & Preserve, Iowa Co. - July 20
Youth Canoeing Program 3 - Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, Woodbury Co. - July 20
Canoeing & Fishing Adventures - Summer Camp - Lime Creek Nature Center & Conservation Area, Cerro Gordo Co. - July 21
Aquatic Habitats and Animals Fledgling (7-8 yrs) Summer Day Camp - Gateway Park & Preserve, Iowa Co. - July 22
Summer Skills - Canoeing - Jester, Lewis A., Park, Polk Co. - July 22
July Kayak Loan: 5:30-6:15pm - Bonnifield Lake, Jefferson Co. - July 22
Pro H2O 2021 - DSM & Satellite Locations - Sept. 16

 

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

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