Recent Blogs - 2023

posted by Alicia Vasto on Friday, May 26, 2023 With the Memorial Day holiday upon us, the start of summer recreation, and weekly beach monitoring, summer has begun! With that comes the start of IEC's Weekly Water Watch series. Read on to learn about new advisory data and activities this summer.

posted by Guest Blogger on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 Nitrate pollution is a sprawling, complex issue with its roots in major industries. It can be difficult to feel that we as individuals have the ability to affect change when an issue looms so large. Heather Wilson with the Izaak Walton League of America explains that is one of the reasons IWLA is so excited to invite volunteers to participate in the Nitrate Watch program, which takes a hands-on approach to combatting nitrate pollution.

posted by Guest Blogger on Monday, April 10, 2023 Brittany Costello, Miss Scott County, shares how her interests of pageants and water quality combined. Learn about her initiative 'Watersheds: Think Global, Act Local,' as well as her new podcast, her youth curriculum on water quality, her trash clean ups and water quality monitoring projects and all the ways she's engaging local Iowans to make Iowa's water better.

posted by Guest Blogger on Thursday, March 30, 2023 Justice40 is a whole-of-government approach to ensure that federal agencies work with states and local communities to direct 40% of the overall benefits from certain federal climate and clean energy programs to marginalized, over-polluted, underserved and disadvantaged communities. It is crucial that Iowans know about these opportunities and how to provide input as these investments begin to trickle into the state.

posted by Angelisa Belden on Friday, March 10, 2023 Recently, IEC has been receiving inquiries as some individuals and media outlets notice our registrations on bills related to gender, diversity, education, and other more typically social issues. So why is IEC registering on such bills?

posted by Alicia Vasto on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 On this Valentine's Day, IEC staff share our water love stories. From childhood exploration, to boating adventures as adults, to taking their own kids outside, hear what we love about water.

posted by Dr. Brian Campbell on Friday, February 10, 2023 How are we recognizing Black History Month at the Iowa Environmental Council? We want to share with you some of what we're doing, and we want to invite you to partner with us as we explore the history and shape the future of environmental justice in Iowa.

posted by Kerri Johannsen on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 We know it seems strange for groups like IEC to challenge MidAmerican's plans to construct more wind in Iowa, even as we're calling for MidAmerican to shut down its Iowa coal plants or setting goals for our state to be using 100% carbon-free energy by 2035. But those goals are the exact reason why we're questioning MidAmerican's latest project.

posted by Guest Blogger on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 Fertilizer pollution (composed of the chemical nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus) has plagued Iowa's waterways since long before the Iowa Environmental Council was formed in 1995. As the state's primary plan for addressing nutrient pollution approaches its 10th anniversary, what can we say about Iowa's water today? Several past IEC executive directors share their thoughts in this guest blog.

posted by Guest Blogger on Monday, January 9, 2023 Guest blogger, Victoria Bradford Styrbicki, discusses part of her journey - by running on foot - along the Mississippi River and highlights some of her time spent in Iowa. She shares some conversation she had and how to experience the journey she took.