Alicia Vasto

WATER PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Phone: 515-244-1194 x 206

Email: vasto@iaenvironment.org

Alicia joined the Council in 2019. She grew up in Adel, Iowa. She previously worked as the director of the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition, where she supported environmental educators and advanced environmental literacy. Alicia holds a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University with a focus on land conservation and management, and an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from the University of Notre Dame. In her free time, she enjoys cycling, travel, and yoga.

Blog posts by this Author:

• 2013 - 2023: A decade of declining water quality in Iowa

  To mark the 10th anniversary of the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, IEC launched a new website: decliningdecade.org. Big Ag is pushing a narrative that the NRS is a success, when the numbers tell a different story. Water Program Director Alicia Vasto says more about why stories are good, but data is key and what Iowa's really seen in the past ten years.

• Welcome Back! It's Weekly Water Watch 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.

• Iowa Water Love Stories - memories about water we love

  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.

• Pushing through 2022 with dedication to cleaner water in Iowa

  Water Program Director Alicia Vasto shares her thoughts as we wrap up a year of work on water and land stewardship in Iowa at IEC. She reflects about the effort, hard work, and dedication to IEC's mission of clean water in Iowa, while also sharing valuable resources and looking forward to the coming year.

• An Individual Duty to Protect Water

  In 1987, the Iowa legislature passed the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act. IEC suggests it is time to create an Iowa Surface Water Protection Act as part of the efforts to advance the Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

• If Placemaking is a Priority for Iowa, It's Time to Fund the Trust

  Last month, the Governor's Economic Recovery Advisory Board released their recommendations for how the state should address challenges resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. Alicia Vasto shares how their goals for placemaking and improved water quality in Iowa means it's time to fund the trust.

• Adding up the 2020 Beach Season

  As summer draws to a close, we're looking back at Weekly Water Watch 2020. Even with weeks full of unbelievable news, Iowa's waters still saw toxic algae blooms, E. coli contamination, drought, and high beach visitation across the state this year.

• Creston Community Garden Grows Resiliency

  This summer, hope, resiliency, and community are growing in Creston. The Iowa Environmental Council (IEC) was pleased to be a catalyst for the formation of the Creston Community Garden Wellness Initiative, which constructed Creston's first community garden earlier this summer.

• Iowa State Parks at 100 Years: Backbone's Legacy

  Iowa celebrates the 100th anniversary of the state parks system this year. Iowa has 72 state parks that span the breadth of our state's geological and biological diversity, but Backbone State Park is special because it was Iowa's first state park. IEC explores it's history and another more recent and troubling legacy.

• Reflections on Earth Day in a Pandemic

  Today marks 50 years since the first Earth Day celebration, and the need for environmental protection is just as serious as it was 50 years ago.

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