Water Program Director
Phone: (515) 809-9784
Email: fowle@iaenvironment.org
Colleen Fowle is the Water Program Director at the Iowa Environmental Council, where she leads outreach and education initiatives to improve water quality in Iowa. She holds dual B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics from Buena Vista University, an M.S. in Water Resources/Hydrogeology from Iowa State University, and an M.A.T. in Secondary STEM Education from Drake University. Colleen's diverse background includes extensive scientific research focused on environmental and climate issues. She has taught STEM courses for grades 6-12 and has been actively involved in water resources and conservation advocacy in Arizona, South Dakota, and for the Iowa Stormwater Education Partnership. In her free time, Colleen is passionate about outdoor adventures with her husband and two children, including kayaking, hiking, and traveling. She also enjoys puzzles and reading.
Blog posts by this Author:
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Nitrate 101: What Iowans Need to Know Now
For many Iowans, nitrate pollution becomes a headline only when water utilities ask us to reduce water use or when our favorite public beach closes because of a toxic algal bloom. But more Iowans are realizing that nitrate is a year-round and growing problem in our state, with scientific evidence that these record-high levels are impacting not just our lawns and recreation time, but our health and lives.
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Iowa's Water Quality Transparency Problem
The true measure of a nutrient reduction strategy must be improved water quality with documented reductions in nitrogen. Scattered, uncoordinated efforts, however well-intentioned, are neither fiscally responsible nor timely enough to address the state's water quality and public health crisis.
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IEC Explainer: Nitrates and Public Health
Nitrates are naturally occurring chemicals found in soil, water, and air. They contain nitrogen and oxygen, which are required by plants and animals for growth and development. Nitrates are negatively charged particles (ions), so they bond to other substances in the environment and dissolve easily in water. Read more about nitrates here.
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