Blog – Iowa Environmental Voice

posted by Jennifer Terry on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 Several weeks ago, our community learned of the terminal diagnosis of Bill Stowe, the CEO of Des Moines Water Works and a fearless champion of water quality issues. I had the privilege of working alongside Bill at Des Moines Water Works for a couple of years, as the lawsuit against northern Iowa drainage districts rolled through the legal system. I learned that the water quality policy space in Iowa is no place for the faint of heart.

posted by Kerri Johannsen on Monday, June 18, 2018 The 2018 Legislative Session was a year of highs and lows, with hard-fought battles over protection of Iowa's water and land and clean energy leadership. The Council did not win every round, but with our supporters we changed the direction of the conversation on many issues.

posted by Jennifer Terry on Saturday, June 16, 2018 Creating a recreational destination on Iowa's waterways is a feasible opportunity everyone should welcome. Read the opinion piece supporting the development of recreational water trails in the Greater Des Moines region, published in the Des Moines Register on June 14th. The piece was co-authored by Rick Tollakson, CEO and President of Hubbell Realty, and IEC Executive Director Jennifer Terry.

posted on Thursday, March 8, 2018 Guest blog by Katie Rock: At a time when people feel incredibly divided and polarized, some issues still resonate across the spectrum. In rural areas, these issues include eminent domain, farm profitability, and viable, vibrant rural communities. Another issue increasingly joining this group in Iowa is the widespread growth of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

posted on Thursday, March 1, 2018 The Visioning Task Force for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture (LCSA or the Leopold Center) is in the process of wrapping up its work and passing along recommendations to Iowa State University and the LCSA Board, after listening to Iowans around the state at a series of meetings that took place from August through January.

posted by Jennifer Terry on Monday, February 19, 2018 A new report, “The Economic Benefits of Nitrogen Reductions,” by economists with the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) at Iowa State University makes the case that reducing nutrient pollution would have economic benefits all across Iowa.

posted by on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 Iowa DNR has recently announced it is launching a new “Triennial Review” for 2018-2020. As required by the Clean Water Act, Iowa must conduct a review of our state water quality standards every three years. The purpose of the Triennial Review is to give members of the public the opportunity to tell DNR what they feel the state's priorities for water quality standards should be for the next three years.

posted on Thursday, November 9, 2017 Join us on November 17 from 11:30-4:30 for Women for Water at the Airport Holiday Inn, in Des Moines.

posted on Friday, October 27, 2017 Cover crops are catching on in Iowa, but to gain their many benefits, we need to drastically increase the practice across the state. Learn more about cover crops and plan to attend cover crop and risk management field days on November 13 and November 21.

posted by on Thursday, October 19, 2017 On October 5, the Iowa Environmental Council welcomed nearly 200 attendees, 20 exhibitors and over a dozen speakers to the DMACC FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny for our 2017 Annual Conference. This year's theme, “ACT Iowa: Local Solutions for a Healthier Environment” inspired attendees to learn about exciting ways individuals, businesses and communities are working together to make Iowa a safer, healthier place to live.