Month: September 2024

Author: Katie Herbert is a graduate student at the University of Iowa, attaining a degree in Public Affairs. Her special area of interest explores the nexus of fresh water and policy.

Attending the Iowa Water Conference, hosted by the Iowa Water Center at Iowa State University, provided an amazing opportunity for me to be a fly on the wall, listening how local, state, and federal water policy has impacted those across the state of Iowa. Something that I have learned in graduate school is the importance of consequences. Hearing about how local farmers are dealing with increased nitrate levels in their streams, or landowners trying to protect their well water from agricultural runoff are just two examples of how policy choices at the state level have ripple effects throughout Iowan communities. Being an agricultural state, I learned at this conference that Iowa supplies some of the most nitrate runoff into the Mississippi than any other bordering state. Through our policy choices, it is clear we are prioritizing short-term yields over long-term stewardship of our land and our health.

Multiple panels at this year’s Iowa Water Conference showed how Iowans are taking it upon themselves to close the gap in need to protect locals from these harmful farming practices, whether it be providing nitrate testing strips for your tap water, educational forums about how to maintain a private well, or teaching farmers more sustainable agricultural methods. Many panels talked about how they are using federal resources for their programming, but there was little talk about policy from Iowa itself that seeks to promote better public health in relation to clean water.

This conference displayed a clear gap in Iowa policy. If Iowa wants to protect its land and citizens for future generations, it must be thinking about long-term best agricultural practices, including cover crops, rotational grazing, and limiting chemical usage that has been proven to cause health issues to both humans and the environment.

Ultimately, this conference provided me with a lot of hope. When your local government isn’t providing the safety nets needed to promote agricultural and public health, the community itself seeks to fill that gap. Through science, community activism, and art, the Iowa Water Conference displayed a bright future when it comes to the state of water in Iowa. This is a community of people who truly care about the health and well-being of all in this state, and those downstream of us. Through continued efforts, scientific and community-driven, I truly believe we will heal our current ecosystem and better connect Iowans with their lived environment.

Author: Lilli Scott is a graduate student earning her Master of Public Affairs from the University of Iowa. 

The keynote speakers and breakout sessions throughout the conference were nothing short of inspiring. Two main themes were introduced by the first day opening speakers, Dr. Brandi Janssen and Dr. Kaoru Ikuma,

1. Connections to water run deep in every culture. We must embed these connections in our work.
2. Solving wicked problems* is going to take a collaborative and integrated approach to engage a variety of disciplines and stakeholders.

I noticed these themes carry over into the following breakout sessions and panels over the course of the conference. From David Cwiertney and Eric Gidal’s presentation of the Blue-Green Action Platform — bridging the gap between arts and science — to the Wicked Problem Panel posing tough questions about climate-resilient watersheds. It was inspiring to listen to experts in the field and hear about the work they are doing to improve the water in our state and beyond.

It can be daunting to learn about wicked problems such as water quality issues and climate change. How can we as individuals even begin to address these issues? With the conclusion of this conference, I feel as though I am walking away with new tools in my belt to take on these challenges. One simple step we can take to make a change as individuals is to connect with and be aware of the water around us.

Building connections with our community and our water will help us participate in and contribute to collective solutions. We can share information about private well testing grants with our neighbors, adaptation strategies in our local hazard mitigation plans, request nitrate testing kits from the Izaak Walton League, or share ideas about water recycling in our community water systems.

As V Fixmer-Oraiz touched on in the Wicked Problem Panel, resilience can be achieved through connection, and we all have the power to connect. While we may not all be out restoring watersheds for a living, we can still be good watershed stewards and neighbors. As the theme of the conference reads, “Life Depends on Water. Water Depends on You (Us).”

*Fifty years ago, two design theorists developed the term “wicked problem” to describe problems that are difficult to solve because of their complex and interconnected nature. In the world of water, a shared critical resource for all, natural and human pressures create water quality and water quantity concerns.