2008 Annual Conference

October 17

Des Moines Botanical Center

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.”
Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It.

Disasters of different sizes—from epic events, like this summer’s flooding, to fish kills from animal manure discharges—remind us that we are all affected by what occurs on, or what is done to the land and the water upstream from us. We are all connected by the land and by the waters of Iowa.

The Iowa Environmental Council’s 2008 conference will explore where and how humans are having positive and negative impacts on Iowa waters and some of the ways individuals and communities can participate in solutions.

Registration is now open, with a special early bird registration fee until September 15. Click on the following link for more information...

Conference sessions will include sessions and workshops on:

• A history of Iowa’s rivers, streams and lakes and how humans have altered them
• How our altered landscape impacts water quality
• The current state of Iowa’s water—quality and quantity
• Rebuilding after the floods—the state’s response to the 2008 floods
• Our water rights and responsibilities
• How citizens can make a difference in an urban setting
• How citizens can make a difference on a watershed wide basis— grassroots watershed mobilization and other tactics that work
• Vision and Action—a participatory workshop that will address the question: What do we want for the future of water in Iowa and how do we get there?

Featured speakers include:

• Cornelia F. Mutel author of “The Emerald Horizon – The History of Nature in Iowa”
• Richard Leopold, Director, Iowa DNR
• Cornelia Butler Flora, Director of North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
• Craig Cox, Midwest Vice President for Environmental Working Group

The Council’s annual conference is open to the general public. While this conference may be especially helpful to those currently working or interested in working with a watershed association, a community improvement project or urban and rural planning, anyone who has an interest in learning more about Iowa water quality issues will also find this conference valuable.

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If you are a member of the Iowa Environmental Council you are invited to attend one of this summer's Policy Roundtable Discussions.

Input from members of the Iowa Environmental Council is a vital part of the decision-making process that determines the policy direction of the Council. As a member of the Council, it is your right and responsibility to help direct us. We want to know from you...

What are the most pressing environmental issues in Iowa?

What policies will make a difference?

What do you think is the roll of the Iowa Environmental Council in seeking solutions?

We look forward to seeing you at one of this summer's roundtable discussions.  Please call to reserve a seat at one of the following meetings...

Friday, June 6	3-5 p.m.	Metro Waste Authority in Des Moines	Meeting Completed!
Friday, June 27	11 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Iowa City... Old Capitol Mall	Meeting Completed!
Saturday, July 19	11 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Decorah...Mabe's Pizza (basement meeting room) 110 E Water Street	Light lunch provided
Thursday, August 7	7-9 p.m.	Spirit Lake... Expo Center Meeting Room
Monday, August 25	5:30 - 7:30 p.m.	Iowa State Univ Memorial Union	Room 3512

Please RSVP at least 3 days before the meeting by contacting Vicki Hoogeveen at 515-244-1194, ext 200.

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Keep updated on what Presidential candidates are saying about global warming solutions at:

The issue of climate change is now one of the most important issuing looming in our future. IowaGlobalWarming is a growing grass-roots organization dedicated to making the issue of global warming a priority in the 2008 presidential nomination process.