Advocacy Toolkit

Iowa Water Watch Advocacy Toolkit

Iowa Water Watch (IWW) aims to increase awareness of Iowa’s recreational water quality and make monitoring data more accessible to the public and easier to understand. IWW also supports the policy change to improve, protect, and provide safe, enjoyable public access to Iowa’s recreational waterways. The policy goals of IWW are to: 

1. Protect and expand Iowa beach monitoring programs.  
2. Improve communication channels that provide information on beach advisories, risks, and safety to increase equity in access and protection from harm for all visitors. 
3. Increase funding for water quality and recreation in Iowa. 
4. Reduce occurrences of harmful algae blooms by deploying a watershed approach to protecting and improving local water quality, implementing universal farm conservation practices, and regulating fertilizer application. 

As an IWW supporter, you can make a difference for Iowa’s waterways by advocating for clean water. No matter where you are in your advocacy journey, it is important to remember that policy change can be a long road. Advocacy requires persistence and dedication. And your voice is critically important to the process that leads to clean water in Iowa. With our collective voice, we can demand improvement and protection for Iowa waterways.  

The resources on this page will help you advocate for safe, healthy recreational waterways in Iowa. Any action you take is important and helpful. 

• The Talking Points document contains helpful messaging and statistics related to these policy goals.  
• The Guide to Decision-Makers provides contact information for the elected officials and agencies that make and implement laws and policies for Iowa waterways.  
• The LTE Toolkit has all the information you will need to write and submit a letter-to-the-editor or op-ed for your local newspaper to raise awareness about the issues and policy solutions for recreational waterways, including templates that you can craft into your own message. 
• Advocacy Dos and Don’ts has helpful tips for meeting with elected officials.  
• Advocacy Actions includes a list of the numerous ways you can get involved and take action for clean water.