Debbie says: Yes, Becky. I think this is something we sould get involved
with. I hope everyone that is recieving these mailings keeps the
information. The Sierra Club will be having its own conference on water
quality in June. Monitoring will be a topic and describing what the DNR is
doing is apart of that.

The Department of Natural Resources has created a
statewide, citizen-based volunteer water quality program called IOWATER. I
wonder if this is something the Sierra Club might look into for group/chapter
volunteer outings, for example.

To quote the pilot program brochure:

"The program provides educational materials to assist volunteers in
collecting samples and interpreting results. It will also provide a
statewide network so that volunteers from across Iowa can share their
results with others.

"IOWATER emphasizes looking at the watershed as well as collecting
information about the water body. Data collected can provide local groups a
valuable tool to determine what influences water quality in their area and,
more importantly, what can be done to improve it."

IOWATER is a cooperative effort of the DNR, Iowa Environmental Council, IA
division of the Izaak Walton League, IA Farm Bureau Federation, Natural
Resources Conservation Service, UI Hygienic Laboratory, and many local
volunteer groups, organizations and individuals.

The pilot program will begin this spring for the Raccoon River Watershed.
It involves 22 monitoring groups.

A statewide training session is scheduled for August 6-7 at the NDR's
Springbrook Conservation Education Center

For more information or to ask for a brochure:
IOWATER
Iowa DNR
2473 160th Road
Guthrie Center, IA 50115-8515
Tel. (515) 747-2051
Fax (515) 747-2200
e-mail: [log in to unmask]


Becky Soglin
Iowa City Area Group, Conservation Chair

Note: This is a personal e-mail account held
privately through the University of Iowa. It is
not a UI work account.

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