1st Annual Volunteers in Natural Resources Conference
November 16-17, 2001 Hotel Fort Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Friday
4 - 6 p.m. Check-in and Munchies - Enjoy the scrumptious cuisine of the
Hotel Fort Des Moines while mingling with volunteers and professionals from
across the state.
6 p.m. Opening Remarks
Evening Keynote, Gulf Hypoxia: The flux of nutrients from the Mississippi
River Basin to the Gulf of Mexico - Richard Coupe, United States Geological
Survey (Mississippi)
"Open Spaces" - Do you ever wish YOU could set the agenda? Here's your
chance!
8:15 p.m. Break (Refreshments provided.)
8:30 p.m. Concert: Carter and Connelley - A must see! This energetic and
insightful duo tackle environmental concerns through their music.
Saturday
(Breakfast on your own.)
9 a.m. Welcome and Address
10 a.m. Break (Refreshments provided.)
10:30 a.m. Concurrent Sessions A, B, C and D
A. The Impact of Our Decisions - IOWATER Coordinator and naturalist Richard
Leopold shares his view of society's responsibility to answer critical
questions concerning our natural resources. He explores these issues
through the thoughts and words of classical environmental ethics heroes such
as Aldo Leopold, Rachael Carson, Henry David Thoreau and many others. From
the "Great Law" of the Hodinonhshioni (League of the Iroquois): "In our
every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next
seven generations."
B. The Clean Water Act at Work in Iowa - Many provisions within this
federal legislation are intimately tied to water quality and land use
decisions locally in Iowa. Learn the processes and decipher the jargon
behind "Section 319," "point" and "nonpoint" source pollution, the bi-annual
"303b Report," the "303d List" and Iowa's Total Maximum Daily Load ("TMDL")
program.
C. Plant a Prairie, Build a Wetland--Funding Sources for Conservation
Practices in Iowa - If you've ever thought of trying your hand at planting a
prairie or restoring a wetland, this is the workshop for you. We'll take
you through the maze of state and federal funding sources to the many
available programs. We'll showcase some of the more popular and accessible
programs, and also explores some of the more obscure methods of funding
efforts to preserve and protect our natural resources.
D. Identifying Critical Volunteer Projects: What on Earth Can YOU Do? -
Would you like to learn how to eliminate invasive species in your local
park? Need the know-how to stabilize that stream bank? Perhaps you want to
help but need a jumping off point. No need to fret any further - this is
the workshop for you! Our professionals will tell you what you can do and
how to get started. Bring your pen along - you'll need to take notes on
these and other projects!
11:45 a.m. Break
12 noon Lunch
Volunteer Awards
1:30 p.m. Concurrent Sessions E, F, G and H
E. Real Work and Recreational Activity: The Value of Stewardship and
Service - We all have to serve somebody whether we are a prisoner or
president. Gandhi said, "I am here to serve no one else but myself, to find
my own self-realization through the service of these village folk." The
"ecological self" grows from "I am protecting the prairie," and develops
into "I am part of the prairie and am protecting myself." Let us explore
the values that shape our lives, define our landscape and determine our
future. Share stories of healing the land and water while restoring
ourselves, our community and our happiness.
F. Laying a Foundation: Professional Water Quality Monitoring in Iowa - You'
ve read about water quality in the newspaper, you probably know about it
firsthand - but how much do you know about what the professionals are up to?
What do high bacteria levels at our beaches really mean, and how "dirty" are
Iowa's waters? Learn about the state's Ambient Water Monitoring Program and
its efforts to collect basic information about our rivers, streams, lakes
and groundwater - and what it means for the future of our water resources.
G. Natural Resources Policy: How to Affect REAL Change and Gain Support - In
today's environment of reduced budgets, "relaxing" of environmental
safeguards, and the diverse demands on our natural resources, how can you
make your voice heard? Learn some tried and true techniques along with
insider tips on how to affect change and gain financial and political
support for state environmental and natural resources policy. Includes a
short "heads-up" on national legislation that could affect our state, and a
question-and-answer session.
H. IOWATER Rap: Success Stories and Challenges Ahead - An informal workshop
where volunteer monitors have the opportunity to share their experiences -
what's working for them, what isn't, and what should the future of IOWATER
look like. Volunteers will be presented new tools available to IOWATER
participants to network and "share the load" of monitoring within
watersheds.
2:45 p.m. Break (Refreshments provided.)
3 p.m. Concurrent Sessions I, J, K and L
I. The Real Super Heroes: Friends Groups - They are the backbone of
community support and stewardship efforts in many of our natural areas. How
do you start a successful friends group, what makes people want to join, and
how do you stay motivated? A panel of Friends of State Park members, staff
and representatives from other thriving groups will share their expertise,
success stories and projects accomplished.
J. Looking Ahead: Natural Resources Legislation and Appropriation Forecast
2002
What critical issues can we expect to surface and what is the state budget
going to look like for natural resources? Predicting the results of the
Iowa Legislative session is about as easy as predicting Iowa's weather, but
a panel of natural resources professionals and experts will give us their
best shot. Question and answer session included.
K. Iowa Water Quality Experts, "Lightly Grilled" - A sampling of Iowa's top
scientists and policymakers will answer your questions on various water
quality issues. Discussion will be lively, yet civil, in an attempt to reach
a common understanding of "the way things work" in the realm of natural
resource management.
L. Lake Monitoring in Iowa - Iowa is currently in the second full year of an
intensive five-year study on 132 of its lakes. Learn what has been found to
date, and what we hope gain by the end of the study. Our lakes are one of
our most precious resources; find out what is being done to protect them
through monitoring.
4:15 p.m. Break
4:30 p.m. Closing Remarks
4:45 p.m. Goodbye!
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For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT
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