WATERSHED QUALITY PLANNING TASK FORCE TO HOLD FIRST MEETING; 
OPEN TO PUBLIC

WEST DES MOINES - The first meeting of a committee appointed to discuss
a voluntary statewide water quality program has been set for Thursday,
Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to noon in West Des Moines.

The Watershed Quality Planning Task Force will meet at the West Des
Moines Public Library, 4000 Mills Civic Parkway.

"The recommendations of this task force will be additional steps in
helping Iowans work for cleaner water," said Wayne Gieselman, head of
DNR environmental services. "I expect that the results of this
committee will better enable individual Iowans to make changes that
benefit the whole state by improving water quality."

The Iowa Legislature called for creation of the committee during the
last session. Specifically, the legislature is asking the committee to
develop a report containing recommendations on the following issues:
* Improving water quality
* Creating economic incentives for environmental compliance
* Facilitating implementation efforts
* Developing quantifiable protocols and procedures
* Providing greater flexibility through community-based,
non-regulatory, performance-driven watershed management planning.  

The committee is comprised of representatives from both houses and both
parties of the Legislature, Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities,
Iowa League of Cities, Iowa Association of Business and Industry, Iowa
Water Pollution Control Association, Iowa Rural Water Association,
Growing Green Communities, Iowa Environmental Council, Iowa Farm Bureau,
Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Pork
Producers Association, Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Iowa,
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of
Natural Resources and the Iowa Conservation Alliance.

The committee meeting is open to the public.

MEDIA CONTACT: Wayne Gieselman at (515) 281-5817 or Sharon Tahtinen at
(515) 281-7066.

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