DWD APRIL 2025 NEWSLETTER
DWD April 2025 Newsletter
April 30, 2025
DWD Advances Its Programs on Education, Advocacy and Entertainment
We’ve been busy here at Driftless Water Defenders. From Des Moines, where we addressed clean water and health, to Clayton County, where we opposed a mining company’s bid to nearly quadruple groundwater withdrawals, DWD did what effective clean-water advocates do: speak up. Plus, we’re having some fun with a benefit concert, a Clean Water School and an Earth Day table.
Livestream the Greg Brown Benefit Concert: May 8
On May 8, Driftless Water Defenders hosts a free livestream of the sold-out benefit concert at the Steyer Opera House in the Hotel Winneshiek in Decorah. Greg Brown performs with fellow songwriter-musicians Dave Moore, Pieta Brown, Jeffrey Foucault, Eric Heywood, Chad Elliot & Kathryn Fox (The Weary Ramblers) and drummer John Convertino.
The livestream starts at 7:00 p.m. here: https://youtube.com/live/kRke8CZtgJA?feature=share
The musicians are donating their performances in support of DWD’s programs to protect surface and ground water in the Driftless Region and in Iowa’s wells, streams, lakes and rivers. Greg Brown has fished in Driftless area streams, inspiring him with an appreciation for what will be lost if we don’t protect Iowa’s precious water sources.
At intermission, guest speakers John Crabtree, Birgitta Meade and Carl Homstad will briefly summarize coming DWD events and the need for clean water advocacy.
The benefit concert has received the generous financial support of more than 25 sponsors, including Premier Sponsor Singh Family Foundation. We thank all of our sponsors for this important support, which allows us to expand and deepen our advocacy efforts.
Highlandville Clean Water School: May 17
On Saturday, May 17, Driftless Water Defenders holds its first “Clean Water School” at the Old Schoolhouse in Highlandville. The one-day, free event opens at 9 a.m.
Advance registration is required and is easy to do here: https://www.driftlesswaterdefenders.com/events
Registrants can learn proper methods and protocols for testing well and surface water, engage with experts addressing various aspects of water quality, from historical, social and experiential perspectives. Other activities will include canoeing on the Upper Iowa River, hiking and guided bird watching along Bear Creek, fly fishing with expert guides—and an evening bonfire and folk dance featuring the Foot-Notes.
DWD President Chris Jones describes the event this way: “We are on the cusp of a new social, political and legal movement in Iowa which is aimed to improve Iowa’s water. This event will provide excellent educational and practical information in a fun and engaging environment.”
THE IOWA 48 LAKES PROJECT: May 24
During the Great Depression, supported by the federal government, the State of Iowa constructed some of the nation’s best state parks. Many featured manmade lakes and public beaches. For generations, these sites provided middle class families opportunities to swim, boat, fish, and socialize. In recent years industrial farming pollutants have created dangerous water conditions. Most of the beaches, for many summer weekends, are closed to public use. It’s time to push back. During the Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 24 at 48 of Iowa’s state park public beach facilities, DWD is spearheading an effort to bring public attention to this serious problem.
Who: You and other clean water advocates
What: Protests in support of clean water for Iowa
Where: A lake near you
When: May 24, 2025
Register Here: https://www.driftlesswaterdefenders.com/events
Hearing on Contested Water Permit for Sand Mining
On April 22 DWD leaders were a part of 75 citizens who appeared at a public hearing in Clayton County to oppose the Pattison Sand Company’s water use permit application to withdraw 3.7 billion gallons of groundwater annually near its quarry in Garnavillo. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) held the hearing at the request of DWD. DNR’s representatives who convened the meeting refused to answer questions. The proposed water withdrawal is nearly four times more water than the company currently uses. Among those providing statements were DWD members Larry Stone and Steve Veysey and the DWD Board’s attorney, Jim Larew. Citizens expressed concerns that a substantial water withdrawal increase by Pattison Sand Company could compromise wells that people use to wash their dishes, take showers and flush toilets. The DNR will accept public comments until May 27. One more public meeting will follow within 60 days, at which time the DNR will announce its decision with respect to Pattison Sand’s water permit application. Comments should be sent to Chad Fields at the DNR via email: chad.fields@dnr.iowa.gov or via U.S. Mail: Chad Fields, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 6200 Park Ave., Suite 200, Des Moines, IA 50321. The subject line should read “Re: Pattison Sand Co. request for water withdrawal, Log. No. 33,483”
Make it stand out
DWD Celebrated Sustainability at 2025 Earth Day Festival
Driftless Water Defenders participated in the 2025 Earth Day Festival, “Celebrating Sustainability” on April 26 at the Fairgrounds in Decorah. The DWD Earth Day exhibit featured local area water samples tested for nitrogen content. High nitrate levels in drinking water can lead to health problems, especially in infants.
Prompting DWD’s concern with elevated nitrate levels are studies from health experts reporting that increased risks for cancer outcomes are related to long-term consumption of drinking water, even when nitrate levels are at half the EPA standard (5 mg/L). One of the major questions currently under debate is whether the EPA’s drinking water standard of 10 mg/L is sufficiently protective.
Water samples presented at the Earth Day event were collected on April 24th – 26.t.h
Here are a few sample results:
· Upper Iowa River, (Pulpit Rock Campground): 8.0 mg/L
· Ten Mile Creek, (West of Decorah off Walnut Creek Rd.) 26.0 mg/L
· Upper Iowa River, (Ray’s Landing, New Albin) 8.7 mg/L
The DWD booth also displayed Information about DWD’s “Oats Initiative,” an effort to encourage Iowa farmers to consider adding oats to their crop rotation to lower nitrates in groundwater. Quaker Oats sources its oats primarily from Canada, but Iowa was once a major oats producer. Tariffs on Canadian goods may convince Iowa farmers of the profitability of planting oats again.
Make it stand out
DWD at The Harkin Wellness Symposium
On April 16 DWD President Chris Jones and legal counsel Jim Larew were featured speakers at the Harkin On Wellness Symposium: The Future of Clean Water, at Drake University in Des Moines. More than 150 people attended. Larew was the morning's keynote speaker. He addressed the topic: The Right to Clean Water. He described DWD's advocacy for a formal amendment to the Iowa Constitution's Bill of Rights to recognize a fundamental right of citizens to have access to clean water. He characterized the movement as "necessary" in light of recent structural changes to Iowa's political environment that has empowered industrial agricultural oligarchs.
Larew compared the advancing clean-water movement to the civil and voting rights activism in the deep south 70 years ago. He likened the present efforts to that which preceded Rosa Parks' refusal to move from her seat at the front of the bus in December 1955 to allow white passengers that boarded after her. "In Iowa, collectively, we are on the 'Environmental Bus,'" Larew stated. “However, now, when representatives from industrial-agricultural interests get on the bus, too many people--particularly, too often, elected representatives--run to the back of the bus."
Jones accepted an award presented by The Harkin Institute to DWD in recognition of the group's effective advocacy. Less than a year old, DWD has more than 250 members and is involved in a half-dozen litigated matters. Jones said industrial-agricultural leaders have made a "conscientious, organized effort ...to deny Iowans a better quality of life." He described himself as "exhausted" by a "failure to recognize" the problem. "The time has come for a new approach."
Local Groups Provide Generous Financial Support for DWD
A large number of groups and individual sponsors make DWD’s advocacy possible. Here are a few examples of their generosity. We thank all of our Members and sponsors.
The Oneota Food Co-op in Decorah honored DWD as the recipient of the “Roundup at the Register” campaign. From April 1 to April 14, the co-op’s shoppers had the opportunity to “round-up” the total of their register receipts and also contribute to DWD. The round-up raised $1,434.37. Thank you Oneota Food Co-op.
The Iowa Peace and Justice Center awarded DWD with $250 for its educational programming. Thank you.
