October 8 | Iowa Waterways Report: Training Session for Viewing Parties New

Event Summary

The groundbreaking Central Iowa Source Water Resource Assessment (CISWRA) report provided the most comprehensive and unbiased analysis of water quality in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers to date, revealing that agricultural runoff is the primary source of dangerous levels of nitrates and other pollutants. A presentation of this report hosted by The Harkin Institute at Drake University gathered over 600 in-person attendees and was watched by nearly 3,000 people online. Though the report was focused on Central Iowa, it has implications for waterways across the state, as many Iowans are facing challenges posed by the high levels of nitrates and agricultural chemicals in their waterways.

The Harkin Institute and Iowa Environmental Council are now providing an opportunity for concerned Iowans to host their own discussions about the CISWRA Report and what it means for their community. Join us for this online training that reviews the contents of the CISWRA presentation, provides tools for hosting your own viewing, and describes an overview of a toolkit that has been developed for people interested in hosting their own discussions.

For those who can’t attend this training live, a recording will be available on The Harkin Institute’s YouTube channel.

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About the Central Iowa Source Water Resource Assessment (CISWRA)

The CISWRA Project was commissioned by the Polk County Board of Supervisors in 2023 to provide an unbiased, comprehensive analysis of our region’s source water quality. This collaborative effort represents one of the most thorough scientific assessments ever conducted on Central Iowa’s water resources.