Looking Back, Looking Forward

So looking back, I began this water blog with the founding thesis that 'water quality' has no specific definition, aka 2 + 2 = 4. Rather, 'water quality' is something that stands for something everyone believes in, like Apple Pie and America, but about which there is no fixed agreement. It is something we constantly debate. And I argue this is a good thing. We should be debating the meaning of water quality because 'good water quality' is not a one-size-fits-all, and also because there is no single authority that regulates and protects water. Instead, there are a myriad of local, state, regional and federal agencies that approach it from different angles and purposes. And they would not be in existence were it not for our civil society and its freedom to debate, agitate and get things done.

So this brings up the complexity of protecting and improving water quality. rich material for a water-blogger! The intent of this waterblog is to explore the debates and who-does- what for water quality. But as it is the end of the year I would like to reflect on and highlight a unique organization we have here in Dickinson County that does not exist elsewhere in Iowa, a grassroots organization where the right hand gets to meet the left hand and shake if not engaging in a little arm wrestling first. I am talking about the Dickinson County Clean Water Alliance (CWA). Its purpose is to minimize duplication and maximize cooperation in water quality efforts by facilitating communication and coordination between levels of government and private and public sectors to protect and improve the water quality in the Iowa Great Lakes watershed. It includes over 60 members, including local, state, and federal government entities as well as conservation organizations.

However, the CWA has no membership dues, nor regulatory powers. Instead, it works by providing grants, technical support, and educational information to farmers, businesses, and citizens. Its only staff member is a coordinator, who must have passion, people skills as well as a background in water policy and watershed science. John Wills is the current CWA coordinator, and John has shown where there is a Wills there is a way! The Clean Water Alliance meets quarterly, and the public is invited to the meetings and air concerns, and the job of the CWA is to help find solutions.

The Clean Water Alliance has been in existence since the early 1990s, and its founding architect is Orville Berg, who received the 2009 Ace Cory Conservation Award from the Okoboji Protective Association. Way back in the 1980s, before 'water quality' became the household phrase it is today, Orville realized that public and private partners and interagency cooperation was the key to protect the watershed of the Iowa Great Lakes. It was he who searched for funding sources for water quality projects, and was of his first successes was forming the partnership with the nonprofit Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation that would eventually evolve into the Clean Water Alliance.

In receiving the Ace Cory Conservation Award, Berg was recognized not only for his efforts to create the WQC, but his efforts to seek a steady source of funding for clean water projects that would result in the creation of the Dickinson County Water Quality Commission, another unique organization not found elsewhere in Iowa. The DCWQC is a 28E agreement between the county and all its municipalities that provides grant monies for water quality project for all Dickinson County lakes, not just the lakes within the IGL watershed.

What is most significant about Berg, is he set the philosophy for water quality protection and natural resource management for the Iowa Great Lakes to proceed with an emphasis on communication, cooperation and incentives instead of regulations and bureaucracy. I am not saying the CWA is perfect, but the way it is set up it does not stop us from making it even better!

And last but not least, I would like to recognize Steve Anderson, former Clean Water Alliance coordinator who is now serving our country overseas in the National Guard. Before he left for guard duty, Steve became the first the urban conservationist for northwest Iowa and worked closely with John Wills. We understand Steve is not only fulfilling his duties overseas, but making sure the military follows its own water protection rules on the military base.

So looking back, we are grateful we have so many dedicated organizations and individuals working to protect the water quality of our Dickinson County lakes. Looking forward 2010, we look forward to more accomplishments, and to Steve's safe return.