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Water, precious water,
please have mercy on us for we know not what we do. Since the beginning of
time your purity has helped to create and sustain life, your awesome power
has sculpted the surface of our planet, and your serenity brings us peace.
We are constantly calling upon you to cleanse our bodies, quench our thirst,
and produce our food. Without you, our planet would be devoid of life, but
with you, life flourishes.
Water quality is something that affects all of us – one way or another. “All
of us” includes all living things, from the largest whale to the smallest
amoeba, from tiny duckweed to the tallest redwoods. Without water, all life
on earth would cease to exist. Although the quantity of water on earth will
never change, its distribution and quality affect us all. With 97.5% of the
global water supply tied up in saltwater resources, and nearly 2% of
freshwater frozen in glaciers, it is very important to manage, monitor, and
protect the remaining 0.5% of freshwater that is available to us. The
absence of usable water would be the same as having no water at all.
IOWATER, Iowa’s volunteer water quality monitoring program, empowers
citizens to take a proactive approach to water quality. By monitoring the
water resources in our backyards, we can ensure the protection, longevity
and productivity of high quality water resources, as well as evaluate,
assess, and improve those of lower quality. By becoming an IOWATER
volunteer, you are not only provided with monitoring equipment, but you are
also given the freedom to monitor wherever and whenever you choose. The
program brings people closer to the landscapes that surround them and
encourages them to develop a sense of place within the watersheds in which
they live. This tie between ourselves and the water resources that give us
life will lead to the understanding, respect, and protection of Iowa’s water
bodies long into the future.
IOWATER – Coming Soon To A Community Near You
Becoming involved in IOWATER is easy – workshops are held throughout the
summer at various locations across the state. To register, just contact the
local facilitator listed on the
IOWATER Workshop Schedule. Walk in the Level
1 workshop as a citizen, and walk out as an IOWATER Level 1 Certified
Volunteer Water Quality Monitor!
Questions??? Please contact:
Jacklyn Gautsch, Natural Resource Biologist
jackie.gautsch@dnr.iowa.gov
(319) 335-1761
Brandon Harland, Natural Resource Biologist
brandon.harland@dnr.iowa.gov
(515) 281-3150
Lisa Fascher, Research Geologist
lisa.fascher@dnr.iowa.gov
(319) 530-5111
Lynette Seigley, Research Geologist
lynette.seigley@dnr.iowa.gov
(319) 335-1598
Brian Soenen, Project AWARE Coordinator
brian.soenen@dnr.iowa.gov
(515) 205-8587
or e-mail
iowater@iowater.net. |
