DRIFTLESS WATER DEFENDERS’ PRESS RELEASE ABOUT ITS SUMMER TOUR: ELKADER EVENT
On June 27, 2024, Driftless Water Defenders sent out the following press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Driftless Water Defenders Elkader Meeting
Thursday, July 11, 2024, in Elkader, Iowa
Water quality issues in northeast Iowa will be the focus of a public meeting of the new non-profit organization, Driftless Water Defenders (DWD).
The free meeting, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, at the FreedomBank Community Room, 210 South Main St. in Elkader, is one of a series of Driftless Area events hosted by DWD.
DWD is an Iowa non-profit, 501(c)(3) membership corporation, which advocates, educates and litigates to defend Iowa citizens’ fundamental right to access clean water for their homes, businesses and recreational needs.
DWD is headed by its President, clean water advocate Chris Jones, author of the recently-published book, The Swine Republic: Struggles with the Truth about Agriculture and Water Quality. His book has been selected as the State of Iowa’s “Great Reads from Great Places” book to be featured in the 2024 National Book Festival hosted by the Library of Congress’s Center for the Book, in Washington, D.C., in August.
“Iowans have a fundamental right to clean water,” said Jones, in describing the formation of the new advocacy group. “Iowa’s water quality is getting worse and we need organized, citizen involvement if we’re going to turn things around. DWD’s members will push forward with needed clean water advocacy.”
At the meeting, Jones will describe and answer questions about the deteriorating condition of rivers, coldwater streams, wells, aquifers, and lakes in Iowa’s Driftless area—some of which are becoming unsafe for drinking, fishing and swimming.
High nitrate pollution levels have been linked by research scientists to various cancers and are directly harmful to wildlife. Iowa currently has the fastest rising cancer rate of any U.S. state and the second highest cancer rate in the country. Nitrate pollution also feeds algae blooms, which kill fish and can poison humans with cyanotoxins.
“The Driftless Area has traditionally had some of the best-quality water in Iowa, but it is getting significantly worse and needs to be protected,” said Jones. “This meeting of DWD will introduce local residents to Driftless water pollution issues and describe ways that citizens can act to protect their water.”
Those who wish to become members of DWD will have the opportunity to do so at the event. More information is available at driftlesswaterdefenders.com.
