Driftless Water Defenders was founded in May 2024 to confront head on industrialized agriculture’s assault on our water resources in the Driftless Area of northeast Iowa and statewide. We are intent on changing public policy, engaging citizens and, when necessary, litigating matters to protect and enhance Iowans’ access to clean water for personal, business and recreational purposes.
We’re off to a very strong start. We’ve established a comprehensive program of litigation, public engagement, and communications. By combining litigation with public engagement, DWD has initiated substantive water-protecting litigation on four fronts.
First, we successfully appealed an administrative decision made by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources under which a water use permit renewal had been issued to Supreme Beef, a large cattle feeding operation located at the head of Bloody Run Creek, one of Iowa’s most pristine water sources.
DWD followed the decision—which invalidated the water use permit’s issuance-- with a citizen complaint to compel the DNR to follow the state water use law and evaluate Supreme Beef’s water use permit application for its effect on water quality, downstream users, and the environment.
Second, Driftless Water Defenders organized citizen opposition and filed two lawsuits to challenge the construction of manure digesters in rural Winneshiek County
Third, in December 2024 Driftless Water Defenders issued to Agri Star Meat & Poultry, LLC, and Agri Star General, Inc., (Agri Star) a Notice of Violations and Intent to Sue under the Clean Water Act (CWA).
Fourth, DWD has proposed language for a new amendment to Iowa’s constitution which, if adopted by Iowans in future years, will protect Iowans’ fundamental right to access clean air and clean water and will also impose an affirmative duty on Iowa government to protect the state’s natural resources under the public trust doctrine.
One of DWD’s primary goals in 2025 is attracting 1,000 new members. That’s 800 more members than we have convinced to join our ranks, so far. For all our members, a big thank you. If you haven’t become a member, or know people who’d like to be part of this movement, see our membership page here: https://www.driftlesswaterdefenders.com/take-action
