From Jefferson County Farmers & Neighbors:

Driftless Water Defenders Inaugural Meeting
Saturday, June 15, 2024 in Decorah, Iowa

The public is invited to attend the first meeting hosted by a new clean water advocacy membership group, Driftless Water Defenders (DWD). This free event will be held on June 15th at 3 pm, at Good Shepard Lutheran Church, 701 Iowa Ave, Decorah, IA

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, Iowa 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 lakes, aquifers, streams and rivers 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 second highest rate of cancer of any U.S. state; that cancer rate is rising faster than in any other state. Nitrate pollution also feeds algae blooms, which kill fish and can poison humans with cyanotoxins.

“The Driftless region 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 inaugural 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.

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Jefferson County Farmers & Neighbors, Inc.
PO Box 811
Fairfield, IA 52556
www.jfaniowa.org
641-209-6600
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JFAN is funded by grassroots support and gratefully welcomes your donations. https://www.jfaniowa.org/donate-today

JFAN is a member of the Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture (IARA)