Iowa Water Essay and Photography Contest
By the IPP
To facilitate public discussion on Iowas water quality and promote sound water-quality policy decisions, the Iowa Policy Project (IPP) wants to gather Iowans stories and views on this issue. IPP is requesting short, passionate essays from Iowans about Iowas water or photos that tell their story.
Essay Submissions
We would like original vignettes on water quality from Iowans with a variety of backgrounds, ages, professions and interests. Writers or photographers for this project may be anyone: farmers, water-quality monitors, legislators, students, seniors, researchers, advocates, business representatives, water treatment plant operators, fishers and boaters. Whatever their background, participants will share a common characteristic they will be people who have thought carefully about Iowas water. The essays should be personal and could be written from a variety of angles a persons love for fishing, a desire to improve our water for future generations, a particular water quality battle she or he waged, an action she or he took to improve our water. Whatever the authors take, we ask that he or she supplement essay submissions with an entirely separate short paragraph describing an idea, action or policy recommendation for improving Iowas water quality.
We will accept essays in two categories: 1) fewer than 500 words, including poetry, and 2) between 500 and 1,000 words. Prizes will be awarded to the top three submissions in each category first prize will be $500; second, $250; and third $100. All authors must sign a statement attesting that the submitted work is their own and that no copyright or privilege is being violated by submission of the work. Essays may be submitted in printed form, but must also be submitted electronically in a Microsoft Word file.
Photography Submissions
We will be accepting black and white photographs featuring Iowa water. As with the essays, we are interested in photographs that illustrate the many aspects of Iowas water. The photographs could capture the beauty of our water, highlight the need for improvement, or display its multiple residential, commercial or recreational uses.
We will award prizes for top three photographs first prize will be $500; second, $250; and third $100. Those submitting photos must sign a statement attesting that the work is their own and that no copyright or privilege is being violated by submission of the work. Photographic prints may be submitted, but all submissions should include a digital JPEG file at a resolution of 300 ppi or above.
Contest Details
We will combine several essays, recommendations, and photographs (including the winners as well as other submissions) in a pamphlet with an introduction about Iowas water quality and water quality policy. The pamphlet would be printed by the Iowa Policy Project and distributed for use by the media, public, other Iowa organizations and decision makers. Additionally, the Iowa Policy Project may seek to place some individual essays in Iowa newspapers or magazines. We hope this contest and the resulting publication facilitates discussion and ultimately advances policy that will improve Iowas water quality.
Essays and photographs should be submitted by July 11, 2008. Iowa Policy Project staff may edit the essays. The Iowa Policy Project would retain the nonexclusive right to use all submissions in any manner, though authors would retain the right to use their own submissions as well and would be encouraged to place their writings or photos elsewhere.
Please mail or email your submission to:
Teresa Galluzzo, Research Associate, Iowa Policy Project, 120 N. Dubuque Street #208, Iowa City, IA 52245 or tgalluzzo@iowapolicyproject.org. Questions may be addressed to Teresa Galluzzo at 319.338.0773 or by email.
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Friday, May 30
Iowa Water Essay and Photography Contest
by
Sam Garchik
on Fri 30 May 2008 08:34 AM CDT
Monday, May 26
Iowa lakes, rivers and streams: Waste receptacles or natural resources belonging to the people of Iowa?
by
Sam Garchik
on Mon 26 May 2008 11:19 AM CDT
Iowa lakes, rivers and streams: Waste receptacles or natural resources belonging to the people of Iowa?
By Iowa Environmental Council In Iowa, as in other states, we have a state agency which grants wastewater discharge permits to regulated businesses, industries and municipalities, giving them permission to dump pollution in our rivers and streams. State-established water quality standards and the current condition of the water at the point of pollution discharge determine how much pollution will be allowed to be discharged. Water quality standards, as currently implemented in Iowa, determine the maximum amount of pollution allowed before the water becomes so polluted that the public health or health of aquatic life is threatened. Iowa Water quality “standards” are lines that pollutant levels cannot cross without harming drinking water, people who swim in the water, people who eat the fish, etc. It is important that Iowans realize that Iowa’s current water quality standards are not actually preserving good water quality in Iowa, but, in fact, are allowing our waters to border on the brink of disgust. That’s why Antidegradation Rules are so important. Antidegradation Rules are required by the federal Clean Water Act, but have never been implemented in Iowa. In essence, these rules ensure that no new pollution is allowed which would lower the water quality below its current level, unless that new pollution is determined to be necessary (no reasonable alternative exists) and it is a byproduct of something important for the economic and social development in the community. Area citizens must decide if the public benefits of the project justify the loss of water quality. Because of our state’s failure to implement Antidegradation Rules, industries, businesses and municipalities in Iowa may have the impression that our rivers, streams and lakes are waste receptacles. They may believe that they have a right to dump pollution into these “waste receptacles” until the line—the water quality standard—is crossed. And, in practice, that is exactly the right they have been granted if they hold an Iowa permit to discharge pollution. But Iowa waters belong to the citizens of Iowa. Under the federal Clean Water Act, citizens have the legal right to demand that our state preserve good water quality in our lakes, rivers and streams. Iowa citizens have the right to demand that we wait no longer to implement Antidegradation Rules in Iowa. Last October the Iowa Environmental Council petitioned the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to implement antidegradation rules in Iowa. As a result of that petition, the state is now moving forward to develop Antidegradation Rules that will assure that current water quality will be maintained wherever possible. Formal rulemaking is expected to begin in July 2008 and to be finalized in early 2009. But stakeholder meetings have already begun. Iowans value their lakes, streams and rivers for recreation and drinking water. With the Iowa Department of Natural Resources finally beginning the process of making Antidegradation Rules, many Iowans are speaking out to ensure that the water quality in their favorite lake, stream or river will be preserved. Please consider personalizing and sending the letter below… Lori McDaniel Supervisor, Water Quality Bureau Iowa Department of Natural Resources 502 East 9th Street Des Moines, IA 50319-0034 Lori.McDaniel@dnr.iowa.gov RE: Antidegradation Rules Dear Ms. McDaniel, I am writing to express my support for strong antidegradation rules which protect all of Iowa’s high quality waters. It is important that we do not allow further degradation of these precious resources. Please add me to your email list to receive information as the rules move forward. I’m especially interested in dates scheduled for public comment. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely, (end of letter) Lynn M. Laws Communications Director Iowa Environmental Council 521 East Locust, Suite 220 Des Moines, IA 50309 515-244-1194, x 210 lynnlaws@iaenvironment.org www.iaenvironment.org |
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BFIA Writer's Guidelines We welcome Submissions Iowa Sites Child & Family Policy Center - Iowa Genetic Engineering Action Network Iowa Citizen Action Network - ICAN Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility Iowa Public Interest Research Group Midwest Environmental Justice Advocates Progressive Action for the Common Good Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa QCAD (Quad-Citians Affirming Diversity - GLBT) Iowa Blogs The Deprogrammer (Quad Cities) Iowa True Blue (Gordon Fischer's Blog) Iowa Voters for Open and Transparent Elections Political FalloutFight Iowa Rapid Response Network - Iowa
Iowans for Better Local TV
Air America
The Counterpoint
National FAIR: Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting
Media Matters for America
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