WEST DES MOINES — The first meeting of a committee appointed to discuss avoluntary statewide water quality program has been set for Thursday, Aug. 3, from 10a.m. to noon in West Des Moines.The Watershed Quality Planning Task Force will meet at the West Des Moines PublicLibrary, 4000 Mills Civic Parkway.“The recommendations of this task force will be additional steps in helping Iowans workfor cleaner water,” said Wayne Gieselman, head of DNR environmental services. “Iexpect that the results of this committee will better enable individual Iowans to makechanges that benefit the whole state by improving water quality.”The Iowa Legislature called for creation of the committee during the last session.Specifically, the legislature is asking the committee to develop a report containingrecommendations on the following issues:• Improving water quality• Creating economic incentives for environmental compliance• Facilitating implementation efforts• Developing quantifiable protocols and procedures• Providing greater flexibility through community-based, non-regulatory,performance-driven watershed management planning.The committee is comprised of representatives from both houses and both parties of theLegislature, Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities, Iowa League of Cities, IowaAssociation of Business and Industry, Iowa Water Pollution Control Association, IowaRural Water Association, Growing Green Communities, Iowa Environmental Council,Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, IowaPork Producers Association, Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Iowa, IowaDepartment of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of NaturalResources and the Iowa Conservation Alliance.The committee meeting is open to the public.MEDIA CONTACT: Wayne Gieselman at (515) 281-5817 or Sharon Tahtinen at(515) 281-7066.
