IEC BeWildReWild $25,000 Request
We (The Iowa Environmental Council (IEC) and BeWildReWild) share the belief that agriculture and wildness can/must coexist for the benefit of ALL life.
About IEC
For more than 25 years, IEC has been the largest environmental coalition in Iowa, leading the way in addressing urgent concerns impacting people and the planet. We are a nonpartisan alliance of diverse organizations and individuals working together to protect and preserve Iowa’s environment. IEC’s mission is a just, healthy environment and sustainable future for all Iowans. We envision a state that is a leader in addressing climate change and environmental justice, and in creating resilient communities that embody Iowans’ shared values of respect for all people and the environment.
The Problem
Iowa is trapped in a system of land use that is unsustainable for the state that IEC envisions, and that would bring about the realization of IEC’s mission. Iowa’s natural resources are diverse. However, to meet current and future land and water needs and preserve our natural resources, we must develop and adopt solutions that are economical, sustainable and environmentally sound. What consumers buy and the prices they are willing to pay are part of a system that determines what farmers produce and the methods used in that process. We can create a low input, sustainable agriculture. We will do that by simultaneously creating a low input, sustainable urban culture. This includes reducing pollution from urban and agricultural sources to restore Iowa’s land and water, and building a landscape that is more diverse in the life it supports.
Through advocacy, education and coalition-building, the Iowa Environmental Council works with diverse stakeholders to advance strong standards and goals for clean water and land stewardship that strengthen Iowa’s environment, economy, communities, health and quality of life. Systemic change is needed, which means building a base of support for these changes, and advocating to have them made.
Your Support
With the support of BeWildReWild, IEC will pursue a number of strategies to engage Iowans in imagining a different future for our state – a future that is a more diverse landscape that can support all life.
- BeWildReWild will be a sponsor of our Iowa Water Watch newsletter, which goes out weekly during the “beach season” and monthly the rest of the year. This highly read newsletter is one of our most effective means of communication where we highlight different voices and visions for Iowa. In 2023, this included:
- The voices of Iowa Rivers Revival Service Squad members, a cohort of Next Generation Ag and Conservation Leaders, making information available in spanish, and more.
- BeWildReWild will support hosting Water Watch and Cost of CAFO events in different parts of Iowa, where we can bring people together, in person, to talk about different visions for Iowa’s future that include a more diverse landscape
- IEC and BeWildReWild will partner with Roger Ross Gipple to showcase 5 films in places to further the purposes of this grant and the vision of BeWildReWild
- IEC will continue to grapple with the key questions posed by BeWildReWild:
- What do you/we mean by wild?
- What lifestyle changes are needed for us to live within the bounds of sustainability?
- How can we create a wilder, more beautiful, more biologically diverse, and a more enduring Mississippi River Watershed?
A grant donation of $25,000 to the Iowa Environmental Council can be made at the following link: www.iaenvironment.org/yearend, or by mailing a check to:
Iowa Environmental Council
ATTN: Jordan Bles
505 Fifth Ave., Suite 850
Des Moines, IA 50309
BeWild ReWild Grant Recap
In 2023, the Iowa Environmental Council (IEC) received generous support from BeWild ReWild to help foster a bold, forward-looking vision for Iowa’s environmental future. With this funding, we engaged Iowans in reimagining what’s possible for our state: building awareness, sparking conversations, and inspiring action. This report outlines how that support helped advance our shared goals.
Objective 1:
Sponsor the Iowa Water Watch newsletter to increase public awareness of water quality issues and lift the vision for a wilder, more beautiful, more biologically diverse, and more enduring Mississippi River Watershed.
Outcomes:
- Thanks to your sponsorship, IEC was able to share vital information throughout the 2024 beach season, reaching more than 225,000 subscribers via the Iowa Water Watch electronic newsletter and thousands more through social media.
- During the 16-week monitoring season, we shared updates and analysis from 39 public beaches:
- Iowa DNR issued 15 microcystin and 134 E. coli advisories.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Rock Island District) issued 12 E. coli advisories at Saylorville, Red Rock, and Coralville Reservoirs, plus 3 additional advisories at North Overlook Beach, West Overlook Beach, and Sugar Bottom Campground.
- Our end-of-season recap compared Iowa’s contamination levels to global events like the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the Seine River’s E. coli levels (649 mpn/100mL) were significantly lower than Iowa’s peak (24,000 mpn/100mL).
Objective 2:
Bring Iowans together through Water Watch and The True Cost of CAFOs events to foster dialogue around a more sustainable Iowa.
Outcomes:
- IEC hosted two Beach Bash events:
- George Wyth State Park, Waterloo – July 2023
- Lake Manawa State Park, Council Bluffs – June 2024
- True Cost of CAFOs Report Events:
- Two webinars, plus one in-person forum in Cedar Rapids, introduced new research and invited community discussion.
- A webinar recording remains publicly accessible on IEC’s website and YouTube.
These events engaged hundreds of Iowans, offering opportunities to connect, learn, and imagine a more diverse, regenerative approach to land and water use.
Objective 3:
Showcase BeWildReWild films to amplify the grant’s core message.
Outcomes:
- At IEC’s 2024 Annual Conference, BeWildReWild films were featured in a designated lounge area. These were looped throughout breaks and lunch to maximize engagement.
- IEC also hosted a private screening for staff and board members, sparking meaningful internal conversation on the films’ vision and themes.
- IEC hosted three community screenings in Des Moines, West Des Moines, and Ankeny, engaging concerned citizens with the concept of rewilding and offering opportunities for continuing education and encouraged action.
Looking Ahead
Our partnership with BeWild ReWild is helping to shape a new environmental narrative for Iowa; one that values restoration, resilience, and community. In the coming year, IEC is excited to collaborate on:
- Joint field days and webinars
- Co-hosted conference sessions with Practical Farmers of Iowa
- Quarterly strategy and storytelling conversations
- New outreach and educational opportunities
Your unwavering commitment to preserving Iowa’s natural resources and advancing environmental sustainability is both commendable and inspiring. We eagerly anticipate the year ahead, where we will continue to work together toward a healthier, more sustainable future for Iowa.
Iowa Environmental Council