A Virtual Thanksgiving Town Hall:

Celebrating Water Stewards

Heather Wilson—  Midwest Save Our Streams Coordinator, IWLA

Chris Henning—  Iowa Division Board Member, IWLA

On Tuesday, November 25 at 7 PM CT, we gathered on Zoom for our Virtual Thanksgiving Town Hall.

This month, we took time to give thanks and highlight the inspiring work happening across Iowa to address our water-quality crisis. We spotlighted several Izaak Walton League members, partner organizations, and community leaders who are bringing people together and demonstrating how meaningful action can influence policy.

Participants also shared who they wanted to thank for their efforts to protect Iowa’s waters.

In addition to updates on our Save Our Streams / Nitrate Watch program and the GoFundMe campaign supporting the University of Iowa’s statewide water monitors, we discussed ways to engage more Izaak Walton League members in this growing grassroots movement. Across Iowa, with 39 chapters of varying strengths and levels of engagement, we emphasized the importance of the League’s statewide network—one that supports collaboration among farmers, community volunteers, and partner organizations alike.

The Panora Conservation Chapter stood out as a powerful example of what strong, coordinated engagement can achieve.

During the session, we heard brief updates from:

• Heather Wilson, Midwest Save Our Streams Coordinator
• Chris Henning, Iowa Division IWL Board Member and Panora Conservation Chapter Board Member

For more than a century, the Izaak Walton League has been committed to protecting and restoring America’s waterways. Today, in Iowa—ground zero for one of the nation’s most pressing water-quality challenges—we continue that legacy with renewed urgency, community strength, and hope.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to this meaningful conversation.