Mike Delaney

Iowa Ike Feature: Mike Delaney

This week, we are celebrating Mike Delaney, our Iowa Division Conservation Director and a longtime, dedicated "Iowa Ike"! From the waters of the Raccoon River to his rolling prairie in Dallas County, Mike has dedicated decades of his life to conservation, education, and protecting Iowa’s precious natural resources.

While Mike officially serves as the Conservation Director for the Iowa Division, his connection to the Izaak Walton League goes far beyond a title. For Mike, conservation is a lifelong journey shaped by a love for rivers, prairies, teaching, community, and a deep curiosity about the natural world.

 Early Roots & Global Horizons

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1946, Mike developed his love for the outdoors while fishing with his father and exploring the glacial lakes of northeast Indiana. As a young man, he canoed Michigan rivers with his older brothers and the Boy Scouts—formative experiences that cemented his lifelong bond with rivers, wildlife, and wild places.

Mike’s journey eventually took him far beyond the Midwest. He served three years in the United States Peace Corps in Grenada, West Indies, an experience that deepened his appreciation for diverse cultures, communities, and landscapes. This connection to the Caribbean continued throughout his academic work, including master's studies focused on West Indian and Caribbean culture.

 From the Classroom to the Watershed

Following his Peace Corps service, Mike taught and coached football at Bishop Luers High School before moving permanently to Iowa in 1972. He went on to teach at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) for 33 years, retiring from full-time classroom teaching in 2005. Passionate about education, he continued to teach Environmental Sociology online for another decade.

But traditional classrooms were never Mike's only place of learning.

 An Active Force for the Raccoon River

After purchasing a small farm along the Raccoon River, Mike turned his passion into direct action to protect the watershed. He founded the Raccoon River Watershed Association and was instrumental in advancing the Raccoon River Trail initiative. Over the years, he has helped organize river cleanups, support critical river-health research, conduct water-quality testing, and establish the annual Life in the Raccoon River Conference.

Mike joined the Des Moines Izaak Walton League in 2007, quickly becoming an active leader. He served on the chapter board, started the popular Carp Fishing Tournament at Gray’s Lake, and organized the Water Sport Village at the Des Moines Ikes Outdoor EXPO for many years. Extending his impact further, Mike teamed up with Steve Rowe in 2017 to help found the Panora Chapter of the Izaak Walton League.

 Advocacy at the State Capitol

Mike's commitment to conservation frequently takes him straight to the Iowa State Capitol. Beginning in 2008, he collaborated with Doc Overton and Tom Holmes to advocate on behalf of the Iowa Division. Today, he continues to volunteer his time as a fierce legislative advocate for the Raccoon River Watershed Association, the Panora Conservation Chapter, Citizens for a Healthy Iowa, and the Iowa Division of the Izaak Walton League.

 Hands-On Conservation Today

Today, Mike’s conservation work remains deeply hands-on. On his 60-acre Dallas County farm, he tends bees, grows a garden, hunts, fishes, manages his timber, and restores native prairie right along the Raccoon River. He is a passionate student of historical landscapes and river habitats, paying special attention to the endangered mussels that play a vital role in filtering our waterways.

Mike also remains on the frontlines of community science, regularly participating in water-quality monitoring and sharing his findings through the Izaak Walton League’s Clean Water Hub.

 Passing on the Legacy

Perhaps most importantly, Mike loves sharing his lifelong knowledge with others. He frequently welcomes visitors onto his Dallas County prairie, helping them understand the interconnectedness of a healthy landscape, a healthy river, and clean water.

Mike’s personal philosophy perfectly reflects the heart of the Izaak Walton League’s mission: ensuring clean water, clean air, and the wise stewardship of our land and resources, while fostering a deeper appreciation for nature, woodlands, wildlife, and open spaces.

Mike is married to Dell Radcliffe, and together they share three children—Erin, Connor, and Alice—and three grandchildren—Keenan, Brennan, and Zoey.

From the lakes of Indiana and the shores of the Caribbean to the waters of the Raccoon River, Mike Delaney has spent a lifetime learning from unique landscapes and inspiring others to protect them. We are incredibly grateful for Mike’s decades of leadership, advocacy, education, and stewardship, and for everything he continues to contribute to the Iowa Izaak Walton League.

 This is the story of an Iowa Ike. And this is the heart of our conservation community.