By Cody Smith, former staff member
Too many times, rural Iowans have been the farmers, homeowners, and small business owners who waded the high flood waters to salvage what they could after record-breaking floods.
They have been the ones who thought twice before enjoying recreational activities on Iowa’s lakes and rivers because of concerns about the quality of the water splashing along the banks.
So, when it comes to managing the state’s water resources, rural Iowans know firsthand what decisions made at all levels of government mean for their livelihoods.
This front row seat to the state’s successes—and failures—of managing water is precisely why the Center for Rural Affairs is asking rural Iowans to share their perspective on these challenges in the Our Iowa, Our Water Survey released this month.
The survey is a brief 20 questions, takes only a few minutes to fill out, and aims to help inform local, state, and federal efforts to improve water quality and reduce flooding across Iowa.
The survey closed on July 6.
Your views will help bolster rural voices in planning a path to cleaner water and a more flood resilient future for rural Iowa. As rural communities and elected officials work to address these challenges and improve overall quality of life, we hope you will pull up a chair, share your thoughts with us, and make sure rural Iowans have a seat at the table where decisions are made.
