ISU’s Conservation Learning Group Announces New Voices in Water Quality in Iowa Award Winners
Awards recognize Iowans who have shown outstanding action and commitment to water quality understanding, education and improvement
Ames, Iowa – The Conservation Learning Group (CLG), a think tank based at Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach and dedicated to addressing conservation and environmental challenges, has announced the 2022 winners of its New Voices in Water Quality in Iowa awards. This charter class of award-winners comprises 15 Iowans who have shown a commitment to advancing conversations, taking action and advocating for water quality improvements that benefit all Iowans within the past 10 years.
“Each of these individuals was nominated by peers and recognized for their efforts, achievements and passion for improving and restoring water quality,” said Jacqueline Comito, Conservation Learning Group program director. “Even though these individuals have varied backgrounds and experiences, when we conducted interviews to prepare a profile for each one, words and phrases like ‘passion’, ‘love of nature and the outdoors’, ‘connection to the land’, and ‘caring for our water and each other’, provided a common thread underpinning the love they all share for Iowa and our waterways.”
The 2022 New Voices in Water Quality in Iowa Awards provide recognition of individual advocacy and action in five categories. Profiles and video interviews (available Oct. 2022) with each recipient are available at www.newvoicesinwater.org. The winners will be recognized at an awards luncheon hosted by the Conservation Learning Group in October. The New Voices honorees will have ongoing access to an array of CLG resources and opportunities for further exposure of their efforts through social media and webinars from CLG programs.
New Voices in Water Quality in Iowa 2022 Award Winners
Youth and/or Community Water Education
Anjanette Treadway
ISU Extension and Outreach - Carroll County, Human Sciences Program Coordinator
Steve Gustafson
United States Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Geologist and Vice Board Chair for Partners of Scott County Watersheds
Dan Haug
Prairie Rivers of Iowa, Water Quality Specialist
Water Quality and Wildlife
Ross Evelsizer
Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development, Inc., Natural Resource Projects Director
Milt R. Owen
Mitchell County Water Quality Volunteer, retired Director of Mitchell County Conservation Board
Loran Steinlage
Fayette County Farmer
Kay Stefanik
Iowa Nutrient Research Center, Assistant Director
Karen Wilke
The Nature Conservancy, Iowa Freshwater Specialist and Boone River Watershed Project Director
Water Quality Research, Engineering, and Design
Bethany Brittenham
ISG, Inc., Water Resources Engineer
Spencer Pech
ISG, Inc., Graduate Engineer
Water Quality in Public Policy and Government
Alicia Vasto
Iowa Environmental Council, Water Program Associate Director
Katie Rock
Former Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner
Susan Kozak
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Soil Conservation and Water Quality Division Director
Kayla Bergman
Center for Rural Affairs, Policy Manager
Urban Water Conservation
Amanda Brown
Polk County Conservation, Conservation Ecologist
“There has been tremendous growth in action and interest in the area of water quality over the past 10 years. We are pleased to congratulate our selected New Voices and help introduce them to a broad audience statewide and extend their influence and efforts,” continued Comito.
The New Voices in Water Quality Awards are a collaboration of Iowa State University’s Conservation Learning Group and Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources (United States Environmental Protection Agency | Section 319 of the Clean Water Act).