Author: Emily Rehmann is a civil engineering graduate student at Iowa State University. Her research focus is on environmental toxins in water.
I enjoyed attending the 2025 Iowa Water Conference. I learned about the exciting work that people are doing to help protect Iowa’s water, presented and received feedback on my own research, and networked with professionals in academia, government, and industry. I appreciated the opportunity to host some of the speakers and talk to them about their work. One particular highlight for me was reconnecting with former Iowa State graduate students and hearing about where their careers have taken them. I also enjoyed the pre-conference tour to the Creekview Stormwater Wetland, Saylorville Lake, and the Helland Farm.
There were overarching themes throughout the conference that were big takeaways for me. First, protecting Iowa’s water can be done in many ways and considered from many angles. Speakers at the conference discussed modeling, field testing, governmental policies, volunteer efforts, and water quality solutions. Water encompasses stormwater, agriculture, and health. My research focuses on one aspect of water quality—microcystin degradation—so it was nice to step back and view water quality from a broader perspective.
It is important to engage stakeholders and to be culturally aware. Julie Blackburn, from ISG, discussed case studies on flooding and resilience for towns with small populations, aging populations, and fixed and low incomes. Some places had better community engagement, and it was easier to find solutions for them. Shannon Meppelink discussed water quality testing at Effigy Mounds National Monument to determine if the water is safe for harvesting. The project is a collaboration between United States Geological Survey, National Park Service, and tribal partners, and she discussed how tribes are involved in decision making and research. Both of these talks emphasized how public engagement improved the projects.
Many speakers discussed governmental regulations. Andrea McEachran shared that watersheds cross political boundaries. Kendra Markland discussed Iowa’s nutrient management plans and permits for water use for feedlots. Wally Taylor discussed threats to groundwater and what the government can do. There was a binding thread of governmental regulation and money being large factors in decision-making.
Finally, I enjoyed hearing about the research process. Joe Honings discussed a challenge that occurred with one of his field sites in his talk on the effectiveness of a roadside two-stage ditch. Mark Phipps spoke about being prepared to talk to people while doing field research. He highlighted the importance of clear communication: when someone told him that there were eight feet of water in their basement, he thought they meant water that was eight feet deep, but actually it was an eight-foot diameter puddle. Michael Dahlstrom, a keynote presenter, discussed how to communicate scientific knowledge and risk, which must include considering how people determine risk levels. My research includes field sampling at lakes, which inevitably involves discussing my research and water quality health considerations with people that I meet at sites, so it was interesting to hear about other presenter’s experiences and advice, especially on how to communicate risk.
Pat Boddy, one of the keynote speakers, shared important ideas about actions to take. There are actions that we can take right now, actions that would be relatively easy, and big impact actions that would be more challenging. While big issues can be frustrating, she talked about not letting frustration turn into inaction. Her talk was inspiring and a call to action on water quality issues facing Iowans today. I am excited to take what I learned from the conference and apply it to my research and future career.