Water Warrior celebrates individuals and organizations making a significant impact on Iowa’s water quality through sustainable farming, conservation, and education. Each recognition highlights a Water Warrior working to reduce nutrient pollution, restore water quality, and eliminate the Dead Zone.
Meet our Water Warrior: Mary Beth Stevenson
A lifelong fascination with amphibians and a deep care for wildlife helped guide her path into environmental work and ultimately into watershed planning and management in the Cedar Rapids area. Today, as the Watersheds and Source Water Program Manager for the City of Cedar Rapids, she helps lead large-scale water quality initiatives and has secured millions of dollars in funding to safeguard the community’s drinking water. Her work focuses on building practical partnerships with farmers and landowners, connecting them with both financial and educational resources that support better land management and reduce nutrient runoff. Through collaboration and science-based conservation, Stevenson continues to play a critical role in protecting the Cedar River and strengthening long-term water resilience for the region.
Stevenson’s impact has been widely recognized, including receiving the 2023 award from the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance. Her collaborative approach brings together partners across Iowa, including the Iowa Soybean Association, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and The Nature Conservancy in Iowa.
We’d also like to extend a special thanks to GreenState Credit Union for sponsoring our Water Warrior initiative and partnering with us to support our mission. Together, we’re making strides toward a sustainable future!