Nitrate Watch Test Kit

This Summer’s “Water Warrior” Offers Free Kits to Test Your Water

by NewsWater Warrior

An initiative empowering everyday people to test their water for nitrate contamination is the latest recipient of the prestigious Water Warrior recognition, as awarded by Wings2Water and GreenState Credit Union.

The Nitrate Watch Program, created by the Izaak Walton League, provides free nitrate test kits to anyone who requests one. Participants are encouraged to upload the test results to the Clean Water Hub, a public online database that tracks and visualizes nitrate levels across the country.

“We think the Nitrate Watch Program perfectly exemplifies what the Water Warrior recognition is all about,” said Marty Lenss, Wings2Water Board President. “It invites the public to learn about water quality while actively taking part in monitoring it. That kind of engagement drives real awareness and change.”

This summer, nitrate levels in Iowa rivers have made headlines, with warnings and even temporary water bans issued in some regions. Understanding how nitrates impact our health, environment, and local communities is more urgent than ever.

“We created the Nitrate Watch program to equip members of the public with simple tools that provide crucial water quality data,” said Heather Wilson, Midwest Save Our Streams Coordinator at the Izaak Walton League of America. “Hundreds of people across Iowa have already requested a free nitrate test kit just this year—this is a powerful sign that people are interested in getting more involved in understanding and measuring water quality. We’re excited to continue to grow this community science effort!”

As part of the Water Warrior recognition, the Nitrate Watch Program will be featured on customized signage throughout the Eastern Iowa Airport and be seen by thousands of summer travelers. The initiative will also be promoted online, on social media, and in email newsletters.

In recognition of National Water Quality Month, representatives from the local chapter of the Izaak Walton League will also be on hand at the airport on August 11 and 18 during select hours to answer questions and hand out Nitrate Watch kits to travelers.

Anyone interested in obtaining a free Nitrate Watch testing kit can also request one on the Izaak Walton League website.

“We’re honored to recognize The Nitrate Watch Program and the Izaak Walton League for advancing clean water efforts,” said Tara Wachendorf, GreenState Credit Union VP/Public Relations Director. “GreenState hopes that by recognizing those making a difference in water quality, others will follow suit and duplicate their transformational efforts.”

Do you know a Water Warrior? A Water Warrior is a person, farm, or oranization making a difference in local water quality. This can include farming practices, conservation initiatives, or individuals making a difference in water quality education. Nominate someone here.

LWV Upper mississippi river region

Wings2Water Awards $1,000 Grant to League of Women Voters

by 2025 Grant WinnersGrant ProjectsNewsRecent Projects

Wings2Water is awarding $1,000 to the League of Women Voters Upper Mississippi River Region ILO to support their mobile “pop art” conservation exhibit. This traveling display features four freestanding panels and a whimsical oversized aluminum can labeled “Pure Iowa Water”—a fictional brand delivering real-world lessons about nutrient pollution and healthy watersheds. By showcasing landowners who model conservation best practices, the exhibit sparks conversations about protecting water resources and promoting sustainable land use.

The League of Women Voters Upper Mississippi River Region ILO unites 58 local and four state Leagues across the Upper Mississippi watershed, from Minnesota’s headwaters to Illinois’ southern tip. Their mission focuses on reducing nutrient pollution, mitigating climate change, and safeguarding both surface and groundwater. By working across political and geographic boundaries, they bring communities together to address water quality issues that impact millions of people.

Learn more about the League of Women Voters Upper Mississippi River Region ILO here.

Nitrate Watch Kit Pond

Wings2Water Awards $10,000 Grant to Izaak Walton League

by 2025 Grant WinnersGrant ProjectsNewsRecent Projects

As part of the 2025 Wings2Water Grant Awards, we are awarding $10,000 to the Izaak Walton League’s Nitrate Watch Program. This grant will provide more than 300 nitrate test kits for volunteers who are working to monitor and protect local water quality.

All test results are submitted to the Clean Water Hub, a nationwide database that tracks water health across the United States. By equipping and engaging volunteers, the Nitrate Watch Program empowers communities to better understand their water and take action to improve it. To date, nearly 64,000 water quality readings have been reported nationwide.

Why nitrate testing matters

Nitrate is a compound made of nitrogen and oxygen. While nitrogen is essential for plant growth, too much of it—often from fertilizers, manure, and sewage—can create serious risks.
High levels of nitrate in drinking water have been linked to health problems such as certain cancers, thyroid disease, and birth defects. In waterways, nitrate pollution contributes to algae blooms, fish kills, and the creation of dead zones that devastate aquatic ecosystems.

Take the Nitrate Watch Pledge

You can play an important role in protecting water quality. When you take the Nitrate Watch Pledge, you will receive a free nitrate test kit that includes everything you need to measure nitrate levels in your drinking water or local streams.

By participating, you’ll join a growing network of volunteers dedicated to cleaner, healthier water for all.

Morgan Creek Sign Wide

Wings2Water Awards $15,000 Grant to Linn County Conservation

by 2025 Grant WinnersGrant ProjectsNewsRecent Projects

Wings2Water is proud to award $15,000 to Linn County Conservation as part of our 2025 Grant Awards. The funding will support the construction of a pond/wetland hybrid in Morgan Creek County Park on Cedar Rapids’ southwest side. This innovative system will filter runoff from 145 acres of row-crop farmland, reducing sediment and erosion before it reaches Morgan Creek—and ultimately protecting the Cedar River, a key source of drinking water for Cedar Rapids residents.

Linn County Conservation, a department of Linn County, manages over 9,000 acres of natural areas—more than 2% of the county’s land—including 30+ parks and trails. From hiking, biking, and camping to unique facilities like the Wickiup Hill Learning Center and the county’s arboretum, their work connects people with the outdoors while preserving natural resources for future generations.

Learn more about Linn County Conservation here.

Karen wilke

Our Newsest “Water Warrior” Is Restoring Iowa’s Natural Filters

by NewsWater Warrior

At Wings2Water, we believe that protecting Iowa’s waterways starts with recognizing the individuals and organizations making a real difference. Our Water Warrior series celebrates those who are leading the charge in sustainable farming, conservation, and education — the people and projects working to reduce nutrient pollution, restore water quality, and help eliminate the Gulf’s Dead Zone.

Meet Our Water Warrior: Karen Wilke

This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Karen Wilke, Associate Director of Freshwater at The Nature Conservancy in Iowa. Karen is making a lasting impact by restoring oxbow wetlands — former bends in rivers that have become disconnected from the main channel over time. Through careful restoration, she and her team remove sediment buildup and reconnect these wetlands to nearby waterways.

Why does this matter? Restored oxbow wetlands act like nature’s filtration systems. They trap and filter pollutants before they enter rivers, store excess water to reduce flooding, and create essential habitats for fish, birds, and other wildlife. Karen’s work is proof that conservation and agriculture can work hand in hand, supporting both healthy communities and thriving ecosystems.

Why Oxbows Are a Game-Changer
• Cleaner Water – Natural filtration helps remove excess nutrients and sediment.
• Flood Protection – Extra water storage reduces downstream flood risks.
• Wildlife Habitat – Restored wetlands provide safe havens for diverse species.

Karen’s dedication to revitalizing Iowa’s waterways demonstrates how practical, science-based solutions can improve our environment for generations to come.

Check out the Oxbow Restoration Toolkit here.

Powered by Partnership

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to GreenState Credit Union for sponsoring our Water Warrior initiative. Their support makes it possible to share these inspiring stories and encourage others to take action. Together, we’re building a sustainable future for Iowa’s water.

Voss Farms Water Warrior- Wings2water

Water Warrior Award to Recognize Water Quality Difference-Makers

by NewsWater Warrior

Wings2Water and GreenState Credit Union spotlighting those leading the way for water quality

Wings2Water, an environmental nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring water quality in the Mississippi River watershed, and GreenState Credit Union, known for promoting good deeds and practices in its communities, are launching a first-of-its-kind award called “Water Warrior.” This unique program recognizes people and organizations actively making a difference in improving water quality in Iowa and beyond.

“We hope to shine a positive light on those leading the way with proven water quality improvement practices so that others might be inspired to do the same,” said Tara Wachendorf, VP/Public Relations Director of GreenState Credit Union. “We want the Water Warriors recognition to become a highly- coveted award and inspire others to follow the lead of people and organizations making a difference in water quality.”

“There’s really no arguing that water quality is an issue,” said Marty Lenss, Wings2Water board president. “What we’re doing with Water Warriors is highlighting solutions in a positive way and encouraging others to follow the lead of our warriors to improve water quality in our state and the Mississippi River watershed.”

Water Warrior recipients will be honored by Wings2Water and GreenState with special signage at the Eastern Iowa Airport, as well as recognition on websites, in videos, and in publications. Wings2Water will offer information online about what each Water Warrior is doing to improve water quality so others can learn and duplicate their actions. The website will also have a feature where the public can submit nominees for the quarterly award.

Passengers at the Eastern Iowa Airport will have an opportunity to learn about the Water Warrior recipients when they log in to use free Wi-Fi at the airport and see a video with the honoree(s).

The first Water Warrior honoree is Voss Farm, a Cedar Rapids sixth-generation farm, leading the way in farming practices that help protect water quality and improve the topsoil’s organic matter, which ultimately increases the soil’s rainwater holding capacity. These practices lead to less runoff and reduce water pollution.

“We’re concerned about conservation, not just what we do, but for the state of Iowa,” said Dan Voss of Voss Farm. “If we all work together, we can make progress. (Conservation) is not just an issue for my farm or my neighbor’s farm, it’s a societal issue. Everybody should be concerned about saving soil…and water quality. (We all) need clean water.”

“We’re so pleased to recognize Voss Farm for all their work in the area of water quality,” said Wachendorf. “GreenState has a goal to invest $5 million in conservational causes over the next decade. We hope that by recognizing those making a difference in water quality, others will follow suit and duplicate their transformational efforts.”

Dan and Brian Voss talk about water quality practices on their farm: https://youtu.be/HQzUQrOruss

More on what they’re doing for conservation and water quality at Voss Farms:
https://www.wings2water.org/water-warrior/

Water Warriors nominations taken here: https://www.wings2water.org/water-warrior/

IMG_3129

Wings2Water Awards $1,000 to Iowa State Extension and Outreach Johnson County

by 2023 Grant WinnersGrant ProjectsNewsRecent Projects

Wings2Water awarded two $500 grants to Iowa State Extension and Outreach – Johnson County. The funds were used for two educational workshops for women in agriculture and female landowners to learn the basics and economics of tile drainage, as well as other water quality considerations.

The Tile Drainage Workshop answered questions on the benefits of tile drainage and what makes a good design. They also addressed typical costs and the economic return. Tile drainage is a type of agricultural drainage system designed to remove excess water from soil.

The Water Quality Workshop focused on water quality practices for fields, how tenants and landowners can work together on water quality goals, and cost share opportunities.

The John County division of Iowa State Extension and Outreach serves Iowans in these program areas: agriculture and natural resources, health and human sciences, 4-H youth development, and community economic development. According to their website, the Johnson County Extension Council, county staff, and ISU Extension and Outreach staff work together to provide research-based learning opportunities. They also carry Iowa State University’s land-grant mission across the county.

Learn more about Iowa State University Extension and Outreach here.

 

 

Stone-Lab-2-1

Wings2Water Awards $1,500 Grant to Friends of Lakeside Lab in Okoboji

by 2023 Grant WinnersGrant ProjectsNewsRecent Projects

Wings2Water awarded a $1,500 grant to Friends of Lakeside Lab to support the stabilization of the shoreline at Little Millers Bay on West Okoboji Lake. A collapse of a shoreline would impact the diverse fisheries and recreational activities that take place in Little Millers Bay.

Founded in 1996, Friends of Lakeside Lab is a nonprofit in Milford, Iowa at Okoboji Lake. They’re focused on water quality monitoring, environmental education, and research initiatives at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. The organization furthers its impact through scholarships, internships, and financial support of an in-house scientist. Opportunities to get involved include donating, volunteering, or attending events.

Learn more about Friends of Lakeside Lab here.

Iowa Rivers Revival Clean Up - Wings2water

Wings2Water Awards $5,000 Grant to Iowa Rivers Revival

by 2023 Grant WinnersGrant ProjectsNewsRecent Projects

Wings2Water awarded a $5,000 grant to Iowa Rivers Revivals (IRR) to help plan, support, coordinate, and execute a series of river cleanup events across Iowa.

One of the river cleanup events took place on August 14, 2024. Volunteers walked over two miles of Indian Creek, filling a canoe with tires, bikes, plastic, and other trash. In 2023, IRR removed nearly 62,000 pounds of trash from Iowa rivers and waterways.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) refers to garbage in U.S. streams, rivers, creeks, etc. as “aquatic trash.” Littering isn’t the only contributing factor. Illegal dumping and garbage that isn’t properly contained or disposed of easily become aquatic trash when carried by wind or rain into our waterways. All of the trash in our waterways affects water quality, marine animals and plants, and contributes to the pollution in areas used for tourism and recreation. The EPA provides detailed information on environmental, social, and economic impacts here.

Connect with Iowa Rivers Revival on Facebook here.

Bird-Preserve-Set-2_23

Wings2Water Awards $7,500 Grant to Linn County Conservation

by 2023 Grant WinnersGrant ProjectsNewsRecent Projects

Wings2Water awarded a $7,500 grant to Linn County Conservation (LCC) to be used for a wetland at The Bird Preserve. The Bird Preserve is an 83-acre natural area located along Ellis Road NW that was donated to LCC in 2022. An additional 57 acres of woodland is along the Cedar River.

Today, The Bird Preserve provides the community with fishing access, a pavilion, and a number of trails. This includes the Wetland Loop Trail off of Ellis Road, a 0.6-mile loop that passes by Morgan Creek.

Wetland areas are crucial for water quality, controlling floods, and healthy ecosystems. A healthy wetland system serves as a type of filter for downstream waters, keeping rivers and lakes clean. Healthy wetlands also serve as an important ecosystem and habitat for various plants and animals.

Linn County Conservation, a department in Linn County (Iowa), provides outdoor recreation opportunities to the community while preserving and enhancing natural spaces. The department oversees more than 30 parks, 100 miles of trails, 300+ campsites, and various natural areas. Their work ensures the community can spend time in nature through hiking, biking, camping, fishing, and hunting, while they remain dedicated to protecting natural resources.

You can learn more about Linn County Conservation and The Bird Preserve here.