Drake University hosted the Iowa Nature Summit in the Olmsted Center on Nov. 19 and 20 to discuss Iowa environmental preservation, issues and policies.
The water conditions in Iowa continued to be a buzzing topic less than a week after Drake hosted the Water Quality Solutions Town Hall on Nov. 15, a follow-up to a Central Iowa Source Water Resource Assessment report.
The water quality tracking data in the report showed that potentially harmful nitrates were found in the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers.
Adam Shriver, director of wellness and nutrition policy at the Harkin Institute, was one of five panelists who discussed the connection between public health and the state of Iowa’s nature due to human impact.
During his time on the podium, Shriver focused on the potential connection between water quality and the growing cancer rates, especially amongst younger age groups in Iowa.
“Iowa having the number two cancer rate in the country is something that I think should be troubling to all of us, both because of how devastating cancer is and also because many young people are choosing to leave the state partly because of concerns about this topic,” Shriver said.
Although the population decline amongst young people is concerning, Shriver noted a growing concern from Iowan citizens, recalling the Central Iowa Source Water Resource Assessment event hosted by the Harkin Institute that gathered over 600 in-person attendees and thousands online.
“I’ve got grandchildren [in Iowa] thinking about the future and them seeing the decline of quality in the state, how much it can be hurt,” said Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement member Tim Goldman.
Shriver said that it’s important to be knowledgeable and raise awareness about the issue of water quality. By supporting change-making organizations such as the Harkin Institute, Iowa Environmental Council and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvements, Iowans can aid in affecting state policies and laws.
“Ultimately, the reason we have high nitrates in our waters and why Iowa applies 53 million pounds of pesticides every year have to do with the policies that are in place … I’m a believer that the way change happens is through organized money or through organized people,” Shriver said. “People advocating for change are often at a disadvantage when it comes to money, so we need to go all out for organizing people.”
With the upcoming 2026 elections, Shriver said that keeping environmental issues affecting Iowan communities in mind when voting is one of the ways for change and bettering of Iowan health.
Shriver furthermore expressed the importance of the growing cancer rates to be a topic of discussion among Iowa leaders, and the importance of opening conversations regarding agricultural practices that may be the root of the issue.
Like Shriver, John Norris, a former Polk County administrator who commissioned the CISWRA report, marked the importance of Iowan values in guiding future policies. Norris advised attendees of the Water Quality Solutions Town Hall to vote in upcoming elections with valuing clean water in mind.
“We have to start anchoring our politics in values,” Norris said.
Through continued research regarding the correlation between water quality and cancer, the Harkin Institute will continue holding events in collaboration with various organizations to keep not only the community but the state of Iowa informed.
The presentation “Cancer in Polk County” will be hosted at Sheslow Auditorium along with a virtual Zoom option on Tuesday, Jan. 13, from 5-7 p.m. In the days following, the “Environmental Risk Factors and Cancer” report will be released in conjunction with the Iowa Environmental Council to continue the conversation.
