Group seeking ideas on care of Iowa rivers at Nov. 23 public meeting

A group promoting the improvement, protection and enjoyment of Iowa's rivers will be gathering advice Saturday for a legislative study of the state's rivers and waterways.

“We're going to be talking about projects, priorities, how to measure the goals,” Mel Schlachter, chairman of Iowa River Friends, said.

The meeting, open to the public, will be from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, ISU Extension Building, 4265 Oak Crest Hill Rd. SE, Iowa City.

Rep. Chuck Isenhart, D-Dubuque, a member of the legislative Interim Study Committee on Rivers and Waterways, will be on hand to talk about the committee's mission.

The study committee, which will meet Dec. 10 in Des Moines to analyze the input from around the state, wants to determine:

• What kind of river and waterway projects should the state consider supporting?
• How should projects be prioritized?
• What goals should define Iowa's river investment program?
• What improvements related to Iowa's rivers should be measured?

Iowa River Friends was launched in April to “bring people together up and down the river,” Schlachter said. Many of them have been involved with Iowa rivers in one way or another for years. Members include people who are involved in fishing, recreation, water quality monitoring and education, he said.

“My interest,” Schlachter said. “is finding out what the river wants from us. I'm tired of people here in Iowa City seeing the river either as a threat or a sewage ditch. There's a high level of misunderstanding of the river and its care.”

Those unable to attend the meeting may submit feedback at the Iowa River Friends' website,

www.iowariverfriends.org, and take a survey. The responses will be shared with the legislature's study committee.