Sessions & Participants
Session 1 — Local Reality: Understanding Our Water
Building a shared foundation about water in the Driftless Region
The day begins with a common factual foundation: how water moves through the Driftless landscape, which drinking-water sources are more susceptible, what monitoring tells us about streams and rivers, and how water quality connects to public health.
Keith Schilling — State Geologist and Director, Iowa Geological Survey, University of Iowa — Geology and water movement
Matt Dvorak — Source Water Protection Coordinator, Iowa Department of Natural Resources — Source-water susceptibility and protection
Marty St. Clair — Research Scientist, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, University of Iowa — Surface-water monitoring and data
David Cwiertny — Director, Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC), and Rose and Joseph Summers Chair in Water Resources Engineering, University of Iowa — Private wells, water data, and health implications
The session will conclude with an ISU Extension and Outreach facilitated table discussion.
Session 2 — Water From Where We Sit
Hearing how water-quality issues look from different positions in the Driftless Region
This moderated conversation will bring together people who encounter water-quality issues from different positions. Panelists will discuss how these issues show up in their work and lives, the practical responsibilities and constraints they face, and where stronger understanding or coordination may be useful.
Moderator: Catherine DeLong — Water Quality Program Manager, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach; Extension Lead, Iowa State University Water Resilience Collaborative
Panelists:
- Rick Matt — Northeast Iowa farmer and landowner. His diversified Driftless-area farm incorporates livestock, row crops, small grains, and cover crops.
- Sophia Campbell — Watershed and Source Water Protection Coordinator, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Chris Lester — Water Department Director, City of Dubuque
- Alex Linderwell — Administrator, Delaware County Water and Sanitation; Zoning Administrator, Delaware County
- Jason Opheim — Northeast Iowa farmer; Four County Ag
Session 3 — From Concern to Action: Case Studies
How communities and partners have responded to defined water concerns in the Driftless Region
Two regional examples will explore what prompted action, who became involved, what was done, what challenges remain, and what lessons may be useful elsewhere.
Spillville / Wonder Creek
A small-community example of source-water concerns leading to source-water planning, upstream conservation work, farmer participation, and partnership-building.
Featuring:
- Matthew Frana — Central Turkey River Watershed Coordinator, Winneshiek Soil & Water Conservation District
- Aaron Schroeder — Source Water Specialist, Iowa Rural Water Association
Dubuque County
A county-scale example bringing together local government, conservation leadership, farmer networks, and practical watershed work around water-quality concerns.
Featuring:
- Eric Schmechel — Watershed Program Director, Dubuque County Watersheds
- Randy Pancratz —Dubuque Farmer to Farmer Board Member
Guided Discussions: From Reflection to Action
Throughout the day, participants will engage in small-group discussions and reflections facilitated by Scott Timm of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. These conversations will help participants connect what they are hearing to their own community, farm, or business and identify questions, priorities, resources, and experts that may help move next steps forward.
A final 30-minute guided discussion from 2:30–3:00 p.m. will bring together ideas from the day and help participants identify the connections and implementation resources most useful to them before moving into the Implementation Exchange.
Find Your Next Step: Implementation Exchange
What can help you take the next step?
Participants can move freely among implementation stations, visiting as many or as few as are useful to their work, questions, or ideas emerging from the day. Stations are designed to connect participants directly with people, programs, tools, technical assistance, and peer experience.
- Source Water Protection — Aaron Schroeder, Iowa Rural Water Association + Matt Dvorak, Iowa DNR
- Groundwater Vulnerability Mapping — Keith Schilling, Iowa Geological Survey
- Monitoring: What Should We Monitor & What Can It Tell Us? — Marty St. Clair, University of Iowa
- Local Water Data → Community Action — Birgitta Meade, science educator and long-time Driftless water-quality monitor
- SWCD / Watershed Navigation — Matthew Frana, Winneshiek SWCD + Sophia Campbell, Iowa DNR
- Community Water-Quality Actions / Urban Conservation — Amy Bouska, Eastern Iowa Urban Conservationist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
- Farm Diversification: What Markets, Services & Resources Can Help Make It Work? — Rick Matt
- Farmer Networks & Peer Learning — Jason Opheim – SCABS Peer Farmer Network, and Randy Pancratz – Dubuque Farmer to Farmer Network
- Tracking & Showing Results — Haleigh Summers, Agricultural Geospatial Data Scientist, Sand County Foundation
- Water Data & Health — David Cwiertny, University of Iowa
- Moving a Water-Quality Idea Forward — Catherine DeLong, Iowa State University Water Resilience Collaborative + Ross Evelsizer, Natural Resource Projects Director, Northeast Iowa RC&D
- Planning Capacity for Community Water Projects — Travis Kraus, Director of the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities + Eric Gidal, Professor of English, University of Iowa
- Private Wells: Using Data to Guide Local Action – Daniel Watterson, DNR Private Well Program
Additional station details will be added as they are finalized.
Resource Tables
Resource tables available throughout the day will feature relevant programs, technical resources, project examples, contacts, and materials from participating organizations.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) & Professional Credits
- Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs)
- Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) technicians and watershed planners
- 3.5 credits in Soil and Water Management
- 2.0 credits in Sustainability.
- Iowa Geological Survey, University of Iowa
- IIHR – Hydroscience and Engineering, University of Iowa
- Iowa DNR Source Water Protection
- City of Dubuque Water Department
- Winneshiek County Soil and Water Conservation District
Please Note for Municipal and Finance Personnel: We have submitted our timed program to the Iowa Water Environment Association (IAWEA) and the Iowa Municipal Finance Officers Association (IMFOA). We are currently awaiting final course approval tracking numbers for water/wastewater operator credits and city clerk certifications, and we will update this page as soon as those determinations are received.
Forum Coordination & Support
Convened by: 
Forum Lead and Coordinator: Michelle Barness, Senior Regional Planner, Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission
Forum Facilitation and Moderation: 
Scott Timm, Community Development Specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — Community and Economic Development
Session 2 Moderation: Catherine DeLong, Water Quality Program Manager, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Extension Lead, Iowa State University Water Resilience Collaborative
Primary Funding Support: 
Plan Your Visit
Location: Edgewood Event Center
Address: 303 N. Washington Street, Edgewood, Iowa 52042
Ready to Register?
November 19, 2026 | Edgewood, Iowa
Free to attend | Lunch provided | Registration required
Registration will remain open through October 31, 2026.
Questions?
Michelle Barness, Senior Regional Planner
Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission
mbarness@uerpc.org
563-419-6243