Protecting Public Waters - Knowledge and Litigation

On October 28, LWV UMRR hosted a discussion on the protection of public waters through education, restorative action and litigation.  The video  of this program follows.  

In this video, you will learn how the Upper Mississippi River Driftless Area was formed (not by glaciers!) and how this unique landform is susceptible to pollution from CAFOs and modern row crop practices that threaten our public waters.   And learn, too, about new efforts underway to bring about change.  This program is both educational and inspirational!

This video features Cameron Aker from Trout Unlimited talking about water protection in the Karst region through education and cooperative projects, and Jim Larew from Driftless Water Defenders talking about the litigation they are doing to put more teeth into protecting water.    Jim Larew's talk starts at about 31 minutes in the video, and a summary is available on the LWV UMRR blog at this link.

Trout Unlimited is a conservation group working with land owners to restore trout habitat.  Their Driftless Area Restoration Effort (TUDARE) focuses on restoring trout streams with an added side benefit of improving water quality and diversity of other creatures besides trout.  They do this by working with private landowners, farmers, conservation advocates and government agencies to restore and conserve our cold-water resources.  

Cameron Aker, Trout Unlimited's Engagement Coordinator, will talk about the geology, agricultural practices and cold-water resources in the Driftless Region and similar karst landscapes in Missouri.    Like the Driftless Area, Missouri's Ozark region is characterized by thin topsoil and exhibits sinkholes, streams that sink into the ground and extensive caves.  

Jim Larew is with Driftless Water Defenders, a group that started in Iowa and and is shaking up the water world there.  Driftless Water Defenders is a non-profit Iowa environmental law and advocacy organization founded in May 2024 and focused on reducing farm-related water pollution and pollution-caused threats to public health in the Driftless Area of northeast Iowa, and statewide.  The DWD got started because some Iowans decided enough is enough, and it’s time to confront head-on industrialized agriculture’s assault on our water resources.

Driftless Water Defenders is intent on changing public policy, engaging citizens and, when necessary, litigating matters to protect and enhance Iowans’ access to clean water for personal, business and recreational purposes. Driftless Water Defenders manages a comprehensive program of focused litigation, persistent public engagement, and effective fund-raising to accomplish its mission.
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While Cameron's talk centered on the geology and value of the Driftless Area, Jim's talk focused on what is being done by the Driftless Water Protectors to litigate on behalf of clean water.  Jim talked about the current state of waters in Iowa and the growing outrage and resulting movement to make change.  Following are some related references for further reading.

Inside Iowa Politics: Reasons why solving Iowa cancer crisis is tough

Researchers question if agriculture is to blame in Iowa cancer crisis

‘Cancer Is Just Everywhere’: Could Farming Be Behind Iowa’s Unfolding Health Crisis? + More - Science, Public Health Policy and the Law

Of Corn and Cancer: Iowa's Deadly Water Crisis

Why Iowa Chooses not to Clean up its Water​

Kayaking in Iowa's Driftless Area

Click here to watch the video!

Cameron Aker, Engagement Coordinator, Trout Unlimited Driftless Area Restoration 

As the Iowa Driftless Engagement Coordinator for Trout Unlimited, Cameron Aker helps connect growers, landowners, anglers, volunteer groups, and government agencies to help restore the cold-water habitats of Iowa.  

Cameron has spent the past 17 years of his career in the Ag Industry, where he worked with growers, researchers, and other partners to help identify and implement solutions for growers.  

Much of his work has been in ag research, where he focused on various input effects on crop performances as well as cropping systems. In these roles, Cameron managed projects between partners and the budgets and deliverables between them.  

Cameron is originally from west central Indiana, where he gained his love for the outdoors. After moving to Iowa in 2016, he began fly fishing, which has quickly become an obsession. Cameron is a member of many 

conservation focused groups, including Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association.  Cameron and his wife Vivian live in Ames, Iowa. They enjoy hiking, canoeing, camping, and many trips to the beautiful Driftless Region of Iowa together. Cameron also enjoys hunting, fly fishing, and fly tying, whenever possible.  

Cameron started with Trout Unlimited in mid-April of 2024 and is connecting Trout Unlimited with many partner groups and visiting potential project sites with landowners. Cameron has also been working with the Iowa Trout Unlimited Chapters to build momentum with the Wise H2O project on water quality and listening to concerns and ideas around member engagement.  

Cameron was a guest on the Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast - click here to listen in and learn about his work!  Cameron's talk starts at about 39 minutes.  

James Larew, Esq.    -  Registered agent for Driftless Water Defenders and Attorney at law

Jim Larew serves as the Attorney to the Board for the Driftless Water Defenders.

For more than thirty years, Attorney Jim Larew has had the privilege of providing legal services to Iowans throughout the state.

As an honors graduate of both Harvard University and the University of Iowa College of Law, Jim practices law over a broad range of civil and criminal matters including employment, civil rights, family law, environmental law, and property law.

Jim tried many cases in state and federal courthouses in Iowa and Illinois, and argued appeals before the Iowa Supreme Court and the Federal Court of Appeals for the Seventh and Eighth Circuits.

From 2007-2011, Jim was called to serve as General Counsel to Iowa Governor Chet Culver, and also served as Policy Director and Chief of Staff in the Office of Governor.

Upon his return to private practice, Jim expanded his general law practice in Iowa City to include an office in Des Moines. He broadened the focus of his law practice to include advocating for the interest of Iowa policy holders against insurance companies who acted in bad faith; against environmental polluters; and against owners of nursing homes and care facilities who injured residents through indifference or neglect.