EPA Region 7 Recognizes Heartland Water Quality Organization

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 7 office has recognized the four-state Heartland Water Quality Coordination Initiative for developing productive multistate teams to address water quality issues.

The Heartland Initiative is a collaborative effort in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. The Regional Leadership Award went to Iowa State University, Kansas State University, the University of Missouri, the University of Nebraska, and Haskell Indian Nations University.

EPA Region 7 Administrator John B. Askew said, “The Heartland Initiative has increased the availability of research-based technical and educational resources for educators, service providers, and regulatory agency staff. This award recognizes productive efforts to address regional-priority water quality issues and increase support from partners.”

Priorities for the program are water quality issues related to animal manure management, nutrient and pesticide management, citizen involvement in watershed management, and storm-water management. The program has engaged more than 125 scientists, extension educators, land grant university officials, 1994 land grant institutions, and agency specialists in program planning and implementation since 2003.