Founded by legendary conservationist John Muir in 1892, Sierra Club is the oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.

Central Iowa Sierra Group Meeting, Wednesday,November 20, 2024 

John Swanson, Polk County watershed management authority coordinator and water resources supervisor will present The Wetland Wave.  Discover how Polk County is strategically placing wetlands back into our landscape.  Wetlands provide the unique opportunity to combine water quality treatment, flood control, and habitat restoration in one conservation practice.  John Swanson will outline the process of targeting wetlands, interacting with landowners, and lessons learned along the way.  Attendees will also learn about specific wetland restoration projects including Brenton Slough and Fisher Lake.

Central Iowa Sierra Group meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. and are held at the Northwest Community Center, which is located at 5110 Franklin Avenue in Des Moines.  The Center is just west of Franklin Library.  If you have questions about the meeting place or the program, please contact Linda Goff at lgoff529@outlook.com

Central Iowa Sierra Group Meeting

On Wednesday, October 16, Katy Fullin, State Wildlife Action Plan Manager at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources shared information about endangered and threatened species in Iowa.

Drake Environmental Action League President Anna Snyder inspired Central Iowa Group members as she explained how her club increases awareness and sustainability on Drake University's campus, into the community and beyond. 

Thanks to our generous donors and the work of members of Central Iowa Group, we were able to present a check to Children and Families Urban Movement for nature activities for children.  Executive Director Andy Bales accepted the check from Mike Tramontina and Linda Goff.  Thanks to these businesses for their support for our auction:  Active Endeavors, Back Country Outfitters, Bartender's Handshake, Beaverdale Books, Campbells Nutrition, Dallas County Conservation Board, Earl May, Eatery A, Fareway in Johnston and West DM, Friedrichs Coffee, Gateway Market, Greenbrier Restaurant, HyVee Johnston, Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club, Iowa DNR, Ace Hardware Johnston, Natural Grocer, Opa's Restaurant, Purple Poppy Johnston, Raygun, Restoration Jungle, Rod & Rivet, Rodger Routh Photography, The Collective, The Little Book, Ty Smedes Photography, and Wild Birds Unlimited.  Thanks to these individuals for donations:  George Kranovich, Bill Graham, Ray and Margaret Harden, Jane Clark, Kris Wells, Ron Grohe, Susan Pohl and Carolyn Uhlenhake-Walker.  THANK YOU!!

Austin Frerick spoke to a crowd of 100 on July 25, 2024 about his book, Barons:  Money, Power, and the Corruption of America's Food Industry.  We heard about the first barons in the book, the local hog barons, Iowa Select Farms.  Their CAFO's dot our landscape and pollute our soil and water.   We learned about monopolies that affect our food industry and our environment.

In addition, the group raised funds to benefit the Drake Environmental Action League, a student group, for an environmental project on campus and the Children and Family Urban Movement (CFUM) for nature activities for children

CIG Learned about Polk County Conservation Water Quality Monitoring

Passionate about clean water?  Water Quality Coordinator Ginny Malcomson shared program goals and described results of the Water Quality Monitoring Program.  You can help!  To get involved with the program contact Ginny at ginny.malcomson@polkcountyiowa.gov or call 515-323-5300.

CIG Hosted Beyond Coal

 Emma Colman, Organizing Representative with Sierra Club’s Iowa Beyond Coal campaign presented on the Beyond Coal Campaign.  She encourages Central Iowa Group members to get involved by attending the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting May 4th in Omaha.  Berkshire Hathaway is the parent company of MidAmerican Energy, which operates 5 coal plants in Iowa.  There will be an opportunity to take a bus from Des Moines for this event.  Details to follow.  

CIG Hosted Carbon Pipeline Presentation

On February 21st, Jess Mazour, Conservation Program Coordinator for the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club presented on the three companies which have applied to build hazardous carbon pipelines across Iowa. Landowners, environmentalists, and local governments have banded together to oppose the Summit, Navigator, and Wolf carbon pipelines.  For more information regarding the pipelines and actions you can take regarding them, please go to Iowa Chapter | Sierra Club.