Iowa’s Coldwater Conservancy (ICC) works as a facilitator and partner in collaborations with educators, businesses, other NGOs, public agencies, and landowners on projects to protect and improve the ecosystems that sustain our coldwater rivers and streams while expanding public access to these vital and unique natural resources.
Create, implement & manage sustainable coldwater river and stream improvement projects.
Educate businesses and individuals as to the value and importance Coldwater rivers and streams.
Iowa’s Coldwater rivers and streams will be complete, healthy eco-systems that improve our natural environment and enhance the lives of everyone who has the opportunity to experience these examples of our natural heritage.
When you give to ICC,
Thanks for your help in creating a better world!
Iowa’s Coldwater Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
All online donations are securely processed through our partner, Give Lively. Use the button below to give online via Credit Card, Bank Transfer, G Pay, or Apple Pay.
ICC provided a $1,000 Sponsor grant for the Midwest Environmental Educators Conference (MEEC) held July 26-29, 2021. The conference was hosted by the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition at the Center for …
Multi-Cropping Field Days In July of 2021, ICC donated a Sponsorship Grant of $500 to NEIA RC&D to help fund Multi-cropping Field Days at FLOLO Farm near West Union, IA. …
Yellow River, Allamakee County, IA Rissman Yellow River Easement In 2018 the Rissman family, who for many generations have lived and worked on their farm in Allamakee county, agreed to …
Yellow River State Forest, IA Before After Before and after photos of Little Paint Creek in the Yellow River Forest in Allamakee County from the winterof 2021 and 2022 tell …
Bloody Run Creek has been recognized as one of Iowa’s Outstanding Waters for its rugged beauty, abundant natural resources, and well established population of wild brown trout. In 2019, a 165 acre parcel …
Warren Shuros grew up on a farm on North Bear Creek a few miles from Highlandville in Winneshiek County. Whenever he could find time, he would hunt and fish throughout the …
This well known and strategically located section of North Bear Creek was open to the public for many years through a “handshake agreement” between the owner, Helen Larson, and the …
In 2019, a private land owner agreed to sell a multi-parcel addition to Falcon Springs Wildlife Management Area located between Bluffton and Decorah. A thirty-two acre parcel included a section of …
It all started with an idea to improve fish habitat and angler access along Trout Run, a popular fishery just south of Decorah. It quickly developed into a partnership between …
Anglers in Winneshiek County now have a new opportunity for trout fishing: Sindelar Wildlife Access. The 17-acre parcel near Decorah was sold to Winneshiek County Conservation by Jim and Wanda …
Iowa’s Coldwater Conservancy is an alliance of partners protecting and restoring the ecosystems that sustain Iowa’s coldwater rivers and streams while expanding public access to these vital and unique natural resources.
Iowa’s Coldwater Conservancy is a non-profit organization governed by a board of directors.
Every member of ICC makes an impact through multiple operating committees, from strategic planning, fundraising, and projects to marketing, communications, and governance.
Tom Murray is a founding member and current president of Iowa’s Coldwater Conservancy. In addition to ICC, Tom lives in the Decorah area and also continues to work on conservation projects with the Iowa Driftless Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association, and the Winneshiek County Conservation Board.
Dave Jones is currently Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Kent Corporation in Muscatine, Iowa. Dave and his wife Alice, have two daughters, two son-in-laws and five grandchildren. Dave’s outdoor endeavors include fly fishing, kayaking and cycling. He served on the Muscatine County Conservation Board for 13 years, two years as board chairman.
Kate Lodge’s outdoor interests have led her to be involved in a number of conservation organizations. As a member and treasurer of the Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association of the Quad Cities, she also became a director of Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association, an affiliate of Fly Fishers International. She also served two years as State President and is currently on the board as Past President. Kate involvement with Spring Creeks Trout Unlimited Chapter 716 includes serving as secretary/treasurer and currently director. Trout Unlimited, State Council, positions include Secretary and Diversity Co-Chair. Kate and Willa Campbell are co-founders of Iowa Women Fly Fishers. Kate also participates in Wisconsin Women’s Fly Fishers, Dubuque Fly Fishers, Geneseo Izaak Walton League, and Minnesota Women’s Fly Fishers.
Dr. Andrew J. Hosmanek teaches management, law, and ethics at the University of Iowa. He earned a PhD in Organizational Behavior and an MBA from the Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa. He earned his JD from the University of Iowa College of Law. He is the Managing Attorney of HawkeyeLaw, PLC, an Iowa City-based law firm. Dr. Hosmanek is an avid fly fisherman and conservationist. He manages the popular Trout Fishing in Iowa website and Facebook page, which features videos, aerial photography, maps, and stream reviews of Iowa’s amazing trout fishing destinations.
With a strong educational background and love of learning, Liz works to educate the next generation of Iowans on the importance of science and biology in their everyday life. Liz has degrees in natural resource conservation and education. As a conservationist herself, Liz is particularly interested in the opportunity to mentor the next generation of conservationists. Since moving to Iowa in 2015, she has taken to exploring many of the natural areas that the Driftless Region has to offer. One of her goals in life is to “make a difference” and Liz looks forward to serving on the ICC Board to help protect coldwater resources in Northeast Iowa.
David is a life long Iowan growing up on a farm in the central part of the state. Now living in Ankeny, he spends his free time with his wife and dogs fishing, kayaking and hiking. Our natural resources need to be protected for our generation and generations to come and David’s mission is to help promote and advance this effort.
Tim Wagner’s love of the outdoors and all its wonders is directly connected to his Iowa farm roots, where he first learned to appreciate the beauty of the Monarch and the tug on the lure in that deep pool. That awareness would eventually lead him to a full time career in conservation and environmental protection. This included more than two decades in Utah working on climate protection and energy policy, stewardship of the West’s vast public lands, water and air quality, and eventually back to Iowa where he recently retired from the Izaak Walton League in his advocacy for regenerative agriculture practices and policies to protect Iowa’s precious soils and water. He lives in Decorah, Iowa with his wife, Shawna where he enjoys the coldwater streams of northeast Iowa, the local bike trails, and canoeing the rivers of the Driftless.
Bill Silverman lives in Iowa City with his wife and dog. His kids live nearby. He is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology at the University of Iowa. He served as Iowa Governor to the American College of Gastroenterology for 12 years, advocating for universal access to colon cancer screening, affordable access to healthcare and affordable medical insurance. He is a member of the Hawkeye Flyfishing Association and Trout Unlimited. Whatever free time he has is spent roaming the Driftless.
Adam Kiel is the Executive Vice President of AgOutcomes, a subsidiary of the Iowa Soybean Association. In this role Adam helps administer the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund where he connects buyers of environmental outcomes with farmers and landowners who can produce the outcomes. Adam has over 20 years of experience in the field and held a prior role as Director of Conservation for the Iowa Soybean Association. Adam has also held positions with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and National Park Service. Adam grew up on a family farm near Decorah, Iowa, which is the headwaters for Trout Run. Adam earned a Bachelor of Science in geography from the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
Kayla Bourquin has called Decorah home for the past 7 years, with her husband and dog. Her home has always been in the Driftless, and she has had the opportunity to live in many of its corners. Growing up in Northwest Illinois, attending college at UW-La Crosse and living and working in Rochester before establishing roots in Decorah. Her favorite pastimes include exploring the Driftless in all of the seasons. She has paddled the entirety of the Upper Iowa, and is currently working on the Turkey River. Hiking, camping, and morel hunting are other ways Kayla enjoys the area, and she has just recently tried her hand at fly fishing.
Mike Biderman is a personal injury attorney who lives and practices law in Iowa City. After earing his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Iowa, Mike moved to Fairbanks, Alaska where he served as a public defender for over six years and had the privilege of experiencing numerous Alaskan outdoor adventures. Mike moved back to Iowa City in 2011 with his wife Carolyn Buckingham. Since moving back to Iowa, Mike & Carolyn spend much of their free time at their off-grid cabin in rural Allamakee County near a coldwater stream, where they share their love of the outdoors with their two young children.
Access to clean water is one of the most basic human rights.
We depend on healthy water to sustain us and provide recreational opportunities that enrich our lives.
Healthy water depends on complete ecosystems.
