Mary Beth Stevenson, the City of Cedar Rapids’ Watersheds and Source Water Program Manager, has been named the latest “Water Warrior” by Wings2Water for her leadership in large-scale water quality initiatives and for securing millions of dollars in funding to safeguard the community’s drinking water.
As the newest “Water Warrior,” Ms. Stevenson is now featured on custom signage throughout the Eastern Iowa Airport for thousands of travelers and visitors to see. She is also being highlighted across Wings2Water’s digital platforms and in a feature video.
Marty Lenss, Wings2Water Board President, said Ms. Stevenson plays a critical role in protecting the area’s water resources and is focused on building practical partnerships with farmers and landowners. “This collaboration is exactly what we need to support better land management together,” Mr. Lenss said.
Ms. Stevenson’s work centers on connecting farmers and landowners with financial support, educational resources, and grants for conservation tools such as saturated buffers, denitrification bioreactors, and cover crops.
“It’s been really inspiring working with farmers on improving our water quality,” Ms. Stevenson said. “We get such positive reception; so many farmers want to do what’s best for water quality, and they want to know what they can do to improve their farming practices to reduce nitrate and improve water quality overall.”
These initiatives are crucial to protecting the drinking water in Cedar Rapids, which comes from a shallow, alluvial aquifer near the Cedar River. Since the quality of the aquifer is directly influenced by the quality of the river, Stevenson’s efforts strengthen long-term water resilience in the region.
Tara Wachendorf, GreenState Credit Union VP/Public Relations Director, commended the work. “Her efforts are a great reminder that partnership and collaboration are necessary to drive real change and water quality improvements, and we truly hope others are just as inspired as we are at GreenState.”
