The Iowa Watershed Awards
Presented by the
Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance
Congratulations to the 2025 Winners!
Marty Lenss
Individual Impact Award
Marty Lenss started nonprofit, Wings2Water after a troubling experience at the lake. He took his family to go swimming; when his kids jumped in, they disappeared under the murky water, something he wasn’t used to after he grew up in the clear waters of Minnesota lakes.
Wings2Water allows airport customers to round up for conservation and it has raised over $300,000 for local water quality projects. The airport is also a perfect platform to capture a captive audience about water quality issues. He’s recruiting other airports nationwide to join him.
Sophia Campbell
Watershed Coordinator of the Year
Sophia Campbell’s work as the Yellow River Headwaters Project Coordinator in Winneshiek County is credited to her ability to gain producers’ trust and lead effectively.
Her project’s successes include: More than 20 miles of stream protected from livestock access and 60% of local livestock producers participating, over 3 miles of streambank stabilization, and increasing cover crops from .5% of row crop acres in the watershed to well over 10% of acres.
For Campbell, who moved to the area in 2019 seeking opportunities, this kind of work is her dream job.
Iowa Cover Crop
Team Impact Award
Iowa Cover Crop is a Jefferson based cover crop business with 20+ dealers statewide who are spreading conservation by spreading cover crop seeds!
In 2024, the business sold over 16 million pounds of seed. It’s hard to perfectly equate that to acres, but it’s somewhere in the ballpark of over a quarter million acres.
In addition to their business impact, ICC has invested in the next generation of conservation leaders through “children in conservation days,” FFA test plots, and hands-on school partnerships.
Harry Ahrenholtz
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Harry Ahrenholtz has worked in agriculture since he was a teenager and he is passionate about water quality. As Executive Vice President of Agronomy for West Central Coop in 2000, he was one of the first members of ACWA, a water quality nonprofit led by ag-retailers. Following his retirement in 2012, he has continued volunteering with ACWA for the past 13 years, leading the organization through statewide expansion, multi-million dollar projects, and member recruitment. His laugh fills a room, and his phone calls are always welcomed by those who work with him. Harry has many stories to tell about the impact agriculture can – and should – have on water quality.
Recognizing Past Success to Bring Momentum to the Future
The Iowa Watershed Awards began in 2017 when the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance brought together Iowa State University, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and Conservation Districts of Iowa to publicly recognize conservation leaders’ hard work to improve water quality and build soil health in their communities – work which has a ripple effect downstream and statewide.
Awardees provide partnership-based management and stewardship, acting as key leaders in reaching the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Their projects are critical to improving their local watershed’s water quality – which impacts the entire state, and even further downstream.
The Watershed Awards are put on by the following organizations:
What winners receive:
IAWA provides winners with tools they can use to tell their story statewide, build momentum for their project, and fundraise for additional impact.
Winners of all three awards receive a glass award and a free feature video about their project and their impact, a value of $5,000+. We also coordinate wtih local media to celebrate their work.
The watershed coordinator of the year also receives a free Clean Water Wednesday broadcast with iHeartRadio, produced by IAWA, an additoinal value of about $4,500.
More than 20 winners have been honored since the Iowa Watershed Awards launched in 2017, and we look forward to continuing to provide recognition and funding for exceptional water quality efforts in Iowa.
The Iowa Watershed Awards are financially supported by the IAWA Business Council!
Nominate or Apply for an Iowa Watershed Award
Watershed Coordinator of the Year
The Watershed Coordinator of the Year Award honors an outstanding Iowa watershed coordinator for their critical work to improve water quality and meet Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals.
Team Impact Award
Introduced in 2024, the Team Impact Award celebrates a collaborative team working together effectively for maximum water quality results. The team could be made up of public sector individuals, private sector individuals, or a combination of both.
Individual Impact Award
The Individual Impact Award recognizes one individual who has had significant impact and leadership in a watershed or in the state of Iowa. This person is one who works to improve water quality, collaborate with partners, and sees real results!
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Do I apply for myself, or is this a nomination process for my colleagues?
Either – you can nominate a colleague or apply on your own.
Who should apply for the Watershed Coordinator of the Year?
This award is specifically for watershed coordinators in Iowa (or equivalent). Other job titles should apply for the Impact Award.
Who should apply for the Team Impact Award?
This award is for a collaborative team working to improve water quality. Judges will focus on teamwork and effectiveness. The team can include individuals in the public and/or private sector who are working together for maximum results.
Who should apply for the Individual Impact Award?
This award is for individuals who are demonstrating leadership and impact in their community or state for water quality benefit. This can include individuals in the public or private sector such as conservation agronomists, program staff, researchers, community leaders, environmental biologists, etc.
When and where will awards be announced?
Award winners will be publicly announced at the Iowa Water Conference. Those receiving an award will be notified in advance of the conference so they have time to plan their travel.
is there a rubric, or more details on what the judges are looking for?
Judges score using a spreadsheet that measures conservation results, collaboration and outreach, and innovation. Results are weighted most heavily. For the team award, collaboration within the team and with partners is weighted most heavily. Quality of the application is also factored in, so make sure you are telling your story succinctly and with the most impactful details.
If I’ve won before, can I apply again?
Winners may not apply for an award in the following year (for example a 2022 winner may not apply in 2023, but they can apply again in 2024).
Do applicants/nominees get another chance to be awarded?
Nominations that don’t receive an award are carried over for one year for reconsideration. After that, a new application/nomination must be submitted to be considered.
Who are the judges?
The judges include representatives from Conservation Districts of Iowa, Iowa Ag Water Alliance, Iowa DNR, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
Winner Archive
View the previous winners of the Iowa Watershed Awards!