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Advocacy   |  Agriculture   |  Annual Report   |  Clean Air and Energy   |  Clean Water   |  Climate Change   |  Conservation Currents   |  Conservation Policies   |  Factsheets   |  Fish & Wildlife   |  How-To's   |  Ikes On Target   |  Outdoor America   |  Outdoor Ethics   |  Sustainability   |  Watersheds   |  Wilderness and Public Lands
  
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Advocacy

  • America’s Great Outdoors Report The report outlines a 21st century vision for conservation in America that encompasses public and private lands, places a renewed emphasis on urban parks, prioritizes our waters as recreational and community resources, and commits to long-term investment in conservation and outdoor recreation. League Conservation Director Scott Kovarovics offers an overview of the major issues and recommendations addressed in the report.     
  • Support the Land and Conservation Fund Preserve habitat. Preserve access. Preserve a way of life. Support full and dedicated funding for the Land and Conservation Fund. Visit...  
  • Testimony - Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Dev, FDA  
  • Testimony - Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies  
  • Testimony on Federal Funding Priorities Each year, Congress develops appropriations bills that fund government agencies and programs.  This process provides the League with the...  

Agriculture

Annual Report

  • 2010 Izaak Walton League Annual Report One hundred years ago, the word “conservation” was not yet part of our nation’s collective vocabulary. But the founders of the Izaak Walton League were among the few who took action to defend America’s wild places – and succeeded. Almost 90 years later, the League is responding to new challenges and again succeeding in conserving our natural resources for future generations.     
  • 2009 Izaak Walton League Annual Report Izaak Walton League staff and volunteers worked together to conserve wetlands and streams, reduce air pollution from coal-fired power plants, conserve energy and promote the use of renewable energy sources, improve stewardship of our nation’s farmland, and protect and preserve unique fish and wildlife habitats.     

Clean Air and Energy

Clean Water

Climate Change

Conservation Currents

  • Conservation Currents May 2012 IN THIS ISSUE: Farm Bill Round One * Damaging Clean Water Amendment * Restoration Funding for Missouri and Upper Mississippi Rivers * Inland Waterways Bill a Bad Deal * Minnesota Improves Clean Energy Fund * Creak Freaks Workshop * Summer of Paddling * National Award Nominations * IWLA 90th Anniversary Edition Henry Rifle * Clean Water and Environmental Education Position     
  • Conservation Currents April 2012 Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act * Senate Bill Would Stall Clean Water Restoration * League Testifies on Budget Priorities * EPA Proposes Carbon Dioxide Rule * Summer of Paddling * Creak Freaks Workshop * League Conservation Director Reappointed to Fishing and Boating Council * Virginia Save Our Streams Results * National Award Nomination Deadline Approaching!     
  • Conservation Currents March 2012 IN THIS ISSUE: Progress Made To Restore Clean Water Protections * President’s Budget a Mixed Bag for Conservation * Missouri River Land Protection Plan * Opportunity To Comment on Mississippi River Structures * Streaming Data into Creak Freaks Site * Last Call for Award Nominations * IWLA Scholarship Deadline: April 1     
  • Conservation Currents February 2012 IN THIS ISSUE: Congress Reconvenes, President’s Budget Due * Celebrating 90 Years of Defending Outdoor America * Insurance for Healthy Soil and Water * Distributing Renewable Energy * Deadlines for Tobin and Chapter Awards * IWLA National Scholarships     
  • Conservation Currents January 2012 IN THIS ISSUE: Izaak Walton League of America Turns 90 * League Clean Air Victory * Results of Missouri River Funding Battle * Conservation Funding Spared Deepest Cuts but Budget Ax Looms Large * National Award Nominations Now Open * IWLA National Scholarships * Free Entry to National Parks     
  • Conservation Currents December 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: Keep the Clean Water Act Strong * Farm Bill Update * Young Ikes Materials Connect Youth and Conservation * The Gift of Conservation     
  • Conservation Currents November 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: Farm Bill Budget Talks Stalled * Favorable Review of Renewables * Creek Freaks Web Site Launch * Corps Seeks Comment on Missouri River Operating Plan * Healthy Kids Outdoors Act Introduced in Congress * The World at 7 Billion * IWLA Officer Report Forms Due     
  • Conservation Currents October 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: Strengthening the Farm Bill’s Conservation Title * League Member a Hero of Conservation * Final Report on Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill * Survey Says Americans Strongly Support Hunting * New IWLA Materials Connect Youth and Conservation * IWLA Officer Report Forms Due     
  • Conservation Currents September 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: League Victory: Dakota Grassland Conservation Area * Conservation Policies Update * IWLA Promotional Video * New Youth Resource: Creek Freaks Web Site * Congress Resumes Budget Work * Remarkable Values of Missouri River * National Hunting and Fishing Day * National Public Lands Day     
  • Conservation Currents August 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: New IWLA Video Launched * Sportsmen Support Clean Water * IWLA Members Adopt Conservation Policies * Conservation Funding Takes Significant Hit in U.S. House * Creek Freaks Hit the Water * Eco-Goats Make Their League Debut * Farm Bill Forum in Minnesota: August 22 * National Hunting and Fishing Day: September 24 * National Public Lands Day: September 24     
  • Conservation Currents July 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: Protect Streams and Wetlands * Support Dakota Grasslands Conservation * League Receives National Media Coverage for Water Monitoring * Eco-Goats Eradicate Invasives * IWLA National Convention * Farm Bill Forum in Minnesota * National Hunting and Fishing Day     
  • Conservation Currents June 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: Take Action Today to Protect our Streams and Wetlands * IWLA National Convention * Stop Toxic Air Emissions * Propose Resolutions for 2011 * Spread Invasive Species Awareness * Celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day     

Conservation Policies

Factsheets

  • About Us The Izaak Walton League of America works at the local, regional, and national levels to advocate for sensible solutions to the most pressing challenges facing America’s natural resources.     
  • Advancing Renewable Energy To reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil and better protect the environment, the League works to identify and promote new sources of renewable energy that are on the cutting edge of current technology.     
  • Agriculture The League advocates for farming practices that sustain both natural resources and people.     
  • Cleaning the Air The League's recent work focused on cleaning up coal-fired power plants—a major source of air pollutants that contribute to smog, acid rain, mercury pollution, and global warming.     
  • Clean Water The Izaak Walton League is committed to improving the health of America’s waterways through local action and national advocacy.     
  • Conserving Farmland More than half of America’s land is used for agriculture. It’s critical that these lands, which provide food for our tables and habitat for wildlife, are managed in a way that balances production with conservation.     
  • Conserving Wetlands Wetlands provide habitat for countless birds, amphibians, fish, insects, and other species. They also act as natural filters, cleansing pollutants from runoff. Protecting wetlands is vital to safeguarding clean water.     
  • Energy How we obtain and use energy has far-reaching implications for human health, fish and wildlife, and the Earth’s climate. The Izaak Walton League works to reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants, prevent global warming, promote energy efficiency, and foster the use of renewable energy.     
  • Managing the Missouri River Manmade changes of the Missouri River’s natural flows for navigation have degraded habitat for fish and wildlife. Agricultural pollution is also a threat. The League is working to restore and protect the river for future generations.     
  • Managing Public Lands The League believes that outstanding lands should be set aside for special management as parks, wildlife refuges, and wilderness areas. These lands provide some of the best wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities in the country. When these resources are threatened, League members step forward to protect them.     
  • Managing the Upper Mississippi River The Upper Mississippi River is one of the most complex ecosystems on Earth. The Izaak Walton League led the fight to create the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in 1924. Today, our efforts focus on reforming the river’s lock-and-dam navigation system and reducing polluted runoff from farms.     
  • Monitoring and Restoring Streams The League has trained thousands of citizen stream monitors and empowered them to achieve watershed conservation and restoration goals using their monitoring data.     
  • Outdoor Ethics/Shooting Sports The Izaak Walton League inspires outdoor enthusiasts to take personal responsibility for protecting the outdoors and conserving fish and wildlife for future generations.     
  • Preserving Wilderness Areas Despite federal protection, wilderness areas face threats from unmanaged or improperly managed recreation, poor stewardship by understaffed agencies, and local political pressures to open up these areas for logging, drilling, and other uses. The League works to head off these threats.     
  • Promoting Energy Efficiency For almost two decades, the League has worked to lay the building blocks for a more energy efficient economy. Working with citizen activists, government decision makers, and utilities, we craft solutions that make economic sense and protect our environment.     
  • Promoting Sustainable Communities Across the nation and around the world, communities face the same challenge: How do we grow economically while still conserving our natural resources? The League works to raise awareness of how local communities can create a more sustainable future.     
  • Stopping the Spread of Invasive Species Invasive species such as zebra mussels and Eurasian milfoil have infested America’s waterways, crowding out native species and causing billions of dollars in damage to marinas, recreational fisheries, and other facilities. The League is working to stop the spread of invasive species by educating recreationists and advocating for better regulation of ballast water.     
  • Sustainability Education The Izaak Walton League believes it is possible to live a quality life today without sacrificing the natural resources left for future generations. Our Sustainability Education Program aims to identify practical ways we can all work together to create a sustainable future—one that meets the basic needs of all people today without compromising the Earth’s ability to meet the needs of future generations.     
  • Understanding Population and the Environment Many of the conservation challenges we face today are, at their root, caused by the staggering number of people using the Earth’s natural resources. We have nearly 7 billion people on the planet already and are adding nearly 80 million each year. That’s a lot of people tapping into resources like fresh water, fossil fuels, forests, and fisheries. The League promotes sensible solutions to the complex and difficult challenges presented by population growth.     
  • Wilderness and Public Lands The Izaak Walton League has always been a staunch advocate of wilderness and has striven to improve the management of our forests, rangelands, national parks, and wildlife refuges. Protection of our nation’s public lands remains a major focal point of the League’s conservation efforts.     

Fish & Wildlife

  • Battling for Survival America’s bats are losing the battle against White Nose Syndrome. What does that mean for our future?     
  • Hunting for Hunters The League is setting its sights on recruiting new hunters — to conserve outdoor America and benefit the economy.     
  • Seeds of Destruction The spread of invasive plants threatens wildlife. As hunters, we need to become part of the solution – instead of part of the problem.     

How-To's

  • How To: Build a Bat Box (Appropriate for All Ages w/ Supervision) More than half the bat species in the United States are declining or already listed as endangered, mostly because of habitat loss. Not only do bats help control insect populations (a single bat can eat up to 2,000 mosquitoes in one night), they also pollinate plants and disperse seeds. You can help conserve bat populations by building a “bat box.”     
  • How To: Build a Bee House (Appropriate for All Ages w/ Supervision) Honey bees may be getting all the press, but they’re not the only pollinators in town. The United States is home to almost 4,000 native bee species (honey bees are non-natives brought here from Europe). One way you can help protect pollinators is to build a home for them.     
  • How To: Build a Bird Feeder with Recycled Materials (Appropriate for All Ages) Bird feeders—and bird watching—are a great way to involve youth in wildlife conservation. Using an old milk carton or juice bottle for construction offers additional eco-benefits.     
  • How To: Build Nets to Catch and Preserve Stream Insects Armed with just a net and a field guide, you can collect insects from your local stream and use them to determine water quality. Learn how to build a net best suited to your type of stream and how to preserve the insects you find there for identification and education.     
  • How To: Plan a Pollinator Garden (Appropriate for All Ages) Restoring wildlife habitat is a priority for many League chapters. From planting cover and food plots to cleaning up water resources, Ikes are working to restore native habitat for game and non-game species alike. One important group that may not be on your list: Pollinators.     
  • How To: Recycle a Christmas Tree (Appropriate for All Ages) For those of you who celebrate the holidays with a blue spruce or Douglas fir, the fresh smell of pine today will be replaced by dry, dead branches and lots of pine needles in January. But that tree isn’t done yet! There are plenty of uses for it around your home and neighborhood.     
  • How To: Build a Model Watershed (Appropriate for All Ages) It's a simple matter of gravity: Water runs downhill. This model watershed demonstrates how water picks up sediment and pollutants as it flows—and that simple measures can reduce the amount of polluted runoff that ends up in your watershed. This is a good project for talking with school children about water pollution and what they can do to prevent it.     
  • How To: Vermicompost (Worm Compost) (Appropriate for All Ages) Vermicomposting is the process of recycling food waste by feeding it to worms. Because a worm will eat its weight in table scraps, vermicomposting is a triple win: You recycle waste, produce organic fertilizer for house and garden plants, and raise worms you can use for fishing.     
  • How To: Collect and Plant Nuts (Appropriate for All Ages) With autumn comes an abundance of acorns, walnuts, and other nuts strewn across the ground. These native seeds can be collected and put to good use. They can be planted in areas where more trees are needed or be raised as seedlings for local conservation projects.     
  • How To: Build a Wood Duck Box (Appropriate for Teens/Adults) Most waterfowl nest on the ground, but wood ducks prefer depositing their eggs in the holes of mature trees -- which means the ducks lose their nesting sites whenever forests are cleared. America’s wood duck population has dropped significantly over the last century. Fortunately, wood ducks readily adapt to nest boxes.     
  • How To: Build a Vernal Pond (Appropriate for Adults) A vernal pond is a pretty sight, but it's even more delightful to hear: A chorus of song emerges from this type of wetland, thanks to the frogs and other creatures it attracts. These ponds provide wildlife habitat, attract mosquito-eating critters, reduce runoff, and serve as teaching tools.     
  • How To: Build a Rain Garden (Appropriate for All Ages) Stormwater runoff is a leading cause of pollution in our streams and lakes. Driveways, roads, and parking lots block water from draining into the ground. Lawns are not much better, unless they have a place where the water can go. Enter the rain garden. It can fill your backyard or be as small as a baby pool. It can beautify your home and invite birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects, including those that eat mosquitoes.     
  • How To: Build a Rain Barrel (Appropriate for Adults) The average American family uses 120 gallons of water each day for outdoor use, much of it for watering lawns and gardens. One way you can help ease the strain on reservoirs and wells is to build a rain barrel—a container that’s hooked up to a downspout to collect and recycle rainwater. You’ll even reduce your water bill and the runoff entering local storm drains.     
  • How To: Build a Fish Crib (Appropriate for All Ages) Discarded PVC pipes can be used to build “fish cribs”—places where bass, bluegills, and other lake species can hide, feed, and reproduce, making for better fishing and aquatic health. Any discarded plastic materials that can create a solid structure could be used, so be creative.     
  • How To: Build a Bug Aquarium (Appropriate for All Ages w/ Supervision) Bugs are a key indicator of a stream’s water quality. Teaching people about stream health means showing them how to identify macroinvertebrates. So whether you’re setting up an educational booth or talking to a group of first-time stream monitors, it helps to have a working aquarium that can showcase living critters such as mayfly and caddisfly nymphs.     
  • How To: Build a 3-Bin Composter (Appropriate for Teens/Adults) Whether you have an abundance of leaves and lawn clippings or want to keep table scraps out of the landfill, you can easily turn waste into useful compost—and help the environment in the process.     

Ikes On Target

Outdoor America

  • Outdoor America: Fall 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: Seeds of Destruction: Hunters can help stop the spread of invasive species * Fishing for Answers: The Susquehanna River is losing its smallmouth bass population * The World at 7 Billion: Is it possible to protect the wild places we love in an ever-growing world? * League Lines * And much more....     
  • Outdoor America Summer 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: Hunting for Hunters: The League is setting its sights on recruiting new hunters -- to conserve outdoor America and benefit the economy * 2011 National Convention Highlights: From award-winning Ikes to outstanding conservation speakers, get the scoop on this year's convention in Des Moines * It's Easy Being "Green": You can live a healthier life and promote your love of the outdoors with five simple steps     
  • Outdoor America Spring 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: Trade Wars: Will nutrient trading save or spoil our streams? * Easing Into Conservation: Conservation easements provide a win-win for landowners * Damaged Delta: Manmade changes to the Mississippi River are sinking coastal wetlands.     
  • Outdoor America Winter 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: Battling for Survival: America's bats are losing the battle against White Nose Syndrome; Casting for Recovery: Program brings breast cancer survivors together; Shooting for Membership Growth: Using shooting sports to grow chapter membership; Getting Utilities to Work for Their Customers: Energy efficiency and conservation don't have to be at odds.     
  • Outdoor America Fall 2010 In This Issue: "The Terrible Ten": Ten of the most destructive invasive species and how to slow their spread; "Crop Mob: Will Work for Food": Volunteers can help sustain family farms and the environment; "Turning Up the Water Pressure": How population growth is straining the world's most vital resource     
  • Outdoor America Summer 2010 In This Issue: To Bee or Not To Bee (Our Pollinators in Peril) * Geocaching Gets Families Into the Great Outdoors * 2010 IWLA National Convention Wrapup * BP, Gulf Wetlands, and You     
  • Outdoor America Spring 2010 In This Issue: "Asian Carp: A Hungry Invader Eating Its Way to the Great Lakes"; "Will We Sacrifice Our Water for Gas?" (Marcellus shale); 2010 National Convention Preview: "Preserving America's Wilderness"     
  • The Roaring 20s: A Call To Action (Part of the IWLA 90th Anniversary series) You can track the history of the League through the advances in wildlife and natural resource conservation in the past nine decades. Often, those tracks lead to historic turning points when Ikes helped craft key legislation and saved critical water and land resources. Here’s how the story started.     
  • Outdoor America Winter 2010 In this issue: "Clean Water at a Crossroads," National Wildlife Refuge System -- recreation opportunities and funding challenges, and "The Mighty Mississippi: All Locked Up." Other topics include keeping green energy "green" and the trend toward leasing land for huting and fishing.     

Outdoor Ethics

Sustainability

Watersheds

  • Damaged Delta The Mississippi River might be the most “managed” river in the country. Along its length you’ll find levees to prevent flooding, locks and dams for river navigation, and dredging operations for commerce. These changes may have been made with good intentions, but they drastically damaged the natural functions of the river.     

Wilderness and Public Lands

 
 
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