Des Moines Water Works Lawsuit

Co-hosts Greta Anderson and Gale Seiler explore the Des Moines Water Works lawsuit against Sac, Calhoun and Buena Vista county supervisors in their role as trustees of drainage districts in the watersheds of the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers, the source of the utility's water. We talk to Story County drainage clerk and mapping technician Scott Wall, who explains "drainage districts," a key concept in the lawsuit (we have 119 of them in the county!). Then we speak with John Torbert, executive director of the Iowa Drainage District Association, who consults with legislators in Des Moines on behalf of county supervisors. After a lively interview with Des Moines Water Works CEO and General Manager Bill Stowe, who is a driving force in the lawsuit, we speak with Neil Hamilton, the Dwight D. Opperman Chair of Law and Director of the Agricultural Law Center at Drake University, who provides analysis of the lawsuit and its implications.

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 03/06/2015
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