We Protect Our Rivers!

Thank you, pipeline fighters, for a powerful day along the Des Moines River on Saturday, June 25th!

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Our Protect Our Rivers! flotilla approaches the E18 bridge. The Bakken pipeline’s proposed path is to bore beneath the Des Moines River just north of the E18 bridge. Photo: Paul Hellenschmidt

Over 80 pipeline fighters from across Iowa gathered along the Des Moines River in Boone County for a “Protect Our Rivers!” flotilla followed by a community gathering in Pilot Mound.

Mark Edwards opened our press conference with the history of the Des Moines River and a call to action: “We have a duty, a right to protect the public trust we share in common – the climate, the air, the land, this river. People have been living here for thousands of years without the threat of losing their water. One spill for one hour could dump one million gallons of oil into this river.  Are we really willing to risk this? Are we really willing to allow it?”

Together, we demanded that the US Army Corps of Engineers deny Dakota Access’ application to construct a 24,000,000 gallon-a-day Bakken crude-oil pipeline.

Leda Burton, Mayor of Pilot Mound, shared her concern for citizens’ well water. Dick Lamb, Boone County landowner, shared his family’s struggle fighting the condemnation of their farmland. April Burch, Boone County community rights activist, called us to continue to build our movement. Wally Taylor, of Iowa Sierra Club, shared the continued legal fight against the state. Carolyn Raffensperger, of Science & Environmental Health Network, called us to use our power to protect our water as a public good. Angie Carter, of Women, Food and Agriculture Network, reminded us that we are standing on the right side of history.

We protect our rivers. We stand with landowners. We demand the US Army Corps reject the Bakken pipeline permit. We call upon our state’s leaders to stand with us on the right side of history.

After launching north of Pilot Mound, the flotilla of forty kayaks and canoes passed beneath the E18 bridge, along the section of the Des Moines river beneath which the Bakken pipeline is proposed to cross.

Donnielle Wanatee of Tama, IA, spoke on behalf of the Meskwaki Nation: “Our Rivers of Iowa are still alive and just as a part of us as our own blood that runs through us. At approximately 525 miles long to its farther headwaters, where it rises out of southern Minnesota, as the largest River flowing across the State of Iowa, and as part of the Des Moines River watershed, the Des Moines River needs to be protected. It makes oneself heard by us Iowans standing up for our Rivers and our rights to maintain those rights.”

Following the flotilla, we gathered at the Pilot Mound Community Center for an afternoon of pipeline-fighter fellowship and delicious food.

“Iowans have been standing strong against the Bakken Pipeline since 2014. Dakota Access may have started construction of this pipeline, but we are working to ensure it will never finish it. This is NOT a done deal,” said Linda Murken, Bakken pipeline fighter from Story County.

Thanks to all of your efforts, our Summer of Resistance continues to grow! What actions will you take this summer to help stop the Bakken pipeline? Let us know about your letters to the editor, participation in parades and festivals, and local actions!

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We will continue to protecting our rivers from the Bakken Pipeline! Photo: Angie Carter

The “Protect Our Rivers” day of action was the fourth event the Bakken Pipeline Resistance Coalition has hosted during its “Summer of Resistance.” Previous actions have included our May 28th flotilla along the South Skunk River near Oskaloosa, a June 6th Broken Heartland Rally at the Capitol grounds in Des Moines, and a June 21st press conference on the impacted farmland of Dick and Judy Lamb in Boone County.

Help us keep the Summer of Resistance going! Make a tax-deductible donation to help fund future events.

Check out our photos from the day! Some of the press coverage:

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#NoBakken Pipeline fighters in Pilot Mound, IA remind us that #WaterIsLife! Photo: Rivka Fidel