Save the Ledges Coalition records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MS-0075

Staff Only

Scope and Content

This collection (1949-1977) includes clippings, correspondence, reports, an environmental impact statement, and public opinion studies. The public opinion studies document the public response to the construction of Saylorville Reservoir and documents related to the studies comprise the bulk of the collection. The Saylorville project reports folder (Box 2, Folder 4) also contains material related to public opinion concerning the dam, including public opinion surveys conducted by the Iowa Student Public Interest Research Group and the Environtology Council of Iowa State University and a response by Merwin Dougal to the Final Environmental Study by the Corps of Engineers. The bulk of the material in the collection documenting the actions of the Save the Ledges Coalition can be found in the correspondence. Correspondents include organizations of the Coalition with the Corps of Engineers and various politicians including Governor Robert Ray, Senator Tom Harkin, and Senator Neal Smith.

Dates

Creation: 1949-1977

Access Restrictions

Open for research.

Use/Re-use Restrictions

Consult Special Collections and University Archives

Biography/Profile

The Save the Ledges Coalition was formed in the spring of 1975, and its goal was to save Ledges State Park from flooding when the floodgates of the Saylorville Dam on the Des Moines River were closed. Coalition groups included: United Auto Workers (Iowa); South Central Federation of Labor; AFL-CIO; Des Moines Education Association Executive Board; Polk County Women’s Political Caucus; Communications Workers of America, Local 7102; Iowa Wildlife Federation; Citizens’ Alliance to Save the Ledges; and the Iowa Farmers’ Union.

Arguments over what, if anything, was to be done to protect the Ledges occurred throughout the 1970s. The Corps eventually rejected the option of building a barrier dam around Ledges (on the basis that it was too costly). Governor Robert Ray eventually proposed an increased release rate from the dam of 16,000 cfs during the snowmelt season, which had been recommended in an Inter-Agency Resource Council report. The Corps endorsed the governor's proposal, and Saylorville Dam's floodgates were closed in April 1977.

For a more detailed description of the Saylorville Lake Project, read Places of Quiet Beauty: Parks, Preserves, and Environmentalism by Rebecca Conard (found in General and Special Collections, call number QH76.5 I8 C66 1997).