Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

MS 75
Save the Ledges Coalition
Records, 1948-1977


Descriptive summary

creator:

Save the Ledges Coalition

title:

Records

dates:

1949-1977

extent:

0.84 linear ft. (2 document boxes)

collection number:

MS 75

repository:

Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Save the Ledges Coalition Records, MS 75, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Historical note

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).

 

Collection description

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.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Design memorandum for Saylorville Reservoir

1960

1

2-3

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Final Environmental Impact Statement: Saylorville Lake Flood Control Project - Des Moines River, Iowa

1974

1

4

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Statement of Findings for Final Environmental Impact Statement: Saylorville Lake Flood Control Project - Des Moines River, Iowa

1974

1

5

"Completion Report: Community Values and Collective Action in Reservoir Development" by the Iowa State Water Resources Research Institute

1975

1

6

"A Report of Public Opinion on the Saylorville Reservoir and Ledges State Park," by University Studies 490x class, Iowa State University

1973

1

7

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Draft Environmental Impact Statement: West Des Moines-Des Moines, Iowa Local Flood Protection

1975

2

1

Correspondence

1974-1975

2

2

Correspondence

1976-1977

2

3

Saylorville Lake Water Resource Project mailing lists

1973-1977

2

4

Saylorville Project reports

1948-1977

2

5

News releases, news clippings and publicity materials

1973-1975