Led by the City of Cedar Rapids, downstream water users, upstream conservation groups and farmers came together and decided to expand what was already happening with smaller watershed projects and bridge their work to a larger area - the Middle Cedar Basin. 
Mike Kuntz Utilities Environmental Manager for Cedar Rapids started asking questions.  How could the City of Cedar Rapids get engaged with ongoing watershed efforts and help?
Clark Porter was a farmer/land owner receptive to the conversation and already actively involved in the smaller Black Hawk Creek Water & Soil Coalition.
Today, major agribusinesses in the Cedar Rapid community are also taking interest and investing in farmer-led, land owner driven projects to improve water quality for their "community".