The Greater Des Moines Partnership in the next few weeks plans to form a new work group on water issues.

CEO Jay Byers said the group is likely to develop draft legislation to propose in the next sessions.

The Des Moines Water Works lawsuit against three northwest Iowa counties over nitrate pollution “raises the urgency” of the work, but isn’t the main reason for the effort, Byers said. The Partnership has long worked on issues of flooding, water quality and related issues and wants to meet with stakeholders to propose specific actions.

“We have much bigger issues. We are looking for common ground on the overall issues,” Byers said.

The panel of stakeholders could develop draft bills, and also will look at ways to improve work among the U.S. Department of Agriculture and farmers.

“We’ve had a very positive response,” Byers said of early discussions about forming the group. “I have been surprised about how much common ground there is. We will look for watershed-scale strategies and projects.”

Greater Des Moines has faced a range of water issues, including rivers that run far harder than they used to, debates over nitrate pollution, flood mitigation,  levee improvements, and calls for better river recreation.