Improving Iowa’s water quality has been a top priority for the Legislature in recent years. New updates tell us how our investments are paying off and where we need to step up our efforts.
Researchers at Iowa State University are helping us better understand how we can keep nitrates out of our water supply, and the University of Iowa is looking at historical data to see how Iowa’s water quality has changed over time. We’ve reduced sediment entering our waterways and lowered phosphorus levels, but nitrate levels have not yet declined.
Such nutrients as nitrates and phosphorus are a big reason Iowa’s water quality has suffered. That is why our water quality efforts are aimed at improving soil health and reducing nutrient runoff with better cover crops and tilling practices. We are also establishing demonstration projects in watersheds throughout the state where best practices will be used to improve water quality and educate Iowans about how to implement the techniques on their own land.
Iowa’s state water quality initiative recently was awarded a competitive federal grant under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The new funding will get even more projects started to improve Iowa watersheds.
While our water quality improvement efforts are becoming better coordinated, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and other experts say we have a long road ahead of us. Governor Branstad’s veto last year of additional funding for water quality set us back, but I remain hopeful we can continue building on our successes and create a cleaner, healthier Iowa environment that will support a growing economy for future generations.
Learn more about Iowa’s water quality improvement efforts at www.cleanwateriowa.org.