Iowa CCI Slams Impaired Waterways Report

Report spotlights state inaction on continually growing problem, failure of nutrient reduction strategy, lack of political will

For Immediate Release 11/14/2019
For more information, contact:
Adam Mason, State Policy Organizing Director
adam@iowacci.org
515-282-0484

DesMoines, IA – Today members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (IowaCCI) are pointing to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) release ofthe 2018 303d list – betterknowns as its impaired waters report as evidence the state is failing Iowans when itcomes to water quality. The report released this morning, required by theEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA), is typically released every two years inthe Spring.  However, the DNR claimed difficulties during this reportingcycle leading to the release six months later than normal.

The2018 report found that Iowa’s impaired water bodies has increased to 767, upfrom 750 two years ago. Upon initial review, Iowa CCI members also flaggedseveral problematic details:

• Over half of those waterbodies assessed came back with level 4 or level5 impairments
• 57% of Iowa’s rivers and streams that were assessed came back asimpaired
• 57% of Iowa’s lakes and reservoirs that were assessed came back asimpaired
• 523 waters are in need of further assessment
• Only 27 waterways were “delisted” or removed from a level 4 or level 5impairment
• Of the impairments identified, a majority are potentially byproducts ofindustrialized ag practices within the state (i.e. fish kills attributable tomanure spills, fertilizer and pesticides; or bacteria levels and algal growthas a symptom of possible farm runoff)

“Today’sreport is woefully inadequate and insufficient. Iowans are being hurtphysically and financially by the quality of water in Iowa. We need definitenumbers to really see the trends in Iowa’s water quality.” Said Betty Salmon, aretired teacher and Iowa CCI member from Urbandale, IA.

Iowa’sprimary strategy for improving water quality has been the Voluntary NutrientReduction Strategy (NRS), adopted in 2013 to reduce nitrogen and phosphorusloading in Iowa’s waterways. However, when it comes to nonpoint sources ofnutrient pollution – industrial agricultural operations and practices being oneof the main examples – the strategy is merely voluntary.

Thisvoluntary NRS has been proven to be a complete failure and according to a report from the IowaEnvironmental Council (IEC), the state is hundreds, possibly even thousands of years behind wherewe should be to reduce Iowa’s contribution to the Dead Zone in the Gulf ofMexico. 

“Thisis one more sign that the state’s nutrient reduction strategy is a completefailure. The report fails to differentiate the magnitude of impairments in manyof Iowa’s waterways. But the reality is that any impairment is unacceptable.” saidCherie Mortice, retired teacher and Iowa CCI member from Des Moines. “That’swhy are suing the state – every Iowan has a right to clean water and the statehas a duty to protect that right.”

Earlierthis year, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and Food & Water Watchfiled a lawsuit against the State of Iowa because the Legislature has failed totake Iowa’s water pollution crisis seriously. The groups’ lawsuit alleges thatthe state has violated its obligation under the Public Trust Doctrine toprotect the Raccoon River for the use and benefit of all Iowans by failing tolimit the pollution running off industrial agriculture operations into theRaccoon River and its tributaries.

Thelawsuit asks the Court to order the stateto adopt a mandatory clean-plan and a moratorium on new and expanding factoryfarms – the main contributors to the elevated nitrogen and phosphorus pollutionfound in the water. The groups are represented by Public Justice, Food &Water Watch, Roxanne Conlin & Associates, and Channing Dutton, of Lawyer,Lawyer, Dutton & Drake LLP.

Inspite of the mounting demand for action on water, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds totout her investment in the failed NRS. Recent Iowa Policy Project reportsshow her claims ring untrue as well, with the level of water quality funding being lower than itwas ten years ago in terms of real dollars.

“We know that DNR isoverworked and understaffed. They want to do a good job, and care about our naturalresources.” said Tom Mohan, Iowa CCI board president from Sioux City. “This isreally a question of political will. We call on Governor Reynolds and theLegislature to provide all Iowans the clean water we demand and deserve.”