Conservation action, one step at a time.

Signs of conservation action: A drainage grate in Allerton, Iowa, reads “Dump no waste! Drains to waterways.” A sign near Chariton advertises the Rathbun Land and Water Alliance. Windsor Heights, Iowa, has installed signs identifying the Walnut Creek watershed, which includes a big piece of the city.

Matt Hauge is the Council’s communications and outreach director.

Talking with other Iowans about what we’re doing to protect our land, water and air is one of the best parts of my job. As I am out traveling or working events for the Council, I have heard enough of your inspiring stories to be absolutely convinced Iowans can solve any environmental challenge we face.

That’s why I was surprised yesterday when a woman approached our booth at the Natural Living Expo and said to me, “You won’t like me.”  But why not?

Farms have conservation tools

Reblogged from Iowa Learning Farms:

Iowa Learning Farms farmer partner Richard Sloan recently submitted an opinion piece to the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Sloan farms near Rowley and serves on several conservation-related organizations: Cropping Systems Coordinated Agricultural Project advisory board, Practical Farmers of Iowa, assistant commissioner for the Buchanan County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Lime Creek Watershed Improvement Association.

"With pasture and Conservation Reserve Program lands being converted to row crops and fewer perennials in our fields, rains in excess of 1.5 inches per day will run off quickly, leading to potential erosion, pollution and spoiling of national resources. 

Read more… 37 more words

Editor's note: We thought this essay was so good we are taking the rare step of re-blogging it to share it with you.

U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee passes draft farm bill with needed conservation language

The Senate Agriculture committee met today to consider amendments to the Committee’s draft Farm Bill.  While there are many issues the Council is following in the Farm Bill, our top priority is to re-link crop insurance premium subsidies to conservation compliance as was the case prior to 1996.  The Farm Bill that came out of the Senate Agriculture committee today re-establishes that link.  An amendment to the Committee Bill by Senator Hoeven (R-ND) that would have stuck the tie between Conservation Compliance and crop insurance failed in committee.

Des Moines Water Works releases new details about record nitrate event, levels also high elsewhere in Iowa

Update 5/14:  In a news release, the City of Cedar Rapids said it is also monitoring nitrate levels in the Cedar River, noting a nitrate monitor upstream of the measured a nitrate level of 18.5 mg/L, which the city’s water utility called “one of [the] highest nitrate levels ever measured in the Cedar River.” At this time, Cedar Rapids drinking water is meeting the EPA’s safe water guidelines.

This afternoon, the Des Moines Water Works officially released details about Last week’s record nitrate levels in both the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers.  According to the release, “This new record follows the continued upward trend of nitrate concentrations since fertilizer use and increased row-crop agriculture began in the mid-1960s. It has been calculated that last week’s nitrate load surpassed last year’s entire nitrate load.”

Bill Stowe, head of the Water Works, has not minced words as he has described the nitrate removal challenge the Water Works faces or its causes.

“The optimal solution to prevent nitrate concentrations from entering our source water is through watershed protection programs and good land management practices,” said Stowe.

“However, the recently published Nutrient Reduction Strategy is inadequate in that it lacks vision, goals, measurable outcomes, or timelines for agricultural (non-point) discharges.  Without significant action, Des Moines Water Works will be forced to continue treating degraded source waters, and our customers will continue to pay for that extensive treatment in their rates,” he said.

The Des Moines Water Works is a cooperator member of the Iowa Environmental Council.  The Council has also been strongly critical of Iowa’s nutrient reduction strategy, arguing that it lacks clear timetables or standards for measuring success.

A survey of available water quality data by the Iowa Environmental Council Monday showed Des Moines is not the only place where high nitrate levels are being recorded.

At 3 p.m. Monday, nitrate levels were 26.8 mg/L on the Raccoon River near Jefferson, 28.18 mg/L on the Boone River near Webster City, and 17.8 mg/L on the Cedar River near Palo.  (Real-time nitrogen monitoring data is provided by the United States Geological Survey.)

The highest recorded nitrate concentration was 40.9 mg/L on Lyons Creek near Webster City.

The EPA’s safe drinking water standard for treated drinking water is 10 mg/L.

Heathcote: Record water pollution in Raccoon reminds us of urgent need for clean water action

Following reports that nitrate levels in the Raccoon River have set a new record this week, reaching more than twice the federal drinking water standard, the Iowa Environmental Council’s water program director, Susan Heathcote, released a short statement.

“Last November, Secretary of Agriculture Northey and other state government leaders released a strategy to reduce Iowa’s nitrogen and phosphorous contributions to the Gulf of Mexico by 45% statewide.”

“The announcement of record nitrogen pollution levels in the Raccoon River is a reminder that nitrogen and phosphorous pollution is also a serious threat to clean water here in Iowa.  It has been for decades.  Despite this, Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy fails to set local nitrogen and phosphorous reduction goals for cleaner water necessary to protect the health and well-being of Iowans.

“Local pollution reduction goals are critical to motivating Iowa farmers and landowners to make the significant changes necessary to ensure clean water.  Iowans should be confident efforts to reduce this pollution will protect those who want clean water for drinking and recreation in Iowa as well as downstream.

“Iowans should call on state government leaders to include local pollution reduction goals, timelines and accountability measures in Iowa’s strategy.”

Previously:  The Council’s executive director, Ralph Rosenberg, outlined our main concerns about Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy.