Iowa's waterways face significant pollution challenges due to agricultural runoff and sewage, dampening summer fun for residents. As a leading agricultural state with numerous rivers and streams, runoff from fertilizer and manure contains nitrates and phosphorus that drain into waters, making Iowa a major contributor to the Gulf of Mexico's dead zone.
The Lost Fun of Summer
Though landlocked, Iowa's identity is shaped by waterways including the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. There are beautiful lakeside beaches and excellent trout fishing. Hannah Ray J Childs, a whitewater kayaker, loves performing acrobatics on the Maquoketa River but has gotten sick from the water and now wears nose and ear plugs. Many question her choices, with people often saying, 'Ew, that’s disgusting.'
Mary Swander, a 75-year-old theater director, fondly remembers outdoor swimming and canoeing but now avoids the water after bad experiences. Once, water at a state park felt sticky; another time, a ranger warned her group not to touch the water.
Why Is This Happening?
Bacteria from cows, deer, and sometimes human sewage make streams inaccessible. Heavy rains wash away manure, a risk intensified by climate change. Nitrates and phosphorus from manure and fertilizer feed algae, leading to lake advisories and threatening drinking water.
Water Pollution Is an Embedded Problem
Iowa relies on voluntary strategies to reduce runoff, unlike Minnesota's mandated vegetation near streams. Farmers face pressure from rising supply costs and fertilizer prices. Aaron Lehman, president of the Iowa Farmers Union, notes, 'There’s a lot less control that farmers have.' Improving practices can take years to show returns, and demand for help outstrips supply, according to Rachel Curry of the University of Illinois Extension.
Changing farming practice is like turning a cruise ship—it takes time, but with the right help, it can be done.
