Editorial: Iowa’s filthy waterways are a disgrace

Beach-goers enjoy the sun at Lake Macbride on Thursday. Algae and E. coli levels have been a statewide concern this summer.
Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen

If you want to swim in a lake with E. coli and toxins that can kill a small dog, Iowa is the place to be. This state is heaven for anyone who enjoys fishing in smelly streams, rafting down polluted rivers, and contributing to the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico. But Iowans seeking a more pleasant outdoor experience should vote in the next election — for the right people. Support only legislative and gubernatorial candidates who vow to make water quality a priority. They should promise to impose meaningful regulations on industries, fund enforcement and ensure dollars are available to restore waterways.

Unfortunately, many of Iowa’s current elected officials are not among these candidates. While Gov. Terry Branstad and some members of the Republican-controlled Legislature talked repeatedly last session about this issue and contemplated cutting other areas of the strapped state budget for funding, in the end they did essentially nothing and refused to generate new revenue. Meanwhile, more than half of Iowa’s waterways that can be tested are polluted, according to new information from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. There are 750 lakes, rivers and streams with 1,096 impairments […]

Full article: Editorial: Iowa’s filthy waterways are a disgrace

More about the water in Iowa:

Analysis of state report finds Iowa is centuries behind in water quality goals

In the Heart of the Corn Belt, an Uphill Battle for Clean Water

Rep. John Forbes: Iowa water quality bill is watered down

Iowa’s water quality problems: What you need to know

Iowa environmentalists scored a victory for water quality as 2017 ended

Lawsuit Dismissal Spells Bad News for Iowa Water Quality