A report links Iowa’s water pollution to agriculture. Then, the money that advertises it mysteriously disappeared | Iowa

wA team of scientists began conducting $1 million landmark research on Iowa’s ongoing water quality problems two years ago, and they knew the findings would be important. The state cannot stop the current of pollutants flowing into rivers and lakes, a question of increasing public concern.

But now, after the completed study pointed out that agricultural pollution is an important source of key U.S. farm national problems, public officials have quietly deprived funds from the program to promote the research results.

Reportthe results of two years of data analysis have been Highly controversial In Iowa, evidence linking water pollution and human and environmental health risks to the state’s economically and politically strong agricultural industries is cited as a large amount of evidence.

Supporters of the report said that public officials in the agricultural industry and allied forces tried to downplay these findings, and they feared that the move was another obstacle to change.

‘zero’

When the report was finalized earlier this year, the budget was still $400,000, with some funds dedicated to communications and “public awareness” work, travel and other expenses related to facilitating the findings, Record display.

Jennifer Terry, the Water Report project leader, plans to have face-to-face meetings with scientists and community groups to focus on the recommendations made in the report.

But these funds have been “zero zero” recently without explanation. Email Communication.

Funding for the water report and related public outreach comes from the most populous county in Iowa and is home to the state capital Des Moines. The county leadership has changed since the report was commissioned.

“The goal is to ensure it is widely seen in public education efforts at the end of the report,” said former Polk County Chief Executive John Norris, who led support for the water report in 2023. “This is a big part of what the public has learned.”

Norris, who agreed to leave the office earlier this year As part of a legal settlement He said he hopes the county will use some money to do the water quality work in some way.

Frank Marasco, who replaced Norris, did not respond to a request for comment. Nor was Polk County spokesman Jon Cahill. Terry also declined to comment.

The Water Report, written by a team of 16 scientists, highlights the pollution patterns in two “basic” rivers in two basins, from southern Minnesota to central Iowa to Des Moines. Rivers are the main source of drinking water for approximately 600,000 people and are considered an important recreational state asset, but often contain harmful pollutants, including phosphorus and nitrogen, bacteria, pesticides and other chemicals from animal and human waste.

This summer, nitrate levels in key sources of drinking water were measured Higher number More than federal safety standards permitted.

The report says a lot, though not all, of pollution, is related to agriculture. Among several recommendations, the report requires that the highest corn cultivation state in the United States will require less chemical input to diversify crops and limit livestock density.

Water reports are growing concerns about the prevalence of cancer across the state. Iowa has the second highest cancer incidence in the United States over the past few years and is One of the only two states in the United States Where cancer is increasing. pesticide and Nitrate Both are scientifically proven to cause cancer.

Kerri Johannsen, senior director of policy and program at the Iowa Environmental Commission, said all allocated funds should be fully utilized to educate the public.

“Polke County and all over the state are facing a water crisis, but we can’t start making progress until all Iowans, including policymakers, understand the urgency of this moment,” she said.

“The importance of public education and awareness cannot be underestimated,” Johnson added. “The resources currently available to address our water problems are the decline of the bucket, and it is the responsibility of our elected officials to do everything possible to find a way forward in order to achieve the health of the people in the state.”

Fed increases concerns

How to solve the problem of water quality in Iowa Nearly 87,000 farms And the number one producer of corn, pork and eggs in the United States, this is Trump administration Republican allies in Congress are demolishing regulations aimed at protecting water quality, including those that work to limit pesticides and other farm-related chemicals.

A major concern for environmental advocates is the License Act, which is actually a pack of more than a dozen bills that can simplify the permitting requirement. The legislation would cut protections for many waterways, limit requirements for renewed pollution control measures, and exempt pesticide spraying and agricultural runoff from permission and accountability, Go beyond pesticides according to advocacy organizations.

If these measures become law, it will be difficult for Iowa to clean their waterways.

To address the state’s water quality problem, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently reversed Decide exist Biden gives medicine This discovery should be designated as damaged by the other areas of the four Iowa Rivers.

When water is classified as damaged, it triggers stricter regulation measures to limit pollutants entering the waterways and other enhanced measures designed to reduce the inflow of harmful pollutants.

The reversal has angered environmental groups across the state as well as utility providers responsible for cleaning up water. But farm groups, including the Iowa Department of Agriculture, be opposed to The name of damage is cheering for the news.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, news of reversal breaks Visited Iowa Meet farmers and others and attend the Iowa State Fair to serve as a barbecue at the Iowa Pork Producers Association tent.

Asked what drove the decision to revoke the damage decision, an EPA spokesperson said only that the agency has been tracking nitrate levels on the waterways this spring and summer and “ensure that all information and data collected by all cities, universities and other groups are provided to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for assessment.”

The agency “don’t know” that “using Iowa’s surface water bodies” on public water systems “over” nitrates “over” the public water system, a spokesman said. The agency is working with state officials to “understand and address issues that reconsider the basis for EPA’s 2024 decision.”

Adam Shriver, director of health and nutrition policy at Drake University’s Harkin Institute, said the recent incidents were frustrating.

“I think it shows how far we are.” “The Agriculture Bureau opposed the initial damage name and won the victory in the recent EPA announcement. As long as they continue to get anything they want from governments at all levels and other stakeholders are ignored, public health will be compromised.”

This story and New Ryderthe Environmental Working Group’s News Project