Blog For Tag "phosphorus pollution"

posted by Guest Blogger on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 Fertilizer pollution (composed of the chemical nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus) has plagued Iowa's waterways since long before the Iowa Environmental Council was formed in 1995. As the state's primary plan for addressing nutrient pollution approaches its 10th anniversary, what can we say about Iowa's water today? Several past IEC executive directors share their thoughts in this guest blog.

posted by Guest Blogger on Friday, July 22, 2022 Despite budget cuts to the Iowa DNR's long-running citizen science program, several groups in Story County stepped forward to ensure that volunteer stream monitoring continued in their area. Overcoming difficulties and obstacles has been hard, yet rewarding for Dan Haug of Prairie Rivers of Iowa. He shares the learning experiences, and fun, he's had along the way during his water quality monitoring program experience.

posted by Alicia Vasto on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 In 1987, the Iowa legislature passed the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act. IEC suggests it is time to create an Iowa Surface Water Protection Act as part of the efforts to advance the Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

posted by Guest Blogger on Friday, July 30, 2021 Iowa River Watershed Coalition President, Jarrett Pfrimmer, PhD, shares the coalition efforts led by the Meskwaki Department of Natural Resources to form the Iowa River Watershed Coalition in 2019. Read more about the stakeholders involved and the goals they have set out to achieve to protect the Iowa River watershed.

posted by Angelisa Belden on Thursday, July 15, 2021 Communications Director Angelisa Belden reflects on her family's visit to the headwaters of the Mississippi River, and what that visit reveals for the future of the Great River.

posted by Megan McDowell on Friday, June 4, 2021 IEC staff visited the Tesdell Century Farm in May to see about clean energy and land stewardship projects in action.

posted by Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 A company seeking to site an 11,600-head cattle feedlot in northeast Iowa wasn't giving up on getting DNR approval. IEC Staff Attorney Michael Schmidt reviews the timeline and how Supreme Beef and DNR found a way to make the massive feedlot happen.

posted by Angelisa Belden on Friday, August 21, 2020 I spent a significant amount of money for a weekend getaway at an Iowa lake. Imagine my disappointment to find the water covered in green algae on day 2. Was it safe to swim? Who knows? Will I go back? That remains to be seen - and that's a danger for the local economy.

posted on Friday, October 4, 2019 A recent analysis by the Iowa Environmental Council showed that implementation rates of voluntary conservation practices set forth in the 2013 Nutrient Reduction Strategy are slowing. Under current time modeling, the IEC analysis shows it would take hundreds of years or more before we achieve the necessary goals. It is time for all farmland owners to do more and do it quickly.

posted by Ingrid Gronstal on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 As a water quality professional, I know all too well the risks that harmful algae blooms carry for those of us just trying to cool off and enjoy ourselves at the lake. For our pets and our children, those risks can be particularly high.