State Report Finds The Rate Of Impaired Iowa Rivers, Lakes, Streams Continues To Increase

"According to the state’s analysis, just 16 waterbody segments tested meet the standards for all of their designated uses."

A @ProfSecchi inspired thread https://www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2020-12-01/state-report-finds-the-rate-of-impaired-iowa-rivers-lakes-streams-continues-to-increase

"The overall number of waterbody segments that DNR staffers were able to assess has also gone down, from 1,422 segments in the 2018 report to 1,300 this year. Another 1,280 water body segments were not assessed as part of this report."

"61% of the segments of the state’s rivers and streams tested and 67% of lakes and reservoirs tested were found to be impaired, a designation meaning they don’t meet water quality standards for at least one intended use, such as drinking water supply, recreation, or aquatic life"

"Top causes of impairments for rivers and streams include high levels of bacteria and fish kills caused by animal waste and other toxins. Leading impairment causes in lakes, reservoirs and wetlands include algae, turbidity, pH and bacteria, [and] high levels of toxins in fish."

“I would call it stable. I don’t know if we can really point to on direction of the other. Last cycle from 2016 to 2018 it was a 2 percent increase and we’re at a 2 percent decrease this cycle,” Krier said."

Sure, if you assess less locations, you find less pollution ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯

Then, there's this gem...

"DNR staffers have cautioned against trying to interpret overall trends in the state’s water quality based on the report’s findings, which can vary year to year based on changes in methodology and other factors."

Wonder what the "other factors" are?

“Iowans should find it very alarming that of the waterbodies tested, 84 percent of Iowa’s rivers and streams, and 70 percent of Iowa’s lakes and reservoirs are impaired or potentially impaired,”

Yes we should, but many do not think this is alarming.

This draft has "a few" eyebrow raising data. One example comes from Storm Lake. A 2006 fish kill from an unknown source of pollution is still listed. Even though that source of pollution likely has dissipated (I commented in letter as much during the 2018 draft comment period).

But, Iowa's overall water quality picture (see below) is not good, We should all be alarmed that despite recent efforts to improve water quality, nitrate and phosphorous concentrations in rivers have increased. Note, these increases are not "weather driven" as some indicate.

Anyways, for some data and more than a few good blog posts, check out @RiverRaccoon's blog. This one is 'Iowa is Hemorrhaging Nitrogen'. Many of us are working to collect data on Iowa's water quality and trying to spread the word and raise awareness.

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https://www.iihr.uiowa.edu/cjones/iowa-is-hemorrhaging-nitrogen/