| 04/17/2007 |
| Iowa River on endangered list |
| By: Charlotte Eby , Capitol News Service |
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DES MOINES - The Iowa River has earned the dubious distinction of being one of the country's most endangered rivers in 2007. American Rivers, a Washington, D.C.,-based conservation group, chose the Iowa River for the list, which was released today. American Rivers cited pollution caused by livestock production and communities without proper sewage treatment systems as the reason the Iowa River was included on the list. The group also faulted the state for failing to adopt adequate water quality rules. Each year, the group picks rivers with the most uncertain futures rather than those with the most chronic problems. "Iowans love their namesake river for boating, fishing and swimming. They deserve better than to see it treated like a sewer," American Rivers President Rebecca Wodder said. "It's time for Iowa to catch up to the rest of the country in protecting clean water." Susan Heathcote, water program director with the Iowa Environmental Council, said the council nominated the Iowa River for the list with the hope it would bring awareness to its problems. "I think it's coming at a good time in the state of Iowa when a lot of attention is being placed on the potential for economic development along our rivers," she said. In Heathcote's opinion, the Iowa River is not the most polluted river in the state, but the council nominated it because it's such an important resource. "It would be nice for us to be able to promote the Iowa River as a destination for people to come and enjoy what Iowa has to offer," Heathcote said. "And it's kind of hard to do that if you have to say, but be careful, don't get in the water because it might not be safe." According to Heathcote, some of the largest concentrations of large hog confinements surround the upper part of the Iowa River in Hardin, Hamilton and Wright counties near the headwaters. Many of the river's tributaries in that part of the state have a history of fish kills caused by manure spills, Heathcote said. High bacterial levels in the river, especially downstream near Eldora, are a safety concern as well, she said. Bacteria can come from a number of sources, but Heathcote believes livestock is playing a role because of a history of manure spills into tributaries and a high level of manure applied to croplands nearby. The river as it flows through Johnson County is impaired, as are several tributaries. The river bisects the University of Iowa campus. A large part of the problem, Heathcote said, is smaller communities without proper sewage treatment systems as well as urban runoff. That pollution has led to a decline in the mussel species downstream from Iowa City all the way to where the river joins the Mississippi River, Heathcote said. Kevin Baskins, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, acknowledges problems with the Iowa River and other waterways in the state. "There's definitely some need for improvement there," Baskins said. Baskins said the department, which enforces the state's environmental laws, is working to develop and adopt "antidegradation" standards to protect waterways, as well as changes to standards that would require wastewater treatment plants to release fewer pollutants. The department also has sponsored legislation this year that would assist communities in upgrading sewer systems, he said. Heathcote is optimistic about the Iowa River's chances in coming months. The good news is that locals, especially in Hardin and Wright counties, have tried to protect and develop the Iowa River corridor as a tourism area, Heathcote said. "There's lots of things within the next year that we can do to turn the corner on some of these problems," Heathcote said. Charlotte Eby can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.
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