Edited release
12/23/24
A grassroots organization has sent hundreds of comments and signatures from Iowans on a letter calling for honest and transparent water quality data from the state’s Department of Natural Resources.
The Iowa DNR creates and submits the impaired waters list to the EPA every two years. During its most recent review, the EPA found seven segments that should have been included. The seven segments are a part of the Cedar, Des Moines, Iowa, Raccoon, and South Skunk Rivers that have been found to have high nitrate levels toxic to human health and the environment.
The letter, sent by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, was sent as part of a public comment period with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It said in part that the DNR at the absolute minimum should inform the public about polluted waterways across the state.
One of the comments in the letter came from Iowa City resident Jim Walters, who said, “Our government in Iowa has been captured by people who do not care about clean water and the safety of our citizens. It is up to the EPA to do something about this.”
Iowa Capital Dispatch has previously reported that over half of the tested streams and lakes are impaired, with only 24% of the stream segments and 30% of the lakes sampled considered healthy.
The letter can be found below.