Conservation practices may help repair rivers

Among of the pleasures of my childhood in rural Dallas County, Iowa, in the 1960s was wading in Little Walnut Creek, which ran near our home.

The water was clear and didn't seem polluted. Today's kids aren't so lucky, as Dallas County is home to one of the state's most impaired rivers, and the streams feeding into it can't be much better.

David Osterberg's July 23 column, 'Voluntary measures aren't enough,” gives some ways we can get after the farm pollution that has made Iowa rivers get so much worse.

I hope everyone has read his fairly mild suggestions - spend more money on the problem and ask each farmer to put at least two conservation practices in place.

Such a common-sense approach is needed if we want our grandchildren to enjoy one of the simple pleasures of childhood.

Sarah Clark

Iowa City