Water quality improvements take more than ag commitment

Jeff Pape

I am addressing recent TV ads and newspaper articles, specifically a letter 'Protect Land for Future Generations” (Sept. 9, Merle Ries) and a guest column 'Don't Underplay Water Issues” (Oct. 8, Jon Stravers).

Those looking to blame someone for the local, regional and Gulf Coast water quality issues need to look deeper and, instead of pointing the finger at agriculture, should look to their neighbors or local industry and city municipalities. If you consider how much nitrogen is applied on a per-acre basis to lush green lawns, you might be shocked. Watch the news or find on the Internet how many 'releases” there are during rain events by municipalities of their own sewage directly into streams. When there is a 'release” in agriculture, farmers are typically fined heavily, but when is the last time you heard a municipality was being fined for allowing raw sewage into the streams?

I have witnessed that voluntary watersheds can, and do, work to our benefit. The Hewitt Creek Watershed in northeastern Iowa has proved in the last nine or more years that water quality improvements can be made.

This watershed has shown reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus levels as well as sediments in the water. This didn't happen overnight, however, as any improvement in water quality takes time and commitment. The water quality problem was created over the last century of modernized industry, which includes agriculture and manufacturing.

We need steady improvement to get to the water quality we desire, but it will take cooperation and years to reverse what has been done to our water quality in the last century.

A combination of factories, municipalities, and agriculture had a part in the water quality issues. Government regulation is not the only answer; the agriculture industry has enough regulations, including manure management plans, that address manure and fertilization issues and have to be followed.

This is an issue that requires education. For example, in the Hewitt Creek Watershed cooperators were taught new ways to account for manure credits, crop credits, use grid sampling, late spring nitrate sampling, stalk nitrate sampling, etc. Over 75 percent of these cooperators have chosen to voluntarily address issues on their farming operations. The watershed's incentive funding runs out at the end of this year and, when asked if they would like to be involved without funding, these farmers decided they don't want to give up what they have started, the learning, and the water testing results. When asked how many will continue the practices they have begun, everyone at the meeting raised their hand.

What is a true measurement of success in water quality? Noticing eagles fishing in streams, seeing people hanging fishing poles over the sides of bridges, or watching the fish swim in local streams. Let's educate people and industries on new technology. Give agriculture a chance to try something they might not be comfortable with through the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, a program to introduce agriculture to ideas that will benefit all. This is the beginning, we need to give it time and watch it succeed.

' Jeff Pape is chairman of the Hewitt Creek Watershed in Dyersville. Comments: papejw587@gmail.com