No one enjoying Iowa’s dirty water on beautiful days

On a beautiful sunny Sunday, my wife and I drove to Backbone beach for a walk to enjoy the scenery. Not one person on the beach. 15 to 20 people were picnicking or enjoying some ice cream from the concession stand. The paddle boats and canoes were attached to the docks with no one out on the water. Why such few visitors? The answer, DIRTY WATER.

How dirty? Anytime there are 235 organisms of E-coli bacteria per 100 milliliters of water, the DNR issues a swim warning. The Gazette on July 26 reported Backbone measured 24,000 organisms. On August 2 it reported it had improved to 6500 organisms. A major reason Backbone Lake is so contaminated is that its water source is a river. The biggest source of E-coli is animal waste.

Most livestock producers are conservationists. They also have to watch their profit margin. The federal government was giving short-term help through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and helping with long term changes with the Conservation Stewardship Program. From 2022 to 2024, farmers in Iowa had a 77% increase in CSP and a 108% increase in EQIP practices. The new administration is taking that funding away. This decision has consequences. Backbone Lake is one of them.

A DNR official said that the no swim order was just a warning: “You might want to alter how you interact with the water. But the biggest thing is wash up afterward, wear life jackets, and enjoy the water.”

Darryl Syverson

Strawberry Point