Opinion split at Independence water quality meeting

INDEPENDENCE - Speakers at a public meeting on state water quality standards split Tuesday on the value of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, which relies on voluntary measures to reduce the volume of fertilizer leaving farm fields for the state's waters.

'We've tried voluntary. That's why we are in the pickle we're in now,” said Cedar Rapids attorney Wally Taylor, representing the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Speaking at one of several meetings hosted by the Department of Natural Resources to gather public input on the agency's three-year work plan to improve Iowa's water quality standards, Taylor said specific goals and timetables, as well as regulations, will be required to reduce levels of nitrates and phosphates in Iowa's water.

Roger Bruner, who heads the DNR's watershed monitoring and assessment division, told the two dozen meeting attendees that the DNR has no authority to regulate nonpoint source pollution such as that coming off farm fields. But that's what the attendees wanted to talk about anyway.

'Forty years of voluntary participation (since the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972) and we still have polluted water,” said Susan West of Fairbank.

Margaret Whiting of Waterloo said nutrient pollution, which is responsible for the increasing frequency of algae blooms in state waters, should be the DNR's top priority.

'We all know we can do better. The question is, at what cost?” said Fayette County farmer Tim Burrack.

'Forcing me to do something is drastically different from helping me do something,” said Burrack, who noted that he will soon seed 300 acres of cover crops at a cost ranging from $30 to $50 per acre.

Cedar Rapids Utilities Environmental Manager Michael Kuntz said city officials 'fully support” the nutrient reduction strategy.

Noting that the Cedar River is the source of the city's drinking water, Kuntz said city officials intend to work with farmers and agricultural groups in the middle Cedar watershed to implement edge-of-field conservation practices and cover crops that have been proven to reduce nutrient runoff.

'I don't think more regulation is the answer,” said Mike Fisher, vice president of Impact Seven G, an environmental and sustainability consultant based in Independence.

With specific data made widely available, the public will hold polluters accountable, Fisher said.

Justine Stevenson, public policy director for the Iowa Cattlemen's Association, said the nutrient reduction strategy, in only its second year of existence, is proving its effectiveness.

Buchanan County Conservation Director Dan Cohen said 'a lot of Iowa landowners are on board” with the nutrient reduction strategy and want to implement conservation practices. Gov. Terry Branstad's veto earlier this year of more than $11 million in approved funding was 'very harmful to this effort,” he said.

The DNR will accept written comments through Oct. 15. They can be mailed to Rochelle Weiss, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines 50319 or emailed to Rochelle.Weiss@dnr.iowa.gov