Keep water clean, safe

The Iowa rivers, lakes and streams are becoming very polluted. Sixty percent of the water sources are classified as being in poor or very poor condition.

There are many things that can be done to clean up our waterways here in Iowa. My ideas for are setting up community service drives and using volunteers to walk the banks and/or boats to clean up the waters, and to enforce the state laws that are currently in place that restrict farmers from being able to spray any fertilizers or chemicals within a restricted area of the water source.

Let's set up a campaign to encourage organizations such as churches, scouting and other community groups to help them become aware of the need to clean up the waterways. There should be stricter fines for those who illegally dump in our public waters. The state should crack down on the illegal spraying of chemicals, and there should be an more testing of soils close to streams.

I realize it is practically impossible to clean up 100 percent of the pollution in the water, but every small step will help to keep our fowl and fish safe for consumption and make the waters safer for us all to enjoy.

Kaleb Gorsch

Belle Plaine