Statewide, Iowa — The Iowa Environmental Council is calling for updating the system for measuring pollution in Iowa waterways. The state’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy program uses models to estimate the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in Iowa’s water. Iowa Environmental Council water program director Ingrid Gronstal says a lack of in-stream sensors makes it difficult to accurately assess water quality.
According to the Iowa Environmental Council, the State of Iowa has spent $100 million since 2013 on water quality projects, but a lack of real-time water measurements means its difficult to determine if the investments are working. Gronstal says the models currently being used to estimate water quality can exclude factors that may impact a waterway, such as land use changes or extreme weather patterns.
The Iowa Environmental Council is calling for the state to release all of its water quality monitoring information to the public.
