What's Wrong and What Can be Done to Care for this Iowa Gem
Flood risk along Iowa’s Cedar River is growing, and outdated flood management is putting public safety and the river’s health at risk. This threat landed the Cedar in the number five spot in America’s Most Endangered Rivers: 2010 edition, produced by American Rivers.
American Rivers called on Congress and the Iowa legislature to work with the Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize lower cost, non-structural flood management solutions in the Cedar River Basin. Natural, non-structural flood management solutions, like protecting wetlands and restoring floodplains, are cost-effective and can have multiple benefits.
“It is time for Iowans to insist that state and federal flood protection policies work to reduce flood damage by moving people and structures out of harms way, allowing the flood plain to perform its natural function to absorb and slow the river’s flow during future floods,” said Susan Heathcote with Iowa Environmental Council.
By 2008, the Cedar River had had two 500-year floods within 15 years. Rain falls on a radically changed landscape: plowed fields have replaced tall grass prairies; streams and creeks have been straightened; 90 percent of wetlands have been destroyed; floodplains have been filled and developed; and flows have doubled in just the last half century. Even without factoring in possible effects of climate change, which would exacerbate the problems, the landscape changes will bring more frequent and severe floods. The communities along the Cedar River deserve better, 21st century flood protection solutions to ensure public safety and river health.
The Cedar River, a tributary to the Mississippi River, provides drinking water to more than 120,000 residents, and roughly 530,000 people live and work in the Cedar River watershed. The primary land use in the watershed is agriculture and the river is a popular place for boating and fishing. The river is home to globally rare plant communities and fish and wildlife, including two species of endangered mussels.
About America’s Most Endangered Rivers
Each year, American Rivers reviews nominations for the America’s Most Endangered RiversTM report from river groups and concerned citizens across the country. Rivers are selected based upon the following criteria:
A major decision (that the public can help influence) in the coming year on the proposed action
The significance of the threat to human and natural communities
The degree to which the proposed action would exacerbate or alleviate stresses caused by climate change
The report is a call to action and emphasizes solutions for the rivers and their communities. By shining the spotlight on key decisions that will impact the rivers, and by providing clear actions the public can take on their behalf, the report is a powerful tool for saving these important rivers.
American Rivers is the leading national organization standing up for healthy rivers so communities can thrive. American Rivers protects and restores America's rivers for the benefit of people, wildlife and nature. Founded in 1973, American Rivers has more than 65,000 members and supporters, with offices in Washington, DC and nationwide. Visit www.AmericanRivers.org
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New Water Rules Decision Caps Decades of Work by Clean Water Advocates
fEBRUARY 8, 2010 - update
After decades of meetings, letters, delays, and public hearings, clean water advocates gathered at the statehouse in Des Moines on February 8, to witness the final step in adopting clean water “anti-degradation” rules for Iowa. The Administrative Rules Review Committee (ARRC) of the Iowa Legislature heard testimony from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the public. After review, the ARRC had the option of letting the rules go forward, objecting to them or delaying them. Senator Merlin Bartz (District 6) moved to object to the rules, but could not garner the six votes needed to stop them. This decision means Iowa now has antidegradation rules that comply with the Clean Water Act and protect rivers, streams and lakes in Iowa from increased pollution.
“Protecting lakes and streams from further degradation is important to our state's natural heritage as well as our tourism and recreation industries. An estimated 11,479 jobs, $242.9 million of income and $424.9 million of gross state product are associated with the spending by visitors to Iowa lakes alone,” said Wally Taylor, legal counsel for the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter.
Taylor and others said the Iowa rules are long overdue and that they have worked for years to get Antidegradation Rules written and passed in Iowa.
With the passage of the federal Clean Water Act in 1972 states were required to enact Antidegradation rules to prevent the further pollution of lakes, rivers and streams in the nation by 1985. Iowa adopted rules but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency informed Iowa that its rules violated federal law as early as 1997. Repeated delays in rewriting the rules led a coalition of environmental organizations – Iowa Environmental Council, Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association, the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Environmental Law & Policy Center – to file a Petition for Rulemaking with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in 2007 requesting that the State act immediately to adopt antidegradation implementation rules. This action initiated a rule-making process that included several opportunities for public comment and a hearing before the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission, which approved the revised rules in December of last year. Monday’s meeting of the legislative Administrative Rules and Review Committee marked the final step in the decades-long process.
Advocates who testified at the hearing stressed that the rules will allow Iowa to grow sensibly and sustainably.
“These rules will stem the tide of declining water quality in Iowa, protect the outstanding jewels that remain, and serve as an economic engine for those communities with the foresight to protect and leverage the potential of these remarkable waters,” said Shannan Garretson, water program legal analyst for the non-profit Iowa Environmental Council.
Jim Larew, with Governor Culver’s office was at the hearing to express the Governor’s support of the rules.
“Iowans care about water quality… Maybe now, with these new rules, Iowa can start reversing that trend [of declining water quality],” said Larew.
A Citizen Opportunity to Improve Water Quality
in the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers - (Delayed -- Date to be announced)
The Iowa DNR regulates, through permits, wastewater discharges from industries and municipalities in order to control water pollution. When permits expire they are updated, based on current state and federal regulations. Before permits are finalized, citizens are allowed to provide comments and suggestions. Currently, the wastewater discharge permit for the Des Moines Metropolitan Water Reclamation Authority (WRA) has been rewritten and will soon be open for public comment.
The DNR permit currently identifies steps the City of Des Moines and the WRA need to take to ensure that the combined sanitary and storm sewer overflows are reduced. We hope you speak out in support for beginning to incorporate green solutions to reduce the amount of storm water the city’s sewers receive. The DNR will be receiving comments on this permit soon. (We'll post the comment period on this site once it begins.) Below are some suggestions to help you think about what you might want to say in your comment letter…
Talking Points
Opportunity: Des Moines is Iowa’s capitol city, and Iowa’s largest City. This permit opens up the opportunity for Des Moines to be a state leader in incorporating green solutions to reduce these overflows. Let the DNR know you want the City of Des Moines to consider using green infrastructure solutions.
Community Involvement: This public comment period allows for your input, so ask the DNR for a public hearing so the citizens and businesses of this community can have a voice in Des Moines’ storm water management.
Multiple Benefits: Incorporating green infrastructure adds to overall improvements in water quality, air quality and community beautification. The basis of green solutions is using vegetation to control storm water runoff. The plants will act as a buffer for various storm water contaminants, enhance our air quality and make Des Moines a more attractive place to live.
Reduction: Reducing the amount of storm water that reaches sewers—runoff reduction—is a key component in decreasing the frequency and severity of combined sewer overflows. By decreasing the volume and occurrences of these overflows, there will be less impact to the water quality of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers.
Economics: Green solutions are cost effective. They reduce maintenance costs, as compared to traditional infrastructure, while creating a job market for green contractors. Also, green projects and watershed approaches are attractive to funders.
Green solutions versus gray solutions: Traditionally gray solutions have been used in urban areas. What we mean by gray solutions are pipes and expensive treatment facilities. Green solutions can be incorporated in urban areas in the forms of green roofs, use of native plants, rain gardens, rain barrels, porous pavement, and green streets.
That’s all for now. It is pretty easy to submit a comment letter. (The comment period has been delayed. Please check back in mid-September for updates.)
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Shannan Garretson, Water Quality Legal Analyst for the Council, 515-244-1194, ext 211, skgarretson@iaenvironment dot org.
As the five major commodity crops reap billions in taxpayer dollars each year, nearly 75 percent of farmer requests for voluntary conservation assistance go unfunded and soil erosion rules for crop subsidy recipients are barely enforced. The result: 1.7 billion tons of topsoil erodes off agricultural fields nationwide, polluting America’s waters and fisheries with sediment and millions of pounds of fertilizer and pesticides, according to a new report from Environmental Working Group, Trouble Downstream: Upgrading Conservation Compliance. Click on the following link to learn more and download the report: http://www.ewg.org/reports/compliance.
A Citizen Opportunity to Improve Water Quality
in the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers - 
Report