In central Iowa, we have just experienced the wettest 12 months in 120-plus years of weather records. The flooding of our rivers, lakes, and ponds exhorts a human toll, displacing scores of families. As the effects of a human-caused climate emergency become more and more undeniable, we must upend the business-as-usual approach to issues of water and water quality.

 

Cities and counties must work together to form a watershed management authority and unify our voices for better water husbandry. 

 

Iowa is an agriculture state. But if we are going to guarantee a reliable supply of plentiful, clean water for our children and grandchildren, we need all interests at the table. In the face of certified research proving that Iowa produces the most manure per square meter of any U.S. state, it is evident that voluntary measures to protect our water are not enough. We must do more for everyone, including those of us living downstream.