Stowe cites need for regulations in ‘water crisis,’ others support voluntary action
PERRY BEEMAN Aug 27, 2015 | 8:00 pm
2 min read time
510 wordsAll Latest News, Business Record Insider, Energy, Government Policy and Law
The Iowa Partnership for Clean Water called a diverse panel together Wednesday in an attempt to start a civil discussion about how to resolve the issues around Des Moines Water Works’ federal nitrate-pollution lawsuit against three northwest Iowa counties.
Officially, the group — which opposes the lawsuit and the idea of regulating farm operations — called the meeting to discuss improving Iowa’s water quality and how best to engage farmers in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Farm interests regard the strategy’s voluntary and deadline-free actions as the answer to water quality problems in Iowa, while Des Moines Water Works chief Bill Stowe calls the strategy toothless, underfunded and a failure.
Unofficially, it was a session that featured challenges to Des Moines Water Works’ lawsuit, and an increasingly forceful defense by Water Works CEO Bill Stowe. The panel met before 50 audience members who passed cactuses, bonsai and amaryllis — rather than fields of corn or soybeans — on their way to a conference room at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.
The discussion was civil, if pointed at times, overall. Stowe accepted the invitation to appear, but warned the audience he didn’t plan to candy-coat the situation. Water Works has sued Sac, Buena Vista and Calhoun counties in federal court, contending their drainage districts should be regulated under the Clean Water Act as point sources of heavy nitrate pollution.
“I am going to be a lot more challenging in my remarks and in my participation than the norm, so I want to warn you about that right away,” Stowe said in his introductory remarks. “Iowa is in a water quality crisis, and agriculture is the prime contributor to that crisis.”
Mike Naig, deputy director of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, said later: “Farmers would probably disagree that they are overwhelmingly the cause of this.”
Stowe even offered a critical comment when he was asked to offer praise for any conservation efforts by farmers he considered noteworthy:
“I certainly compliment the agricultural community for its resolve to push back on regulation despite evidence that would indicate that environmental protection in this state demands it,” Stowe said.
The panel included Stowe; Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership; Cedar Rapids utilities director Steve Hershner; Mike Naig, deputy director of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship; and Bruce Trautman, deputy director of Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The panel was moderated by Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett, a board member of the ag-friendly water-quality group.
Also in the audience were Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, Des Moines City Councilwoman Christine Hensley, Des Moines City Manager Scott Sanders, several farmers, and staffers from the Greater Des Moines Partnership and Iowa DNR.
Continue reading to learn more about Stowe’s criticisms of and others’ praise for voluntary conservation efforts. Full Insider story >>>
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