As abundant rainfall has pushed Iowa's rivers higher, it has also caused farm runoff that is leaving them laden with large amounts of nitrate pollutants. Nitrate contamination of Iowa’s rivers has surged in recent weeks amid heavy, widespread rainfall, according to data collected by the Iowa Water Quality Information System. Concentrations of nitrate in several large waterways — including the Boone, Cedar, Iowa and Turkey rivers — have recently reached four-year peaks, the data show. The state’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy seeks to reduce the amount of nitrate in rivers by 45% through farmers’ voluntary conservation practices. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Spike in Iowa rivers' nitrate levels recorded as rainfall returns

Source: The Guardian May 13, 2024 18:38 UTC