'Water Quality Is Degrading, There Is No Question About That:' University of Iowa Researcher Warns

When your school board votes, Decorah News is there to report. Chip in to keep your voice in the room. DECORAH — The Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors on Monday heard from Larry Weber, director of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Iowa regarding the future of Iowa's statewide water quality monitoring network, which faces uncertainty following state funding cuts. Weber, who serves as director of the University of Iowa's IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering program, explained the scope and history of the research effort. "That's a program that began in 1920," Weber said. "We've been in this business of water resources and fluid mechanics for about 105 years." He told the board that the Iowa Flood Center, created in 2009 following the devastating 2008 floods, was initially supported by state infrastructure funds. Later, the program expanded to include the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, a partnership among the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. "The nutrient research center was formed in 2013," Weber said. "It's currently funded on fertilizer tax. The University of Iowa was awarded research funds in that program as well as $500,000 a year of funding directly from the nutrient center to run a water quality monitoring network." The monitoring system, which includes over 600 sensors statewide, collects real-time data on streamflow, soil moisture, groundwater, rainfall and water quality. However, Weber told supervisors that legislative cuts in 2023 ended the state appropriation that supported the program. "The Iowa Legislature chose to defund the nutrient research center by $500,000, which [was] the amount sent to the University of Iowa," Weber said. To keep the network operating, the Walton Family Foundation provided temporary bridge funding through July 2026. "They made it very clear that this would be bridge funding alone and not to support the network indefinitely," Weber said. "We're currently working to find funding to keep the network running." Weber said he has been visiting county boards across the state to seek temporary support. "We've met with Polk County, Linn County Johnson County, and we're trying to schedule with Dubuque County," he said. Polk County recently voted to contribute $200,000 toward the program's $600,000 annual operating cost. The network, which once included 90 real-time continuous water quality monitoring stations, now operates 70 following the state funding cut. About a third of those are located around Iowa's perimeter to monitor nutrient runoff leaving the state. Another third measure the effectiveness of conservation practices, and the remaining third monitor water entering and leaving conservation sites. "This information system is unlike anything else in the world," Weber said. "It allows us to calculate things like the total load of nitrogen passing a sensor in a week and then determine a nitrate loss per acre per week or per year." Weber described the monitoring network's scientific credibility, noting that it follows U.S. Geological Survey protocols. "We do grab samples to validate the sensors during the year," he said. "We provide maintenance each winter, and Ph.D.-level scientists conduct the bench-top analysis, so they are credible data." He also cited practical applications of the network's findings, such as identifying the effectiveness of conservation practices like wetlands, bioreactors, saturated buffers, and grass waterways in reducing nutrient runoff. "If we go to bringing small grains back into rotations along with cover crops, that alone can reduce nitrate runoff by about 35 to 40 percent," Weber said. "But it takes 100% adoption in the watershed to achieve those goals." Luther College Professor of Biology Jodi Enos-Berlage praised the program and urged county support. "We manage what we monitor, period," Enos-Berlage told the board. Citing a survey funded by the supervisors, she added that "95% of Winneshiek County residents identified water as their top priority, and 90% said it should be supported." Enos-Berlage said the program's data was critical for long-term water management. "This is something that is a gem in Iowa and beyond," she said. "People care about water here. It's tied to our health, our economy, and our land." Supervisor Steve Kelsay asked Weber whether there was any chance the legislature might reinstate funding. "What I hope is that whatever we do with the counties is simply a bridge to go back to the state legislature. I think if this is a statewide network, it should be funded by the legislature," Weber responded. Weber said he is optimistic that recent nitrate contamination issues, including Des Moines Water Works' summer shutdown due to high nitrate levels, could push lawmakers to act. "With what happened this summer in Des Moines, there's been a lot of discussion around the state about moving it back," he said. The Upper Iowa River watershed, which includes several of the network's monitoring stations, remains a focus of study. Weber said sensors there recently recorded nitrate concentrations between six and eight milligrams per liter, with occasional spikes "well above 20 milligrams per liter for short periods of time." "Water quality is degrading, there is no question about that," Weber said plainly. "If we continue on this path, by 2050 we will have very serious problems with water quality." Near the end of the discussion, Supervisor Mark Vick disputed the idea that agricultural practices were major contributors to water contamination. No immediate action was taken by the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors following Weber's presentation. Unlock a world of knowledge! Sign up for free DecorahNews.com newsletters and receive local news, local events and everything that is happening in and around Decorah.