Decorah Sustainability Commission Recommends $17,000 Water Quality Monitoring System Funding to City Council

We hike Pulpit Rock for the views — and for the stories waiting at the top. Support Decorah News today. DECORAH — The Decorah Sustainability Commission voted unanimously to recommend allocating $17,000 in city sustainability funds to support water quality monitoring sensors on the Upper Iowa River, advancing a proposal members said is critical for tracking nutrient pollution and protecting local drinking water. The action followed an extended discussion of data gaps, public health implications, funding uncertainty and how best to measure environmental impacts upstream and downstream of the city. The recommendation now goes to the Decorah City Council for final consideration. Focus on maintaining at-risk monitoring network Commission members said the funding would support two existing sensors that measure nutrient pollution, including nitrates, in the Upper Iowa River. The sensors are part of a broader monitoring network coordinated through the University of Iowa's Iowa Flood Center. The network is at risk after the state withdrew funding, leaving local entities to consider temporary bridge funding to keep the sensors operating. The proposed $17,000 would cover one year of operation for two sensors. Commissioners said the equipment is already installed, with costs tied to maintenance, data monitoring, seasonal deployment and staffing. Sensors are removed each fall to avoid ice damage and reinstalled in early spring, making the timing of funding decisions a factor in maintaining continuous data collection. Real-time data seen as key advantage Commissioners said the sensors provide near real-time data, allowing users to monitor water conditions as they change — a capability not matched by other local testing efforts. Water quality sampling in the region is often conducted monthly, Commissioner Michelle Barness said, while the sensors can capture changes daily or even minute by minute. "This is day to day," Barness said. "You can look up what's happening." That level of detail is particularly important for identifying short-term pollution spikes, which are often tied to rainfall events and large-scale agricultural runoff. Members referenced past incidents, including a major fish kill event in Dry Run Creek, as examples of situations where earlier detection could have improved response. "We weren't aware until after several days," City Manager Travis Goedken noted. Linking river data to local water supply Much of the discussion focused on how river conditions relate to Decorah's drinking water system. Although the city's wells are not officially classified as "under the influence" of the river, commissioners noted their proximity and geological conditions that may allow river water to affect groundwater. Maps reviewed during the meeting showed wells located close to the river with relatively shallow depths. "There is such a close relationship between the river water and what actually comes into our wells," Commissioner Molly McNicoll said. Commissioners said maintaining sensor data upstream could help the city better understand potential risks and respond more quickly to contamination events. They also discussed the possibility of using the data to trigger alerts if pollutant levels exceed certain thresholds. Sensor locations While the commission ultimately recommended funding two sensors without specifying exact locations, much of the discussion centered on which sites would provide the most useful data. Two primary locations were identified: one near Bluffton, upstream of Decorah, and another near Dorchester, downstream. City Manager Travis Goedken raised concerns that downstream data — particularly from a site as far away as Dorchester — could reflect pollution sources beyond the city's control. "There's a whole lot of land … where nitrates from fertilizers can wind up in the river," he said. Goedken cautioned that downstream readings should not be interpreted as solely attributable to Decorah, noting the large area contributing to those measurements. Alignment with sustainability goals Commissioners tied the proposal to existing sustainability plan goals, including efforts to monitor water quality, track pollution sources and protect drinking water. They cited specific action items calling for improved data collection and collaboration with regional water protection groups. "If the data goes away, we don't have that," Barness said. Members also discussed requesting periodic summaries from the monitoring program to help interpret the data and inform local decision-making. Leveraging local funds for broader impact One key factor in the commission's decision was the potential to leverage local funding to secure additional sensors. Project partners indicated that if the city supports two sensors, they could obtain funding for at least two more elsewhere in the watershed. "I think we need to be so mindful that we have such limited funds as a city," City Council Liaison Johanna Bergan said. "Whenever we can … double that impact, I think that's very compelling." The additional sensors would expand coverage and help preserve the integrity of the monitoring network, which has been in place for years. Because the funding involves city resources, the recommendation must be approved by the Decorah City Council before it can be implemented. Commission members discussed coordinating additional information for council members, including clarifying which sensors would be funded and how the data would be used. They also suggested representatives from the monitoring program could present to the council to answer questions. Fresh stories, delivered! 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