Thomas: Iowa needs to continue working on nutrient reduction in Iowa's lakes and rivers

Iowa's Nutrient Reduction Strategy is aimed at reducing nutrient pollution in the state's rivers and lakes.  State Representative Roger Thomas says as this year's legislative session enters its final days, it's his hope that the Legislature will continue to fund the program.

Last session, the legislature appropriated $22.4 million in new money to create a new water quality initiative and pay for soil conservation and watershed protection initiatives to help clean up Iowa's lakes and rivers.  The money helped to fund eight watershed demonstration projects to showcase and familiarize farmers with effective means to curb the excess of nitrogen and phosphorus.  Two of the projects involved the Turkey River, including one project targeting four Turkey River tributaries, primarily in Winneshiek County.

Said Thomas, "It is very important to improve the quality of our land for the next generation.  By using the science and technology based framework to assess and reduce nutrients entering Iowa's waters, farmers are improving their land practices.  This is the time to make sure that the Iowa Legislature does its part by providing the additional resources to address our water quality issues."