Waterways across Iowa are threatened by our state’s growing livestock industry. The day-today operations of factory farms create runoff and other types of pollution.

Iowa’s lakes, streams and rivers are a key part of our quality of life in Iowa.

Our waterways, and the parks and preserves that surround them, are unique places to fish, swim, boat or camp—all activities that depend on clean water and fresh air. Every waterway in Iowa should be clean and safe enough to swim and fish in, and to be used as a source of drinking water.

Factory farms identified as threat
The recent explosion in the livestock industry poses a threat to the current and future quality of water across the state. New factory farms are being proposed—and built—right next to lakes, rivers and streams throughout Iowa. Construction of new factory farms is growing fast and shows no signs of slowing down.

The operations and equipment of the livestock industry threaten our environment in a number of ways.

Dangerous leaks and spills from manure lagoons and spreading equipment can cause fish kills. Manure spread on land can produce “runoff” pollution, which occurs when rainfall or other moving water carries nitrogen, phosphorus, bacteria and solids into nearby waterways. Air quality also suffers, as factory farms emit strong odors and toxics such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.

Despite these threats, factory farms can be built too close to our parks, rivers, lakes and other important natural resources—often without state or community oversight.

In the face of the livestock industry’s growth, Iowa’s waters deserve more—more protection and a stronger voice. Many of Iowa’s waters are already too polluted for fishing or swimming, but that can change.

Working for crucial water protections Gov. Culver has a chance to follow through on his campaign promise to clean up factory farms. As a state, Iowa must do more to protect its waterways for fishing, swimming and drinking. Iowa should increase the minimal distance between new factory farms and our lakes and rivers and require more factory farms to get construction permits.

To turn the tide on our waters, Iowa must also allow the communities that know their local environment best to protect it. Local communities should have a say in where new factory farms are built, or if they are built at all. In addition, Iowa must adopt stronger statewide rules to apply to all new factory farms. Environment Iowa is calling on the Legislature to allow local communities to decide where new factory farms are built, and to increase the distance separating new factory farms and lakes, rivers and streams.

Finally, we are asking legislators to apply existing and new rules to all new factory farms—to end the loophole that allows new factory farms with fewer than 2,500 hogs to escape most state regulation.