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Please join us in telling to DNR it is time to take action on setting water quality standards for nutrient pollution in Iowa’s waters. As a crucial first step, Iowa DNR should prioritize rulemaking to adopt the numeric nutrient standards already developed for significant public recreational lakes.

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DNR

Subject: Comments on Triennial Review

Message:

To Whom It May Concern: As a citizen of Iowa who enjoys recreation in our many public waters, I am concerned with, both the proposed changes in the Triennial Review and the limited opportunity to provide feedback in this process. Missing from the list is one of the top priorities for improving water quality in Iowa: Establishing water quality standards to limit nutrient pollution (nitrogen and phosphorus) necessary to protect aquatic life, public recreation and drinking water uses. I am deeply concerned about Iowa's nutrient pollution and the serious water quality problems it is causing: 	 - In recent years Iowa has seen more harmful algae blooms forming in lakes and rivers with too much phosphorus, creating dangerous microcystin toxins. In both 2015 and 2016, DNR posted a record number of warning signs at state park beaches advising the public to stay out of the water. 	 - Increasing nitrate levels in public drinking water sources and private wells is a growing concern in Iowa cities and rural areas. - In 2017, the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico was the size of New Jersey--the largest ever measured. This low-oxygen "dead zone" where no aquatic life can survive is caused by algae that is fed by nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into streams from states along the Mississippi River. Iowa is one of the top contributors of nutrient pollution to the Dead Zone, ranking second for nitrogen and third for phosphorus. - Iowa is the only state in the Upper Mississippi River basin that has made ZERO progress on adopting numerical standards for nutrients into state water quality standards. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri have all set numerical limits for nutrient pollution for at least one type of waterbody in their In previous Triennial Reviews, DNR has acknowledged the need to adopt water quality standards for nutrients. 	 - In 2006, Iowa finalized its nutrient criteria development plan, which stated that numeric criteria for lakes would be adopted in 2007, with stream criteria being developed the following year. 	 - A state science advisory panel developed numeric criteria for Iowa's recreational lakes, which were formally recommended to DNR in a published report in 2008. DNR initiated rule-making in 2011 to adopt the nutrient standards recommended by the advisory panel for 159 significant recreational lakes. The DNR conducted 7 public hearings, however, the proposed nutrient standards for lakes were never adopted because DNR backtracked on the rulemaking at the last minute. I believe that the DNR should address such a large threat to public recreation, public health and communities downstream. I urge the DNR to include numeric standards for nutrient pollution in its proposed changes and open the process up for more public input including potential public hearings in the Iowa Great Lakes Region. Respectfully submitted.

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