EPA Approves Iowa's List of Impaired Waters

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved Iowa’s list of impaired waters, which removes 56 waters from the previous impaired waters list and adds 103 waters. The decision brings the total number of impaired waters in the state to 474.

“The impaired waters list helps the Iowa Department of Natural Resources set priorities for restoration activities and reduce sources of water pollution in the state,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks. “This is a big step toward cleaner water for all Iowa residents.”

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources submitted its impaired waters list to EPA for review and approval as required by the Clean Water Act. The Act requires EPA to review the state’s list of impaired waters to determine if the state reasonably considered available water quality-related data, and identifies waters to be listed.

A water body is placed on the impaired waters list when monitoring finds that pollutant levels prevent the lake, river or stream from attaining its beneficial uses. Beneficial uses in Iowa include human recreation, agricultural water supply and maintaining healthy aquatic life.

EPA’s June 29, 2011, decision letter provides a more detailed description of EPA’s review and the basis for this action. The decision letter, including the 2010 impaired waters list, is available at www.epa.gov/region7/newsevents/legal.

Source: EPA