haha lols thats funny csmswhs
I hope that eggnog gives you a good cheer,
ah
huzzah over 1700 words, plus citations and a bibliograpy, I sent a copy to my TA for some tips, and I might have my roomate look over it for me if she has time
and of course if you guys are interested,
want to read poorly written but well researched essay on the gross Iowa river
(also feel free to do some proof reading as well)
Iowa has come to be known as the food capital of the world because much of its agriculture based economy. Iowa is the nation’s largest producer of corn and sometimes soybeans. Iowa produces 19% of the nation’s corn, 17% of the nation’s soybeans, and 30% of the nation’s hogs. [3] Iowa’s thriving agriculture provides a great benefit to the nation and the world. However creates a major problem for many of Iowa’s and surrounding lakes, rivers and groundwater. In 2007 the Iowa River was ranked as the third most polluted river in the United States. The state of Iowa has failed to implement adequate laws thirty years after a passage of an Act to reduce the amount of pollution that is being is allowed into bodies of water. Allowing the state to issue permits to farmers and factories enabling them to pollute more. [7] Every day I cross over the murky waters of the Iowa River to get to and from class. I often see, trash, plastic bags and bottles in the river, I’ve even seen shoes and bicycles in the river. Students on the Iowa rowing teams sometimes get rashes on their arms and legs, from exposure to the water in the Iowa River. It is not recommended that you enter the river if you have an open wound. Clearly something must be done to reduce the amount of pollution in the Iowa River.
Many farmers use fertilizers to supply plants with nutrients and improving soil fertilely. However the plants do not often use up all the nitrogen from fertilizers, some nitrogen left in the soil and seeps into the groundwater. Nitrogen that doesn’t leech into the groundwater gets washed off in the form of runoff and flows into surface waters such as streams and rivers. Nitrate is a form of nitrogen that is water-soluble, that moves with water into ground and surface water.[1] On average farmers spray ten pounds worth of fertilizers and chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides on single acre each year. There is estimated to be 3o million acres of farmland in Iowa that is over 75% of the land in the state three million acres of farmland are within the Iowa River basin. That makes a total of 30 million pounds within the Iowa River basin of agriculture chemicals. [3] According to a study done by the Iowa State University Extension Service 20% of the chemicals from farms get washed into nearby rivers. That means ever year approximately 6 million pounds of farm chemicals get washed into to the Iowa River. [3]
Nitrates in the water promote the growth of plants and algae. Lakes and rivers with high levels of nitrates are often covered with algae and plants at the water’s surface. The Plants and Algae block out sunlight and create a high demand for dissolved oxygen depleting the water of air. This causes a loose of biodiversity because it is harder for other organisms to survive in the nitrogen rich environment. [5] Many rivers including the Iowa River that have high levels of nitrogen and low levels of dissolved oxygen flow into the Mississippi and then to the Gulf of Mexico. The excess of nitrates in the Gulf of Mexico has created a dead zone; an area of hypoxia where there is not enough oxygen to support marine life. Many areas along the coasts of Mississippi and Louisiana and Texas are considered dead zones, it is estimated that there is 5,000 to 8,000-plus square miles of dead zones within the Gulf of Mexico. [6]
Farm chemicals are not the only source of pollution for the Iowa River. It is estimated that approximately 100 million farm animals live in the state of Iowa. Within the Iowa River watershed there are about 10-15 million farm animals. Because of the large number of animals, the pollution of animal waste is also a major concern, during rainfall the animal waste gets washed into surface waters. Industrial animal waste contains chemicals such as ammonia, methane, hydrogen sulfide and other hazardous chemicals. Animal waste also promotes the growth of pathogens such as salmonella and streptocolli that cause illness in humans. [3]
Topsoil and silt are also contributors to the river’s pollution; topsoil get’s eroded off during rainfall and flow into the river. The migration of soil flowing into bodies of water is known as siltation. Wind also causes erosion; small particles of soil and sediment get picked up by the wind and often get blown into rivers and streams. Because most farmers plant crops in rows, soil get’s eroded more easily, because there is nothing to block its flow. The excess of soil and sediments clogs the rivers causing them shallower and wider, eroding away the sides of banks adding more soil and sediment in the river, creating a positive feedback loop. This also makes flooding more hazardous since more water will flow out from the banks of the rivers. [3] [4]
The increased urbanization of eastern Iowa and Iowa City create more runoff, because when rain falls on cemented sidewalks and paved roads instead the water seeping into the ground, the concrete environment isn’t porous enough so the water runs directly into streams and rivers while picking up sediment and oil from automobiles. This increases the amount of runoff pollution and creates a high flood risk because water is added to the river faster than in rural areas. [1]
Leaking underground septic and fuel tanks leach contaminants into the groundwater that eventually flows into river. There are a total of 1200 underground municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities. Many of these structures are over 50 years old and are poor condition. [4]
The pollution of chemicals and waste come from a widespread area and cannot be traced to a single source, this is known as non-point pollution. This occurs when rain or melted snow water runs over the land in the form of runoff picking up sediments and pollutants then depositing them into a stream or river. Because there is no, one source of pollution for the Iowa River, treating the pollution is exceptionally difficult. [4]
Some organizations are trying to help farmers reduce the amount of runoff produced by their farms. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides economic incentives to farmers for planting vegetative cover such as trees and tall grasses along farms to act as “buffers”. This vegetative buffer takes advantage of the dense root systems of the trees and tall grasses that help to hold the soil in place this helps to reduce soil erosion the runoff of fertilizers and chemicals. Some farmers also use contour farming; a method of planting crops in circles around a slope or hill, instead of planting crops up and down along a hill. This helps to disrupt the flow of water downhill this reduces the amount of soil and chemical runoff in the river. [2]
Adding a lagoon to control wastes is done by many industries and feedlot operations. A Lagoon is a series of one or more shallow pits where waste is pumped and treated. Air is circulated through the waste in a process called aeration so bacteria can break down the organic matter. It takes about 30 days for the material to be broken down by the material. Then the water is removed and treated with chlorine to get rid of any remaining bacteria. The remaining solids must be buried or spread on to fields. Lagoons are generally a very inexpensive method of waste treatment, however if the lagoon is weak or constructed improperly the material can leak into the ground before it gets treated. [4]
However there is much more than can and should be done to improve the quality of the Iowa River. What I believe should be done, is first the state needs to stop giving permits allowing farmers and industries to pollute more. There needs to be a mandate set limit as to how much pesticides and fertilizers can be used on farms to prevent the river from becoming even more polluted. I also think it should be mandatory that all farms use contour farming and plant vegetative buffers along crops to reduce soil erosion and runoff. Farmers should be encouraged, and receive tax incentives to use no till farming (no plowing) and organic farming methods. Organic farming uses biological pest control instead of pesticides. If every farm in the area used these methods it would greatly reduce the amount of soil and chemical pollution in the Iowa River.
Farmers should also added marshes or wetlands around their crops and cattle. Wetlands act as natural water purification plants by trapping sediments and absorbing excess nutrients and other pollutants such as heavy metals. The roots of wetland plants provide and aerobic environment to help break down pollutants. Wetlands are capable of removing 20-60% of metals in the water, 70-90% of nitrates and traps 80-90% of sediments that flow through it. [1]
To reduce the amount of urban runoff in rivers many cities are using a new and more porous kind if concrete. The porous concrete called pervious concrete pavement traps rainwater and allows it to leak into the ground, recharging groundwater and reducing urban runoff pollution in the water. This kind of pavement is recommended by the EPA and generates more efficient land use by removing the need for retention ponds and other storm water management devices. [2]
There are many different problems and sources of pollution in regards to the Iowa River, but there are also several useful and innovative solutions that can greatly increase the quality of the Iowa River. If these solutions are implemented the amount of pollution in the Iowa River can greatly be reduced, this will not only benefit Iowa City that will be able to use the river for more recreation such as swimming and rowing, but it will benefit the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico where the waters of the Iowa River end up. Over time the reduction of nitrates entering the Gulf of Mexico would alleviate the demand for discovered oxygen and the hypoxic dead zones could recover allowing life to return to the coasts of southern states. Iowans have a responsibility not just to ourselves but to the Nation and the world to improve the quality of water that flows through our state.
Works Cited
1."CES - Ecosystem Services Fact Sheets: Water Purification." The Ecological Society of America {ESA}. Web. 07 Dec. 2010. <
http://www.esa.org/ecoservices/comm/body.comm.fact.wate.html>.
2.Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment. Toolbase.org. Web. 7 Dec. 2012. <
http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/Sitework/constructed-wetlands>.
3.Hennager, Joe. "A Symbolic Funeral for the Iowa River | Blue Planet Green Living." BluePlanetGreenLiving.com - Green Living, Environment, Social Action, Conservation. Web. 07 Dec. 2010. <
http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2009/07/03/a-symbolic-funeral-for-the-iowa-river/>.
4.Iowa Association of Naturalists. "Iowa Water Pollution." Iowa Enviromental Issues Series. Print.
5. "Nitrate: Health Risks to Consumers - How Nitrate and Nitrogen Pollution Happens and Dangers of Nitrate and Nitrogen Pollution to People and Animals - Why Nitrogen Is Essential for Living Systems - Runoff of Nutrients to Rivers, Streams and Esturaries, Esp." Nitrate Elimination Co Inc (NECi) Home Page - Enzyme Linked Nitrate Testing and Remediation in Water, Food and Waste Water. Web. 07 Dec. 2010. <
http://www.nitrate.com/nitrate3.htm>.
6. "Gulf of Mexico "Dead Zone" Is Size of New Jersey." Daily Nature and Science News and Headlines | National Geographic News. Web. 07 Dec. 2010. <
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/05/0525_050525_deadzone.html>.
7. {, By. "Iowa in the News - for Rivers, Not Candidates." American Rivers: Home. Web. 07 Dec. 2010. <
http://www.americanrivers.org/newsroom/blog/iowa-in-the-news-11508.html>.
ah now in between now and editing i have to time to do my stats homework, and get started on my next essay due this friday
....yay
