For Immediate Release:                                                  For More Information:
Monday, February 9, 2004                                                          Matt Paul or Monica Fischer
                                                   515-281-0173


Vilsack outlines water quality proposals
Links environmental quality, economic opportunity

DES MOINES - Governor Tom Vilsack today detailed plans to improve water quality in Iowa, including $5 million in new funding from the Environment First Fund to support a number of water quality initiatives.  The proposals emerged from last fall's Iowa Water Summit.

"There is a growing consensus among Iowans, more urgently appreciated than ever before, that good environmental policy and good economic policy are one and the same," Vilsack said.  "If Iowans have access to clean, quality waterways, we can create inviting recreational attractions that will improve our quality of life, spur private development in recreation and tourism and make our communities more appealing for businesses to locate.  Water quality is not just a side issue - it is a central issue to Iowa's economic and cultural future."

The details of the proposals are as follows:

Focus on Watersheds

*       Provide $2 million in grants from the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to encourage the development of watershed organizations for watershed-based water quality planning, restoration and improvement activities, with an emphasis on GIS-based targeting of best management practices.

*       Direct a comprehensive study of watershed governance approaches to examine roles and responsibilities, areas of authority, establishment and function, necessary technical resources, funding mechanisms and appropriate watershed scales.  The goal is to develop a comprehensive watershed approach that is locally lead and locally based.

Improve Focus and Coordination of Existing Programs

*       Expand monitoring activities with an additional $545,000 to capture conditions and trends in waters identified on the Impaired Waters List or that are identified as possible problems.  A portion of the increased funding would be used for more detailed monitoring and investigation of waters with suspected impairments.  This would supplement existing monitoring activities and would bring total monitoring funding to $3,500,000.


*       Direct DNR to use federal funds to do a non-point source needs assessment by January 2005.

*       Provide $800,000 to DNR to transform the Total Maximum Daily Load program into a solutions-driven process engaging stakeholders in identifying impairment loads and developing plans for solving and eliminating impairments according to statutory time frames.

*       Direct DNR and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to target at least half of state conservation cost share and state-controlled federal funds and appropriate infrastructure funds to make improvements in watersheds of impaired waters.

*       Direct DNR and the Iowa Finance Authority to continue reform of State Revolving Loan Funds with process improvements developed with stakeholders.  Continue efforts to increase the availability and use of Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF resources for non-point source clean-up programs and source water protection.

*       Provide $200,000 to develop a comprehensive stormwater management program.

Improve Research, Demonstration and Education

*       Direct IDALS to seek funding for a research grant program to give environmental creditability and provide a link to nutrient management and agronomic improvements. An appropriation of $500,000 is included for initial research.

*       Provide Iowa State University $200,000 to develop new nitrogen management recommendations that emphasize efficiency of use and environmental protection.  Recommendations should be developed in collaboration with USDA, IDALS, DNR, farm groups, environmental groups and agribusiness by December 1, 2005.

*       Provide $200,000 for DNR to implement a plan to establish numeric standards for nitrogen and phosphorus by July 2006.

*       Seek special federal funds to address nitrogen and phosphorus problems.  Iowa's waters are among the nation's most nutrient rich and Iowa is a conservation leader, so the state is an appropriate location to demonstrate water quality improvements through pilot programs targeted at nutrient reductions in the Corn Belt.

*       Provide $555,000 to develop a detailed plan by December 1, 2004 to get crop producers to adopt nutrient management methods that focus on improving efficiency and to begin implementation, in conjunction with the current Integrated Farm and Livestock Management Program.  Efficiency gained should save producers money, maintain high yields and reduce the impact of nutrients on our waters.

"I am extremely grateful to everyone involved in the Iowa Water Summit for their continued work to improve water quality in Iowa," Vilsack said.  "The initiatives we are proposing will require ongoing collaboration among state and federal agencies, farm groups, environmental groups, local governments and agribusiness.  I am confident the outcome of our efforts will be cleaner water, a stronger economy and an even better quality of life."

Last month, in his Condition of the State address, the Governor also proposed a plan to bond for $150 million to extend the Vision Iowa and Community Attraction and Tourism programs to focus on outdoor recreation and water resource improvement programs.

A radio actuality on this subject is available by calling (515) 281-3394.


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