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AUTHORS: Jeff Kopaska, Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Keith E. Schilling, Iowa Geological Survey, University of Iowa
ABSTRACT: Iowa’s current conditions in regard to water quality are influenced by Iowa’s production landscape. Iowa has one of the most altered landscapes in the world, transitioning from less than 40% of its land in row crop agriculture prior to 1940, to ~75% of acres in row crop production consistently since the 1980s. Historical records of water quality, water quantity and stream conditions exist back to the 1800s in some cases. These historical conditions provide a frame of reference regarding what was, and should inform current perspectives and discussions of what future conditions could become. Prairie restoration efforts in Iowa indicate that historic water quality conditions can be achieved today, thus the past is very insightful in this regard. Future conditions should not be solely determined by what is viewed as technologically achievable, but also what is ecologically appropriate.
