The latest comprehensive water quality assessment from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reveals a positive trend in water quality efforts, highlighted by a notable decrease in the number of waters considered “impaired” across the state. 

The DNR conducts the assessment every two years to gauge the status of Iowa’s water bodies, comparing their conditions to established water quality standards under the Clean Water Act.

The 2024 assessment includes the largest number of waters removed from the impaired waters list over the 2016-2024 reporting period, a timeframe that includes integrated reports that follow the same assessment format, noted Shawn...