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Leland Searles's avatar

Right on. Perennial vegetation, including native ecosystetms. Stream buffers, not necessarily with control equipment. Moratorium on tiling. A law to remove all ground in the 5-9% slope or steeper from production. Restoration of wetlands, not necessarily artificial ones, although one unnatural wetland I know of has turned into a birder's paradise. Massive stream restoration work, including large projects to rechannel straightened sections of larger creeks and rivers (Raccoon, Des Moines, Middle, South and North Skunk, Iowa, Cedar, etc.). A ban on further floodplain development. C'mon, Iowa, let's do something sensible for once. And tax those who benefit most from the alterations.

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David Thoreson's avatar

Right on back at you Leland.

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Larry Stone's avatar

THANKS, David, for the spot-on analyisis and commentary!

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David Thoreson's avatar

Thank you Larry!!

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Dan Cohen's avatar

Thanks David - Iowa has long been missing "the honest discussions" of what it will take to save our lakes, rivers, and drinking water. Your perspectives and analysis help lead this discussion. Action by our elected leaders is woefully inadequate to meet the challenges, and this needs to change with urgency. The low-hanging fruit is to simply fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust that already has built public support.

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David Thoreson's avatar

Thank you Dan. And then I read Chris Jones great piece today and he always makes me understand what we are up against in our noble endeavors. That’s okay though, just makes us more determined to help create positive change.

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Dan Cohen's avatar

Yes, we are up against great headwinds that built up for more than a century, so fixes won't be immediate. We need to take each win when and where we can.

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