Target: Kayla Lyon, Director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Goal: Hold agricultural operations accountable for excessive manure pollution and ensure the protection of Iowa’s water quality and public health.
Iowa faces a dire environmental crisis, with the state’s factory farms producing nearly 170 billion pounds of manure each year, leading to significant water quality degradation. When factory farms apply more manure than the land can absorb, nitrates seep into the groundwater and local waterways, rendering drinking water undrinkable for months in several small towns. Alarmingly, more than half of Iowa’s rivers and streams and over 60% of its lakes and reservoirs failed to meet water quality standards in 2024. This situation poses an alarming public health threat, as Iowa has the fastest-growing cancer rate in the United States, with studies linking nitrate-contaminated drinking water to increased risks of various cancers.
The effects of this crisis are compounded by a lack of transparency in manure management. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources does not track the specific locations where manure is applied, and the practices of these agricultural operations remain shielded from public scrutiny. The department has issued over 522 violation notices just in 2025 alone, yet many enforcement actions focus primarily on administrative errors rather than direct pollution incidents. The consequences are felt acutely in vulnerable communities, particularly where factory farms outnumber residents at shocking rates, as seen in towns like Rock Valley and Alden. Such conditions create a public health emergency that demands immediate action.
It is imperative to implement stricter regulations and enforce significant penalties on factory farms that violate environmental laws and compromise public health. The demand for accountability is urgent, not only for the protection of Iowa’s water quality but also for the health and safety of its residents. It is time to ensure that stringent measures are put in place to regulate manure application and to hold agricultural operations responsible for their environmental impact.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Director Lyon,
Iowans are facing a pressing water crisis due to factory farms producing an astonishing 170 billion pounds of manure annually, resulting in widespread contamination of our drinking water. Excessive manure application leads to dangerous levels of nitrates in local waterways, which has been linked to Iowa’s alarming rise in cancer rates—the fastest in the nation. These health impacts are particularly evident among residents of small towns who routinely encounter undrinkable water, further exacerbated by inadequate public disclosure and oversight regarding manure management practices.
Despite the issuance of more than 522 violation notices in 2025 to agricultural operations, the response from the Department of Natural Resources has primarily highlighted administrative concerns rather than directly addressing the environmental pollution occurring in our communities. Critical information about where manure is being spread remains concealed from the public, preventing citizens from understanding the extent of the problem and advocating for their health and safety. Sustainable water management is not only crucial for our environment but for the very lives of 3.2 million Iowans who deserve clean and safe drinking water.
It is essential that immediate and effective action is taken to enforce existing regulations and strengthen accountability measures against factory farms that violate environmental laws. Hold these agricultural operations accountable for their pollution, ensure that Iowa’s water quality standards are met, and protect the public health of all Iowans.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Pixabay
