Episode 13: Part 3 on Water Quality in Iowa with Shawn and Emily

Deciding Iowa with Shawn and Emily

In this third episode of our six-part Deciding Iowa series on water, Dr. Shawn Ellerbroek and Dr. Emily Boevers explore one of the most pressing and complex challenges facing Iowa’s waterways: manure management and nonpoint source contamination.
Iowa is home to the highest concentration of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in the world. With more than 4,000 CAFOs across the state, questions about oversight, nutrient application, and long-term water quality are more urgent than ever. Shawn and Emily are joined by Rep. Chuck Isenhart and Mr. Wally Taylor to unpack how manure waste is regulated, the role of state and federal policies, and why groups like the Sierra Club are litigating waste management plans.
The conversation touches on:
What CAFOs are, and why they matter in Iowa’s water story.
Who is responsible for monitoring manure application and compliance with management plans.
The seasonal and economic realities of manure spreading and new technologies.
The balance between supporting farmers and protecting public water resources.
With reduced funding for water monitoring and increasing deregulation, the panel asks tough questions: Are we doing enough to keep nutrients in the field and out of our rivers? And if not, who ultimately pays the price for cleanup?
Join us as we dig into the complexity of Iowa’s manure management, its impact on water quality, and what must change to protect our shared future.