Photo by eutrophication&hypoxia, Flickr

Iowa’s unusually dry fall could lead to an increase in agricultural runoff. Because of the low stream flows across the state, any spill has increased effects – including a greater chance of fish kills and water quality issues.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources offers tips to reduce the risk of spills:

• Watch pumps and hoses, monitoring closely for leaks and pressure losses.
• Keep a spill kit handy with emergency equipment, phone numbers and tools.
•  Think about how to move dirt quickly in case you need to create a small dam.
• Make sure all manure is injected or incorporated into the field, or follow required separation distances from vulnerable areas like streams, wells and lakes.

Open feedlots are the most likely to have problems with runoff. Make sure lots are scraped and cleaned. It’s a good time for stockpiles to be land applied too.