The number of polluted waterways in Iowa have reached a record high, according to the 2010 draft of an upcoming DNR report.
The count was at least 572 – an increase of about 6 percent from the 2008 tally of 542 and the highest number in 14 years of record keeping, said John Olson, a DNR water quality expert.
Members of the group Iowa Citizens for Community Involvement say the results put pressure on Governor-elect Terry Branstad to back away from his campaign pledge to de-regulate the factory farm industry.
The DNR will present the 2010 draft results to the Environmental Protection Commission on Jan. 18.
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