The E.P.A. says  new rules are needed to clarify which bodies of water it must oversee under the federal Clean Water Act.

A permit is required for any activity, like farming or construction, that creates a discharge into a body of water covered under the Clean Water Act or affects the health of it, like filling in a wetland or blocking a stream.

To learn more about what this means for Iowa Farmers, head over to The New York Times.