‘In Iowa, many rivers and lakes improve briefly, then fall back into impairment’
The article from Investigate Midwest reports that while some Iowa rivers and lakes occasionally show short-term improvements in water quality, most remain persistently listed as “impaired” due to pollution from…
Meet a Monitor: Grace Corbett
Growing up in a rural area surrounded by rivers and creeks, Grace has always been interested in the relationship between communities and waterways. So, when it came time to choose a topic for her senior capstone project, Grace decided to focus on water pollution…
As Impacts of Nitrate Pollution Loom Large, Volunteers Step Up
By: Heather Wilson, Save Our Streams Coordinator Across much of the United States, nitrate is perhaps the most widespread and dangerous contaminant in our waterways. This colorless, odorless, tasteless compound…
‘Seize the means of water testing!’
Little Village Magazine, an independent news & culture magazine published in Iowa City, Iowa, profiled the Nitrate Watch program in their November 4, 2025 issue. The article highlights how Nitrate…
‘In the wake of a near-total fish kill, southwest Iowans wade into water testing’
In March 2024, a valve malfunction at a NEW Cooperative facility spilled roughly 1,500 tons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer into the East Nishnabotna River near Red Oak, Iowa, causing one of the state’s…
265,000 Gallons of Fertilizer Grows New Grassroots Organization: The Nishnabotna Water Defenders
By: Heather Wilson, Save Our Streams Coordinator What do you do when a fertilizer spill ravages your local stream, killing hundreds of thousands of fish across two states? For a…
‘New program lets Iowans test local water quality amid rising nitrate concerns’
A news story from Iowa’s News Now in Cedar Rapids explains how the Izaak Walton League is making it possible for volunteers to test water bodies for nitrate and other…
‘Nitrate Watch coordinator explains how Iowans can take ownership over their water quality’
Water quality is a major environmental concern in Iowa, and Heather Wilson, Midwest Save Our Streams coordinator for the Izaak Walton League, is helping residents take action through the Nitrate…
Iowans Crowdfund to Save State’s Water Monitoring Network
Iowa’s rivers, lakes, and farmland are the foundation of the state’s economy, environment, and way of life—but the program that monitors their health is now at risk. The University of…
Your kit will include a bottle containing 25 nitrate test strips which you can use to test your water source(s) throughout the year. You’ll also receive postcards explaining how to use your nitrate test strips and how to share your Nitrate Watch results on the Clean Water Hub.
Your kit will include four test strips so you can test your waterway throughout the season. You’ll also receive a chart to help you interpret your results and a postcard with instructions for completing a Salt Watch test and reporting your findings.