Harkin Institute Calls for Moratorium on New CAFOs, Increased Monitoring to Improve Iowa Water Quality

Report recommends enforceable policies to address agricultural runoff and protect public health in Des Moines and Raccoon River watersheds.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement has released a policy report calling for new regulations on fertilizers, animal feeding operations, and agricultural drainage to improve water quality and public health in Iowa. The report cites findings from the recent Polk County water quality assessment, which concluded that high nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers are primarily due to agricultural runoff. The Harkin Institute report recommends a statewide water management strategy that includes a moratorium on new confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), buffer strips along waterways, expanded cover crop adoption, and changes to state drainage districts to limit nutrient discharges.

Why it matters

Iowa's voluntary Nutrient Reduction Strategy has not been effective in improving water quality, according to the report. The high nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, which serve as drinking water sources for the state's largest city, have already led to temporary lawn-watering bans. The report argues that bold, enforceable policies are needed to address the agricultural practices that are the primary contributors to water pollution and protect public health.

The details

The Harkin Institute report recommends several key policy changes, including: eliminating sales tax exemptions for certain fertilizers, imposing a moratorium on new CAFOs, regulating CAFO spacing and waste management, requiring 50-foot buffer strips along water bodies, and expanding cover crop adoption. The report also calls for changes to state drainage districts to hold them accountable for nitrate discharges and allow the state to set limits on tile line nitrate levels. Additionally, the report outlines federal Farm Bill reforms, such as tying agricultural funding to conservation outcomes and making conservation easements permanent.

  • The Harkin Institute released the policy report on Friday, March 7, 2026.
  • High nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers this past summer led to a lawn-watering ban in central Iowa.

The players

Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement

A public policy research institute based in Des Moines, Iowa, focused on issues related to public health, the environment, and citizen engagement.

John Norris

A senior fellow at the Harkin Institute and a former Polk County administrator who helped spur the Central Iowa Source Water Research Assessment (CISWRA).

Adam Shriver

The director of wellness and nutrition policy at the Harkin Institute, who wrote the forward to the policy report.

Central Iowa Water Works

The water utility that had to implement a lawn-watering ban due to high nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

The state agency that would be tasked with enforcing the policies recommended in the Harkin Institute report.

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What they’re saying

“Iowa's water is becoming unsafe.”

— John Norris, Harkin Institute Senior Fellow (Harkin Institute Policy Report)

What’s next

The Harkin Institute is set to host its 2026 Harkin on Wellness Symposium on March 11, with a focus on the treatment and prevention of cancer. The report's recommendations will likely be a key topic of discussion at the event.

The takeaway

This report highlights the urgent need for enforceable policies to address the agricultural practices that are the primary contributors to water pollution in Iowa. By implementing a moratorium on new CAFOs, strengthening regulations on fertilizer and manure application, and holding drainage districts accountable, the state can take meaningful steps to protect public health and the environment.