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Iowa Supreme Court sides with drainage districts in water lawsuit

Iowa ag leaders are applauding the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision in the Des Moines Water Works’ lawsuit against drainage districts in three Iowa counties.

The court ruled the utility will not be able to collect monetary damages from the drainage districts.

Kurt Hora of Washington, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, says it’s good news.

“But that doesn’t mean, as Iowa farmers, we’re going to stop doing what we’ve been doing,” Hora says. “We’re going to continue to work with Iowa State and the Iowa Department of Agriculture on the nutrient reduction strategy.”

Hora says farmers have made great progress in improving water quality and will continue to invest in additional conservation practices.

“We want to make sure we’re sending clean water down the river as well,” he says. “Any of the nutrients that go down there, that’s costing producers money. We want to keep those in our soil.

“That’s part of the landscape of Iowa. The water goes down through the ground. It does come out those tile. But we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that we keep that money in our farms and keep them profitable.”

Iowa secretary of agriculture Bill Northey calls the Supreme Court’s decision “a significant loss” for Des Moines Water Works. He says the lawsuit has been a “needless distraction” from efforts to improve water quality.

In addition to seeking monetary damages, the utility’s lawsuit would force the drainage districts to be permitted under the federal Clean Water Act. That portion of the lawsuit is unaffected by the court’s ruling and will still move forward toward a trial.

Observers say the outcome of the lawsuit could have implications for farmers nationwide.

AUDIO: Kurt Hora