I saw this comment below on the Raccoon River Watershed public Facebook group and it rang true to me, too. It would explain Reynolds’ and the Iowa Republicans’ extreme cynicism and cold-blooded policies.  Do they know that corporate ag has already taken Iowa past the point of no return so there is no point in caring or trying to save it?  It sure seems so.

Commenter on the RRW FB page:  “Do international agribusiness and those they elect consider Iowa a sacrifice zone? I’m beginning to think so.”

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrifice_zone

“A sacrifice zone or sacrifice area (often termed a national sacrifice zone or national sacrifice area) is a geographic area that has been permanently impaired by heavy environmental alterations or economic disinvestment, often through locally unwanted land use (LULU). These zones most commonly happen to exist in low-income and minority communities.^[1] Commentators including Chris Hedges, Joe Sacco, and Stephen Lerner have argued that corporate business practices contribute to producing sacrifice zones.^[2][3][4]

The concept of sacrifice zones was first discussed during the Cold War, as a likely result of nuclear fallout, and the term coined in the Soviet Union.^{“[1][dubious – discuss]}

In Iowa’s case, corporate agriculture has ruined our once fair state with an unsustainable number of CAFOs, manure dumping, and other inhumane, environmentally harmful farming practices.

Raccoon River Watershed Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/107052089361843

We need your help! The North Raccoon looked like hog shit at my place today. It turned my stomach. My lab was in it, of course. RRWA president, Chris Henning got a report that the river turned shit brown at Squirrel Hollow on Wednesday. This is Friday. I was at my farm from 2:30 till 8:00. The river ran brown the whole time. It was pretty clear on Wednesday. I did not see any dead fish. My guess is that the Des Moines Water Works will get slammed this weekend with high bacteria levels. We would appreciate any relevant observations. Take a look at the North Raccoon. I suspect the Middle/South will dilute it some above Van Meter. If you know any officials who are supposed to care, let them know. Earth day is coming up on the 22nd. Do something!