Strategy documents

Tracking the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy

Visit the Tracking the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy site to access online dashboards, download data, and learn more about how we track efforts related to the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

This website ― nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu — will continue to be the destination for formal Strategy documents and archived annual reports can be found on the Previous Annual Reports​​​​​​ page.

The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy

INRS Practice Efficiency Updates

Updates to Best Management Practices (BMPs) included in the INRS are summarized in the documents below this introduction. Updated practices, their relative efficiencies, and corresponding corn yield impacts utilizing the same methodology developed for the INRS Nonpoint Science Assessment and BMP efficacy. This update reflects ongoing work to address the Research and Technology action item of the INRS. The updated assessment for P-based practices is underway.

• INRS Nitrogen Practice Efficiency Updates 
  (PDF, 27 pages, 714 KB, March 2024)

Revised version - December 2017

• Complete strategy document (PDF, 211 pages, 3.1 MB)
  • Executive Summary and Section 1: Policy Considerations and Strategy 
    (PDF, 33 pages, 395 KB)
  • Section 2: Nonpoint Source Nutrient Reduction Science Assessment 
    (PDF, 163 pages, 2.7 MB)
  • Section 3: Point Source Nutrient Reduction Technology Assessment 
    (PDF, 15 pages, 294 KB)

Supplemental Documents

NRS Baseline Period

• Summary of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Load Estimates from Iowa Point and Nonpoint Sources during the 1980-96 Period 
  (PDF, 4 pages, 154 KB, Dec 2018)
• Nitrogen and Phosphorus Load Estimates from Iowa Point Sources During the 1980-96 Hypoxia Task Force Baseline Period 
  (PDF, 37 pages, 2.5 MB, June 2018)
• Assessment of the Estimated Non-Point Source Nitrogen and Phosphorus Loading from Agricultural Sources from Iowa During the 1980-96 Hypoxia Task Force Baseline Period 
  (PDF, 32 pages, 1.1 MB, Sep 2017)

Water Monitoring

• How Long Will It Take to Measure An Improvement in Iowa's Water Quality? 
  (PDF, 15 pages, 1.43 MB, Dec 2020)
• Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy - Stream Water Quality Monitoring in Iowa 
  (PDF, 2 pages, 571 KB, Oct 2016)
• Stream water-quality monitoring conducted in support of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy 
  (PDF, 40 pages, 910 KB)

Practice Review

• Iowa State Nutrient Reduction Science Team Response for INRS Tracking Use of the Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council and Geosyntec Report “Quantification of Phosphorus Loss due to Structural Agricultural BMP Implementation” 
  (PDF, 2 pages, 132 kb, March 2024)
• Establishing and Reviewing the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy Nonpoint Source Practice List 
  (PDF, 2 pages, 120 KB, Oct 2019)
• Reducing Nutrient Loss: Science Shows What Works 
  (PDF, 4 pages, 2.9 MB, Oct 2019)

Farmer Survey

• Iowa Farmers and the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy: Survey Results from the Upper Mississippi-Skunk-Wapsipinicon Watershed 
  (PDF, 22 pages, 3.4 KB, Oct 2021)
• Iowa Farmers and the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy: Survey Results from the Missouri-Nishnabotna Watershed 
  (PDF, 26 pages, 3.9 KB, Sep 2021)
• Iowa Farmers and the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy: Survey Results from the Des Moines Watershed 
  (PDF, 27 pages, 4.5 KB, May 2021)
• Iowa Farmers and the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy: Survey Results from the Upper Mississippi-Maquoketa-Plum Watershed 
  (PDF, 26 pages, 5.1 KB, Jun 2019)
• Iowa Farmers and the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy: Survey Results from the Missouri-Little Sioux Watershed 
  (29 pages, Dec 2018)
• Iowa Farmers and the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy: 2015 Survey Results 
  (PDF, 20 pages, 4.5 MB, Aug 2017)

Previous Versions of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy

Revised version - September 2016

• Complete strategy document (PDF, 208 pages, 6.3 MB)
  • Executive Summary and Section 1: Policy Considerations and Strategy 
    (PDF, 32 pages, 1.1 MB)
  • Section 2: Nonpoint Source Nutrient Reduction Science Assessment 
    (PDF, 161 pages, 4.5 MB)
  • Section 3: Point Source Nutrient Reduction Technology Assessment 
    (PDF, 15 pages, 1 MB)

Revised version - October 2014

• Complete strategy document (PDF, 207 pages, 4.3 MB)
  • Executive Summary and Section 1: Policy Considerations and Strategy 
    (PDF, 32 pages, 358 KB)
  • Section 2: Nonpoint Source Nutrient Reduction Science Assessment 
    (PDF, 160 pages, 3.6 MB)
  • Section 3: Point Source Nutrient Reduction Technology Assessment 
    (PDF, 15 pages, 393 KB)

Revised version - May 2013

• Complete strategy document (PDF, 204 pages, 4.3 MB)
  • Executive Summary and Section 1: Policy Considerations and Strategy 
    (PDF, 30 pages, 274 KB)
  • Section 2: Nonpoint Source Nutrient Reduction Science Assessment 
    (PDF, 160 pages, 3.6 MB)
  • Section 3: Point Source Nutrient Reduction Technology Assessment 
    (PDF, 14 pages, 409KB)

First draft - November 2012

• Complete strategy document (PDF, 197 pages, 4.2 MB)
  • Executive Summary and Section 1: Policy Considerations and Strategy 
    (PDF, 26 pages, 435 KB)
  • Section 2: Nonpoint Source Nutrient Reduction Science Assessment 
    (PDF, 159 pages, 3.5 MB)
  • Section 3: Point Source Nutrient Reduction Technology Assessment 
    (PDF, 12 pages, 580KB)

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