Group gives Iowa some good marks for environmental issues

The Iowa Environmental Council’s annual report says Iowa is making good progress in some areas. The council report grades Iowa using seven environmental indicators. Council executive director Elizabeth Horton Plasket says the state received mixed reviews for efforts to get nitrates out of the drinking water and control erosion. Horton Plasket says Iowa got negative marks for an increase in energy consumption, and a decreasing population of grassland birds.Iowa did get positive grades for solid waste reduction and an increase in the use of renewable energy. Another positive was the increasing number of bald eagles nesting here. To view the report, surf to www.earthweshare.org.