Iowa is grappling with a growing battle over the integrity of its water. Nitrogen and phosphates have been flowing in ever-increasing quantities into Iowa’s public water supplies and dealing with the problem has become a major political issue in the state.
Excess nitrogen in the environment is a big problem. The most visible aspect of the problem is the spread of toxic algae blooms in oceans, lakes and other bodies of water. But there are other effects as well such as unwanted alterations to ecosystems.
Beavers are one of nature’s most industrious engineers. Using branches and mud, the intrepid animals create dams that slow moving water. In New York’s Hudson Valley, their constructions are a common sight on streams and in wetlands.
