"States Want 20 More Years To Meet Gulf Dead-Zone Goals"

"A task force representing Iowa and 11 other states said Thursday it needs another 20 years to reduce the size of a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico by two-thirds.

The Hypoxic Task Force sought to reduce the Gulf dead zone’s size from 6,000 square miles to 2,000 by 2015. It’s now about the size of Connecticut.

The task force Thursday set an interim goal of reducing nitrogen and phosphorous loads in the Gulf by 20 percent by 2025, “in order to track progress and spur action.” The task force’s two-decade goal is to reduce nutrient loads by 45 percent.

Some Iowa environmental groups said Thursday’s announcement from the Hypoxic Task Force is evidence the approach isn’t working."

Donnelle Eller reports for the Des Moines Register February 12, 2015.