The power struggle over the country's water quality

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of the Supreme Court's decision on water quality and wetlands in Iowa.

In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court narrowed the definition of the Waters of the United States in the case Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. The result of that decision is estimated to have eliminated more than half of the nation's wetland acres eligible for protections by the Clean Water Act. Host Ben Kieffer discusses that decision and how it impacts Iowa with Royal Gardner, author of 'Waters of the United States: POTUS, SCOTUS, WOTUS, and the Politics of a National Resource.' (This episode was originally produced in October 2025.)

People in this episode

Host: Ben Kieffer

Guest: Royal Gardner

Topics covered

• water quality
• Supreme Court
• environmental policy
• Iowa
• wetlands
• Clean Water Act

Keywords

• water quality
• Supreme Court
• wetlands
• Clean Water Act
• Iowa
• environmental policy
• Sackett case

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Environmental Protection Agency

Books & works: Waters of the United States: POTUS, SCOTUS, WOTUS, and the Politics of a National Resource

More episodes of River to River

• Iowa parents are leading a push against technology in the classroom · June 12, 2026 · 48 min
• Lines of attack solidify between Iowa candidates for the general election · June 11, 2026 · 48 min
• New book explores the damage of large scale hog operations on one small community · June 10, 2026 · 48 min
• Reynolds signs bills into law — likely for the last time · June 6, 2026 · 48 min
• Muscatine mass shooting raises questions about firearms and domestic violence · June 5, 2026 · 48 min
• Iowa voters pick their nominees for the 2026 election · June 4, 2026 · 48 min