As the 2026 legislative session began in Des Moines, mixed signals suggest that the state’s approach to rampant water-quality issues may be more business as usual.By Anika Jane BeamerDES MOINES, IOWA—Another legislative session began this week in Iowa, but it’s unclear if lawmakers will take steps to address agricultural pollution in its waterways.
Observations from the Little Bunker
Last updated: January 16, 2026 12:22 PM
Atmospheric CO₂
428.7 ppm
+18.1
ppm/year
Atmospheric CH₄
1940.59 ppb
+-0.24
ppb/year
Global Temperature
+1.48 °C
Peak: +1.73°C
World Population
8.1 billion
+67
million/year