We've made water quality a priority

I was disappointed that a Register op-ed ("Iowa's water quality debate: Where were the leaders over the years?" July 7) questioned my leadership on conservation as governor and now as agriculture secretary.

As governor, I made water quality a state priority for the first time. We invested unprecedented resources. I successfully put Iowa's first comprehensive water monitoring program in place. During my second term, I sponsored the first Water Quality Summit to put the focus on water quality challenges, recognizing that future administrations would have to grapple with these issues, too.

I did all of this as a Democrat serving alongside a Republican-controlled House and Senate. Together, we were able to get results through executive action and legislation. I shepherded a comprehensive water quality initiative through the Legislature that used an incentive-based approach to improving water quality. I was also proud of our effort to save the Leopold Center from proposed budget cuts, recognizing the important work it has done for Iowa's environment.

I've carried that same commitment to conservation with me to Washington, D.C. Nationwide, 500,000 farmers and ranchers now participate in USDA-driven efforts to protect land and water. Since I've been secretary and the president was elected, USDA has invested $2.2 billion in conservation efforts in Iowa alone. An assessment conducted last year shows that this investment is reducing soil erosion, reducing nitrogen and reducing phosphorous.

The 2014 Farm Bill, passed with bipartisan support, includes the new Regional Conservation Partnership Program, an innovative approach to conservation that gives local partners the power to design projects specifically tailored to their communities' needs. USDA was able to leverage nearly $800 million for the first round of projects this year. Since 2009, USDA has also prioritized investment in the Mississippi River Basin to improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat within a 13-state area in the basin, including Iowa.

Iowans are committed to better soil health and water quality. Caring for the land is part of our character, but it takes time and bipartisan leadership to chart a better path forward. I am proud to have been a part of starting that effort and continuing it today.

TOM VILSACK is U.S. secretary of agriculture. Contact: 202-720-4623