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DNR News Releases

Archive by tag: waterReturn

Iowa’s teal-only hunting season opens Sept. 1

• 8/29/2023 2:02:00 PM
• View Count 4319

Iowa’s 16-day teal only hunting season begins statewide Sept. 1, offering hunters an opportunity to enjoy Iowa’s wetlands and shallow lakes during the mild late summer weather.

Help prevent the spread of invasive aquatic plants around West Okoboji Lake

• 8/16/2023 7:23:00 AM
• View Count 2837

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking for help to prevent the spread of Eurasian watermilfoil and brittle naiad around West Okoboji Lake.

Invasive aquatic plants confirmed at West Okoboji Lake

• 8/9/2023 7:28:00 AM
• View Count 3902

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently discovered Eurasian watermilfoil growing throughout the canals near Miller’s Bay and The Harbor canals on West Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County. Brittle naiad was also found in the Triboji lagoon. No Eurasian watermilfoil or brittle naiad was found in the main lake of West Okoboji or the other lakes in the Iowa Great Lakes chain.

Water Summary Update: July 2023 - Drought conditions intensify after another dry month

• 8/3/2023 2:54:00 PM
• View Count 3553

DES MOINES - The month of July ended in dry conditions, with Iowa receiving 3.10 inches of rain, more than an inch below normal. This marks the fifth month in a row of less than normal rainfall. According to the Iowa Drought Plan, 4 of the 5 regions of the state are in “drought watch”. The US Drought Monitor shows that nearly all of Iowa faces some dryness or drought, with over half the state facing moderate drought conditions.

Late summer underwater aquatic plant control for ponds

• 8/1/2023 12:15:00 PM
• View Count 3032

A healthy pond needs aquatic plants, but too many can upset a fishing pond’s balance and become a nuisance. Many pond owners struggle with how to control the amount of aquatic plants, without completely removing all of them, so they can enjoy their pond.

Learn to Hunt program opens registration for women-only waterfowl workshop

• 8/1/2023 12:06:00 PM
• View Count 3088

Polk City, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a program to teach skills needed to hunt, field dress and cook waterfowl to women who have little to no waterfowl hunting experience.

Learn to Hunt program opens registration for youth waterfowl workshop

• 7/25/2023 11:55:00 AM
• View Count 2908

Polk City, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a program to teach skills needed to hunt, field dress and cook waterfowl to youth who have little to no waterfowl hunting experience on Aug. 26, at the Olofson Shooting Range, near Polk City.

Lake Keomah State Park restoration being planned

• 7/25/2023 11:48:00 AM
• View Count 3505

OSKALOOSA – Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and other project partners are planning a lake restoration project at Lake Keomah State Park to improve water quality and recreational opportunities.

DNR requests public comment on statewide lake bacteria water quality improvement plan

• 7/24/2023 7:27:00 AM
• View Count 2717

DES MOINES – Iowans interested in the results of a DNR study to improve water quality in lake environments for bacteria can view a presentation on the Iowa DNR’s YouTube channel.

DNR offers public comment period on Chariton River Water Quality Improvement Plan

• 7/24/2023 7:17:00 AM
• View Count 2407

CENTERVILLE – Iowans interested in the results of a DNR study to improve water quality in the Chariton River can view a presentation on the Iowa DNR’s YouTube channel.

Water Summary Update for June 2023: Drought Conditions Intensify after another dry month

• 7/6/2023 2:30:00 PM
• View Count 3573

DES MOINES - The state of Iowa experienced another dry month, with June providing 2.90 inches of rain, only 55 percent of normal. This continues the drier-than-normal trend seen in March, April, and May. The US Drought Monitor shows that nearly all Iowa faces some dryness or drought.

New electronic fee payment option for Wastewater Construction permit applications and NPDES permits

• 6/29/2023 3:16:00 PM
• View Count 2800

The Wastewater Engineering and NPDES Sections now accept electronic payments for Wastewater Construction Permit applications and NPDES permit fees on the Iowa DNR Payment System.

Cedar River Water Trail in Mitchell County dedicated June 29

• 6/27/2023 4:39:00 PM
• View Count 2623

The Cedar River Water Trail, in Mitchell County, will be officially dedicated as Iowa’s newest water trail during a public ceremony at 10 a.m., June 29, at Bennett Access along the Cedar River, near Osage.

Stay safe paddling this 4th of July holiday weekend

• 6/27/2023 4:34:00 PM
• View Count 2607

Iowa lakes and rivers will be busy with paddlers this long holiday weekend.

Major restoration effort to improve Black Hawk Lake nearing completion

• 6/20/2023 2:38:00 PM
• View Count 3199

LAKE VIEW – A second and final season of dredging on Black Hawk Lake, located in Sac County, is scheduled to end the week of June 18th. An additional two to three weeks of site clean-up and contractor demobilization will follow the dredging work.

Operation Dry Water starts July 1

• 6/20/2023 2:33:00 PM
• View Count 4367

DES MOINES - A group of state, federal and local law enforcement agencies will partner to focus enforcement of Iowa’s boating while intoxicated law as part of the national Operation Dry Water campaign to draw public attention to the hazards of boating under the influence.

Aggressive treatment planned for Eurasian watermilfoil found in Lost Grove Lake

• 6/13/2023 1:16:00 PM
• View Count 3642

DAVENPORT - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will start treating Lost Grove Lake at the end of June with the approved aquatic herbicide Sonar A.S. to eliminate Eurasian watermilfoil.

Collision on Black Hawk Lake Sunday sends two teens to the hospital

• 6/13/2023 1:11:00 PM
• View Count 3520

A collision between a personal watercraft (PWC) and a pontoon Sunday afternoon at Black Hawk Lake sent two Harlan teenagers to the hospital.

Drought watch in place with below normal rainfall in May

• 6/8/2023 3:06:00 PM
• View Count 3316

DES MOINES - The state of Iowa faced a dry May with only 2.54 inches of rainfall, which is just over half of its normal rainfall for the month. This lack of rainfall has led to deteriorating conditions in soil moisture and stream flows across the state. Southwest Iowa has been hit the hardest with less than two inches of rain, which is only 35 percent of expected May precipitation. As a result, Iowa's Drought Regions have been rated as "Drought Watch", indicating that at least three indicators in the ...

Drought conditions continue to impact water levels at Blue Lake in Lewis and Clark State Park

• 6/6/2023 2:19:00 PM
• View Count 3312

ONAWA – Blue Lake, located within Lewis and Clark State Park, continues to experience abnormally low water levels that may impact recreation opportunities. Launching boats is not recommended with the current low water levels.

Don’t be fooled by summer heat: Iowa’s waters are still dangerously cold

• 6/1/2023 3:56:00 PM
• View Count 3574

Summer heat entices many to plunge into local lakes to cool off. Air temperatures may soar into the 90s this weekend but water temperatures are much cooler, especially below the surface.

Water conservation alert declared for portions of northern Pottawattamie, Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, and Cass County

• 5/26/2023 3:48:00 PM
• View Count 3737

AVOCA, Iowa - A mandatory nonessential water usage restriction is in effect immediately for the customers of the Avoca Treatment Plant Distribution System. Regional Water Rural Water District has declared “Level Yellow,” the second of a system of progressive levels within its Emergency Water Conservation Plan.

Boil order for portions of Pottawattamie, Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, and Cass County

• 5/25/2023 3:51:00 PM
• View Count 2589

AVOCA, Iowa - Pottawattamie, Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, and Cass County residents and businesses served by Regional Water Rural Water Association, PWS # 8300184, are being advised to boil their water before using it due to a problem in the distribution system resulting in a loss of pressure.

Maquoketa & North Fork Maquoketa Water Trail dedicated May 31

• 5/16/2023 1:58:00 PM
• View Count 7400

The Maquoketa & North Fork Maquoketa Water Trail, in Jackson County, will be officially dedicated as Iowa’s newest water trail during a public ceremony at 10 a.m., May 31, at Canton County Park along the Maquoketa River, in western Jackson County.

River Users Should Avoid Area Near Adel Wastewater Facility

• 5/16/2023 12:24:00 PM
• View Count 2317

ADEL--Persons recreating on the North Racoon River should avoid an area immediately below the Adel Wastewater Treatment Facility where a pool of partially treated waste has collected after a release on Monday.

Environmental Protection Commission to meet in Emmetsburg

• 5/11/2023 6:58:00 AM
• View Count 2090

DES MOINES— The Environmental Protection Commission will meet in Emmetsburg, Iowa to tour the Iowa Lakes Regional Water, Osgood Water Treatment Plant and Lost Island Lake on Monday, May 15.

Water Summary Update: April 2023 - Another dry month

• 5/4/2023 2:25:00 PM
• View Count 2414

DES MOINES — Rainfall in April was just over two inches but 1.5 inches below normal for the month. This comes after a drier than normal March. As a result, streamflows are down across much of the state, and conditions are generally deteriorating in the eastern two-thirds of Iowa. While all of the Drought Regions of Iowa are rated as “normal, " downward trends are shown in the state's central, northeastern, and southeastern parts. The US Drought Monitor introduced a small area of moderate drought in so...

Water Summary Update: March 2023 - First below normal precipitation month of 2023.

• 4/6/2023 2:07:00 PM
• View Count 3506

After four months in a row of above normal precipitation, totals for March came in lower than normal. 

Major restoration effort to improve Black Hawk Lake water quality

• 4/5/2023 9:13:00 AM
• View Count 3911

DES MOINES – A second and final season of dredging on Black Hawk Lake, located in Sac County, will start this week and is scheduled to end in early June. An additional two to three weeks of site clean-up and contractor demobilization will follow the dredging work.

EPA recognizes project to restore Tete des Morts Creek in Jackson County

• 3/30/2023 12:32:00 PM
• View Count 3288

The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the Tete des Morts Watershed Project in Jackson County as a success story.

DNR investigating water release from livestock trailer wash

• 3/29/2023 10:43:00 AM
• View Count 2675

Staff with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Field Office 4 were notified Tuesday afternoon of wash water release from an Iowa Select livestock trailer wash facility in Union County. 

State Revolving Fund Program announces loan forgiveness award recipients

• 3/23/2023 2:36:00 PM
• View Count 2456

The State Revolving Fund Program has chosen eight projects to receive loan forgiveness from the 2022 Clean Water SRF (CWSRF) Base Program and 2022 CWSRF Bipartisan Infrastructure Law General Supplemental Funds.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources releases summary of PFAS sampling

• 3/23/2023 2:34:00 PM
• View Count 3771

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has released a summary of PFAS testing of public water supplies from October 2021 to December 2022.

EPC to review solid waste rules, Air Quality draft budget and new participant in Solid Waste Environmental Management System Program

• 3/16/2023 12:31:00 PM
• View Count 2332

The Environmental Protection Commission will review adopted and filed rules related to solid waste, the Air Quality bureau’s draft budget for fiscal year 2024 and will be asked to approve designating the city of Muscatine as a participant in the Solid Waste Environmental Management System Program at its March 22 meeting.

Water Summary Update: February 2023 - New Iowa Drought Plan, continued wet conditions

• 3/9/2023 12:49:00 PM
• View Count 2746

This month’s Water Summary Update introduces the use of the 2023 Iowa Drought Plan (IDP). 

DNR releases Iowa Drought Plan

• 3/9/2023 12:47:00 PM
• View Count 3828

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has finalized a drought plan for use by local, county, state agencies and governments in the event of droughts in the state.

Applications open for DNR Underserved Farmer-to-Farmer subawards

• 3/2/2023 12:41:00 PM
• View Count 2466

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is ready to accept applications for Underserved Farmer-to-Farmer subawards, funded by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico division.

Hit to private sewer line causes wastewater spill in Bedford

• 2/28/2023 4:27:00 PM
• View Count 3051

A contractor for the city of Bedford accidentally hit a private sewer line while doing work on a water line Tuesday, causing wastewater to spill between 405 North and 102 Central Street. 

EPC to consider several contracts, rulemaking related to solid waste at Feb. 21 meeting

• 2/16/2023 12:52:00 PM
• View Count 5339

The Environmental Protection Commission will review adopted and final rules to consolidate regulations related to solid waste and consider contract amendments at its Feb. 21 meeting. 

New groundwater hazard statement rule now in effect

• 2/16/2023 12:50:00 PM
• View Count 7521

Changes to the groundwater hazard statement are now in effect. 

January Water Summary Update: Wetter than normal month, drought remains.

• 2/9/2023 12:39:00 PM
• View Count 5663

The start of 2023 was encouraging for water resources in Iowa. 

Black Hawk County receives funding for dozens of signs promoting creeks, watersheds

• 1/26/2023 12:04:00 PM
• View Count 9881

Black Hawk County will be implementing a few dozen new tools to promote conservation and awareness when staff install signs introducing Iowa’s creeks and watersheds later this year.

Groundwater Hazard Documentation rule changes effective Feb. 15

• 1/19/2023 2:29:00 PM
• View Count 9897

If you are in an industry using the groundwater hazard statement, circle Feb. 15 on your calendar. The statement will be changing on that date.

Water summary update for 2022 - Third year in a row of drought

• 1/5/2023 2:02:00 PM
• View Count 8625

2022 ended on a good note, with December’s precipitation above normal.

DNR issues Emergency Order to C6-Zero after explosion

• 12/16/2022 12:58:00 PM
• View Count 11278

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources on Friday issued an Emergency Order to C6-Zero Iowa LLC following an explosion and fire on December 8, 2022. 

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