DNR News Releases

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DNR News Releases

Fishing regulations to be relaxed at Spring Lake in Cherokee County

• 9/9/2020 4:00:00 PM
• View Count 3301

Cherokee - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will relax the fishing regulations at Spring Lake at Koser Spring Lake Park starting Sept. 12 to allow anglers to more freely harvest fish before the lake is renovated this fall to eliminate carp.

Late summer cattail and floating-leaved plant control for ponds

• 9/8/2020 3:14:00 PM
• View Count 2057

Have the cattails in your pond taken over your favorite fishing spot or crowded you from one side of the dock or swimming area?

Snowmobile and off-highway vehicle registrations expire at year's end

• 9/8/2020 3:13:00 PM
• View Count 2136

Registrations for snowmobiles and OHVs purchased during the 2020 registration cycle will expire December 31, 2020.

Communities impacted by EAB can receive free seedlings from DNR State Forest Nursery

• 9/8/2020 3:11:00 PM
• View Count 2570

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), through a grant with the U.S. Forest Service, has been awarding communities in counties that have confirmed emerald ash borer (EAB) up to 200 free seedlings from the DNR’s State Forest Nursery. Seedlings have been awarded since spring of 2019, so if a community has not received its free seedlings, there is still time to apply.

Union Hills checks all the boxes as a destination area

• 9/8/2020 3:09:00 PM
• View Count 4351

Union Hills Wildlife Area’s network of wetlands and prairie has that been-here-forever kind of feel to it.

Air Toxics Update: Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing (MON)

• 9/8/2020 2:23:00 PM
• View Count 2531

EPA recently updated several federal regulations for hazardous air pollutants (also known as HAP or air toxics). EPA’s actions address the Risk and Technology Review (RTR) required under the U.S. Clean Air Act.

DNR investigating a boating incident that injured two

• 9/7/2020 7:27:00 PM
• View Count 2142

CLAYTON COUNTY, Iowa – DNR Conservation Officers responded to a boating incident that left two people injured on around 4:30pm Saturday, September 5, 2020 on the Mississippi River in Clayton County.

DNR investigating fatal hunting incident

• 9/6/2020 8:28:00 PM
• View Count 3277

ALLAMAKEE COUNTY, Iowa – On Saturday, September 5, 2020, around 5:00pm, DNR Conservation Officers responded to a fatal hunting incident at Fish Farm Mounds Wildlife Area near New Albin, Iowa.

Natural Resource Commission to meet via teleconference on Sept. 10

• 9/4/2020 1:16:00 PM
• View Count 2029

Pisgah, Iowa – The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will hold its monthly meeting via teleconference at 9 a.m., on Sept. 10.

Iowa pheasant survey results show popular game bird numbers up significantly

• 9/4/2020 9:42:00 AM
• View Count 12463

Iowa’s recently completed annual pheasant survey is great news for hunters – statewide, Iowa averaged 20.2 birds per 30-mile route, up significantly from 2019, with six of the nine survey regions averaging more than 20 pheasants per route, the most since 2007.

Online information available for Arrowhead Pond Water Quality Improvement Plan

• 9/3/2020 11:16:00 AM
• View Count 2085

NEOLA – Iowans interested in the results of a DNR study to improve water quality in Arrowhead Pond in Pottawattamie County can view a presentation on the Iowa DNR’s YouTube channel.

DNR enforcement actions

• 9/3/2020 11:14:00 AM
• View Count 2599

DES MOINES -- DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state and federal laws. This approach is very effective. In the few cases where compliance cannot be achieved, the DNR issues enforcement actions.

Air Quality permits under review

• 9/3/2020 11:13:00 AM
• View Count 1837

DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and air quality. DNR’s permitting staff review each permit application to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality requirements.

Busy Labor Day weekend expected on Iowa waters and at state parks

• 9/2/2020 12:37:00 PM
• View Count 4252

DES MOINES, Iowa – The unofficial end to summer this weekend is expected to draw thousands of Iowans out to their state parks and waterways.

DNR state parks making progress with derecho damage

• 9/1/2020 1:20:00 PM
• View Count 4736

Three weeks after a devastating derecho tore through a large portion of Iowa, and left major damage to residential neighborhoods, farms and cities, state parks across Iowa continue their clean-up efforts.

DNR State Forest Nursery offers options to replace derecho damaged trees

• 9/1/2020 1:13:00 PM
• View Count 5189

AMES, Iowa -- As clean-up efforts are well underway and even nearing completion in some areas following the derecho that tore through Iowa in early August, the DNR State Forest Nursery is working with customers to select the proper trees to replant in areas completely leveled by the storm.

DNR launches Iowa Deer Exchange

• 9/1/2020 1:11:00 PM
• View Count 18887

The Iowa Deer Exchange is the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ new free online database where deer hunters willing to provide venison can connect with Iowans who want venison.

DNR awards 35 Food Storage Capacity Grants to help food pantries

• 8/27/2020 11:29:00 AM
• View Count 4007

DES MOINES — The DNR has awarded $204,034 to 35 recipients in Food Storage Capacity grants, which helps organizations expand storage and cold storage of donated food items for distribution to food insecure Iowans. 

Public hearing to take comments regarding proposed changes to Chapter 61, Section 401 water quality certification

• 8/27/2020 11:27:00 AM
• View Count 2413

DES MOINES -- The DNR will take comments at a public hearing Sept. 8 on proposed changes to Chapter 61 of Iowa Code, which would streamline the process in which the DNR certifies some water quality certifications.

Iowa’s rabbit, squirrel season opens Sept. 5

• 8/25/2020 1:42:00 PM
• View Count 14834

The good news for Iowa’s cottontail rabbit hunters is that Iowa has a strong population of rabbits, similar to last year, with the southern and east central part of the state seeing the best overall numbers. The better news for hunters is Iowa’s cottontail rabbit season begins Sept. 5 statewide.

Iowa’s teal hunting season begins Sept. 1

• 8/25/2020 1:37:00 PM
• View Count 4844

Iowa’s 16-day statewide teal-only hunting season begins September 1 and all indicators are pointing towards hunters having a good year in Iowa.

Iowa Outdoors Expo goes virtual

• 8/25/2020 1:36:00 PM
• View Count 2613

The Iowa Outdoor Expo has gone virtual this year, and extended the opportunity to learn about the outdoors for the entire month of September.

Pheasant, quail, rabbit, dove and partridge harvest all down in 2019

• 8/25/2020 1:21:00 PM
• View Count 3242

Pheasant hunters harvested nearly 284,000 roosters in Iowa during the 2019 season, which was the second highest harvest in the last decade. In 2018, hunters harvested an estimated 320,000 roosters.

Iowa’s dove season begins Sept. 1

• 8/25/2020 1:17:00 PM
• View Count 5546

Iowa’s sunflower and wheat fields will be popular places on Sept. 1, when thousands of hunters slip into the standing flowers and field edges in the early morning darkness for the opening day of dove hunting season.

Shorebirds flocking to mudflats at Lake Red Rock

• 8/25/2020 1:14:00 PM
• View Count 3449

Birdwatchers know that heading north out of Pleasantville on North State Street, will lead them to a dead end at Lake Red Rock, near the impoundment that holds the greatest number of shorebirds available to birdwatchers without a boat.

Maturing prairie, improving wetlands make Kiowa Marsh popular for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds, and out of state pheasant hunters

• 8/25/2020 1:12:00 PM
• View Count 3674

Rich Feilmeier traces his family connection to Kiowa Marsh back to before WWII when his father purchased the land to farm and have a small cow calf operation. As a kid, he recalls hunting ducks and geese off the pond where they watered their cattle.

EASY Air enhanced to help customers meet reporting requirements

• 8/24/2020 4:55:00 PM
• View Count 1670

Going beyond submitting applications, the DNR’s EASY Air team enhanced the online permit application system by adding the ability for companies to complete start of construction and start of operation reporting requirements.

Asbestos guidelines to follow during storm cleanup to ensure safety

• 8/21/2020 1:35:00 PM
• View Count 2499

In the aftermath of last week’s derecho, many Iowans are dealing with the clean-up of storm-damaged buildings. 

Four state parks remain closed through August following derecho

• 8/21/2020 1:28:00 PM
• View Count 3576

DES MOINES, Iowa – Four state parks will remain closed until at least August 31, 2020 following the derecho that left major storm damage across much of the state on August 10.

DNR responded to a crash involving diesel spill

• 8/20/2020 8:56:00 PM
• View Count 1780

WATERLOO, Iowa – Iowa Department of Natural Resources Field Office staff responded to a crash involving a Kwik Star tanker truck that hit a residence near the intersection of Hammond and E. Ridgeway in Waterloo on Thursday morning.

Best Iowa State Parks for hiking, adventuring and more

• 8/20/2020 3:59:00 PM
• View Count 13589

Are you looking for fun ways to spend time active outdoors? Here are some of our top picks for things to do in Iowa's state parks:

DNR enforcement actions

• 8/20/2020 12:32:00 PM
• View Count 1984

DES MOINES -- DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state and federal laws. This approach is very effective. In the few cases where compliance cannot be achieved, the DNR issues enforcement actions. The following list summarizes recent enforcement actions.

Air quality permits under review

• 8/20/2020 12:31:00 PM
• View Count 1864

DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and air quality. DNR’s permitting staff review each permit application to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality requirements.

Upcoming meeting to focus on solutions for lower Missouri River flood risk management

• 8/20/2020 12:26:00 PM
• View Count 1652

DES MOINES -- An upcoming stakeholder meeting will help identify and prioritize problem areas along the Missouri River as part of a larger multi-state effort to address flooding in the lower Missouri River basin. 

Public hearing to collect comments on wastewater general permit renewal for mining and processing facility discharges

• 8/20/2020 12:24:00 PM
• View Count 1759

DES MOINES – The Iowa DNR will hold a public hearing on Sept. 2, to collect public comments on the renewal of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) wastewater general permit for mining and processing facilities, otherwise known as General Permit No. 5 (GP5).

Public hearing to collect comments on wastewater general permit renewal for pesticide discharges

• 8/20/2020 12:19:00 PM
• View Count 1442

DES MOINES – The Iowa DNR will hold a public hearing on Sept. 1 to collect public comments on the renewal of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) wastewater general permit for pesticide discharges, otherwise known as General Permit No. 7 (GP7). 

DNR announces virtual public meeting for Supreme Beef, LLC nutrient management plan

• 8/20/2020 12:16:00 PM
• View Count 2351

CLAYTON COUNTY -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will host a virtual public meeting on Aug. 31 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to gather public comment on the Supreme Beef, LLC Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). 

DNR investigating fish kill in Four Mile Creek near Alleman

• 8/20/2020 6:49:00 AM
• View Count 1890

ALLEMAN, Iowa – This afternoon, DNR Field Office staff received a report of a fish kill on Four Mile Creek, northwest of Alleman.

Second person dies in boat crash on Mississippi River

• 8/19/2020 1:04:00 PM
• View Count 4537

LECLAIRE, Iowa – A second person has died from injuries sustained in a boat crash on the Mississippi River on Sunday, August 16.

DNR project targets grassland invaders

• 8/19/2020 8:59:00 AM
• View Count 2017

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting an aerial spraying project targeting invasive cottonwood and willow trees that are encroaching on grasslands at 15 wildlife management areas.

Hickory Grove Lake treatment complete

• 8/19/2020 7:26:00 AM
• View Count 2078

COLO - Hickory Grove Lake has reopened after rotenone treatment by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on August 4 to remove the remaining fish population. Several injurious fish species, such as common carp, grass carp and black bullhead, were reducing water clarity, destroying aquatic plants, and preventing the fishery at Hickory Grove Lake from reaching its full potential.

Virtual fishing tournaments added to Iowa DNR special events applications

• 8/19/2020 7:23:00 AM
• View Count 2892

Based on overwhelming support received during public comment in March, Iowa DNR is expanding the definition of fishing tournaments to include virtual fishing tournaments.

Eagle Grove teacher recognized for outstanding fishing program

• 8/19/2020 7:20:00 AM
• View Count 2333

Amy Ascherl, physical education teacher at Robert Blue Middle School in Eagle Grove, is the 2020 recipient of the Brass Bluegill award from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fish Iowa! program.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides guidance related to waterfowl hunting in damaged crop fields

• 8/19/2020 7:17:00 AM
• View Count 6020

Hunters planning to hunt waterfowl in fields damaged by the derecho storm on Aug. 10 need to be aware of what has taken place in the field after the fact to stay in compliance with the regulations.

DNR reopening Banner and Olofson shooting ranges

• 8/19/2020 7:11:00 AM
• View Count 3054

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will begin a phased in reopening of the Banner and Olofson shooting ranges with new social distancing protocols customers will need to follow.

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