Peak camping season begins May 1 4/30/2024 11:44:00 AM View Count 2091 Iowa state parks and forest staff are busy preparing for the summer camping season, turning on water, sprucing up campgrounds and freshening up bathroom, cabin, lodge and shelter facilities.
Air quality permits for review, published 4/25/2024 4/26/2024 10:52:00 AM View Count 1697 The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review.
DNR enforcement actions, published 4/25/2024 4/26/2024 10:48:00 AM View Count 2050 DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state and federal laws.
Iowa urban tree identification guide 4/25/2024 1:35:00 PM View Count 4337 These are the trees in our neighborhoods, the trees that you see each day! Know what to look for to better ID the trees around you.
Fertilizer spill in Burlington reaches Hawkeye Creek 4/24/2024 6:53:00 AM View Count 2106 DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a fertilizer spill in the City of Burlington in Des Moines County.
Air Quality Client Contact Meeting: Opportunity to Submit Agenda Items 4/23/2024 1:15:00 PM View Count 2196 The DNR’s Air Quality Bureau is accepting agenda topics for the upcoming Air Quality Client Contact Meeting.
Air Quality Offices Moving April 19-23 4/23/2024 1:12:00 PM View Count 1965 The DNR’s Air Quality Bureau is moving from the Wallace Building to a new office at 6200 Park Ave, Suite 200, Des Moines, IA 50321.
Leave wildlife babies where they belong --- In the wild 4/23/2024 12:16:00 PM View Count 2661 It's as predictable as May flowers - from border to border, the Wildlife Baby Season has arrived in Iowa. From now until at least mid-June, DNR field offices across the state will be inundated with hundreds of phone calls and scores of deliveries regarding "orphaned wildlife."
Time to start planning to control plants in Iowa ponds 4/23/2024 12:15:00 PM View Count 1749 A healthy pond needs aquatic plants, but too many plants can limit the pond’s use and cause imbalances in the fish population. If you had problems using your pond last year because of aquatic plant growth, you could have similar problems this year.
Exceptional season allows DNR crews to achieve walleye egg collection goals 4/23/2024 12:13:00 PM View Count 2167 Walleyes spawn once a year using water temperature and photoperiod(length of day) as cues to spawn. DNR crews captured 3,318 adult female walleyes at East Okoboji, Rathbun, Spirit, Clear, and Storm lakes, as well as the Mississippi River.
Walleye season opens May 4 on Iowa’s Great Lakes 4/23/2024 12:10:00 PM View Count 2263 The 148th walleye fishing season officially opens May 4 at Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji lakes.
Public invited to field day highlighting forest management 4/23/2024 11:34:00 AM View Count 1753 FAYETTE, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Iowa State University Extension will be showcasing various forestry practices at Volga River State Recreation Area as part of a public field day, on May 21
Celebrate Earth Day by connecting with Iowa's environment and help make a difference 4/18/2024 2:55:00 PM View Count 2016 DES MOINES – Monday, April 22 is Earth Day, offering another opportunity to connect to Iowa's environment and to give back to our natural resources.
Fishing regulations to be relaxed at Lake Keomah 4/16/2024 12:48:00 PM View Count 2504 OSKALOOSA - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will relax the fishing regulations at Lake Keomah starting May 1, to allow anglers to more freely harvest fish before the lake is completely drained as part of a lake restoration project.
Thank trees for all they do this Arbor Day 4/16/2024 12:47:00 PM View Count 2183 DES MOINES – Get out and enjoy the beauty of April tree blossoms across Iowa neighborhoods.
Midwest Walleye Challenge prize winners announced 4/16/2024 12:45:00 PM View Count 1927 BOONE - Midwest Walleye Challenge participants from across the southern Midwest have submitted their first two weeks of walleye and sauger catches.
Show your support for the outdoors while enjoying a day at the ballpark 4/16/2024 12:43:00 PM View Count 1951 Join the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the Iowa Cubs, for Outdoors Day with the Iowa Cubs, on May 10.
Air quality permits under review, published 4/11/2024 4/12/2024 10:35:00 AM View Count 2076 DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review.
Environmental Protection Commission meeting agenda 4/12/2024 10:32:00 AM View Count 1986 DES MOINES -- The Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will have their monthly business meeting April 16. The meeting is open to the public.
Annual state auction is live online until April 24 4/9/2024 2:32:00 PM View Count 4662 DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources annual spring auction is being held online until April 24. To view the firearms for sale and to register to bid, go to https://auctionsolutionsinc.com/auctions.
Iowa conifers struggling with winter burn 4/9/2024 12:43:00 PM View Count 2436 Iowa Department of Natural Resource (DNR) foresters are receiving reports of moderate to severe winter burn damage to arborvitae and white pine trees across Iowa.
Homeowners may notice spring frost damage as trees start to bud 4/9/2024 12:42:00 PM View Count 2360 Iowa’s early spring warm up followed by the return of below freezing evening temperatures were a shock to many trees. Some trees experienced frost damage to their newly emerging blooms or shoots.
Spirit Lake Hatchery filling with northern pike 4/9/2024 12:41:00 PM View Count 2352 SPIRIT LAKE - Crews with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources placed fyke nets in the outlets of the sloughs that flow into Big Spirit Lake on April 1, to start collecting northern pike. Northern pike spawn in sloughs and shallow vegetated areas around the Iowa Great Lakes prior to ice leaving the lakes.
Walleye netting season starts for Iowa DNR fish hatcheries 4/9/2024 12:39:00 PM View Count 2275 MORAVIA – The late night, annual walleye collection has begun at Clear Lake, Rathbun Reservoir, Storm Lake and the Iowa Great Lakes.
2023 Nesting Report for Peregrine Falcon 4/8/2024 2:24:00 PM View Count 2781 Breeding Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) disappeared from Iowa in the mid-20th Century.
Natural Resource Commission to meet via teleconference April 11 4/5/2024 5:38:00 PM View Count 2430 Des Moines – The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will meet via teleconference at 9:30 a.m., on April 11.
Air quality permits under review, published 4/4/2024 4/4/2024 12:54:00 PM View Count 2216 DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and the air where we live.
DNR enforcement actions, published 4/4/2024 4/4/2024 12:51:00 PM View Count 2472 DES MOINES – DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state and federal laws.
DNR accepting applications for Underserved Farmer to Farmer grant 4/4/2024 12:49:00 PM View Count 2557 DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is now accepting a second round of applications as part of the $3 million, 5-year Underserved Farmer to Farmer grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico division.
Water Summary Update: Late March showers lead to some improvement in drought conditions 4/4/2024 12:46:00 PM View Count 2301 DES MOINES – After the second driest February on record, above-normal rainfall in March helped improve some drought conditions across Iowa, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Improve your paddling skills with DNR canoe and kayak schools 4/2/2024 11:49:00 AM View Count 2741 DES MOINES —Naturalists, youth group leaders and others who take people out on the water in canoes and kayaks are encouraged to attend one of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) paddling schools.
Bumble Bee Atlas Seeks Volunteers to Search for Declining Iowa Bees 4/2/2024 11:47:00 AM View Count 4104 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University partner with national nonprofit to launch statewide effort to conserve Iowa’s pollinators
Annual spring wildlife spotlight survey underway 4/2/2024 11:44:00 AM View Count 2384 Staff with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are currently conducting their annual nighttime spring spotlight surveys across the state, collecting information on Iowa’s deer and furbearer populations.
Montgomery County fertilizer spill killed more than 749,000 fish 3/28/2024 3:47:00 PM View Count 10480 RED OAK – The fertilizer spill near Red Oak in Montgomery County earlier this month killed nearly all the fish in an almost 50-mile stretch of the East Nishnabotna River to the Missouri border.
DNR enforcement actions, published 3/28/2024 3/28/2024 3:22:00 PM View Count 2920 DES MOINES – DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state and federal laws.
Air quality permits under review, published 3/28/2024 3/28/2024 3:14:00 PM View Count 2577 DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and the air where we live.
DNR accepting public comment for water quality certification of permit 3/28/2024 3:10:00 PM View Count 2787 DES MOINES -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is accepting public and stakeholder comments regarding the Section 401 Water Quality Certification of the new U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Regional Permit 7.
Wastewater discharge in Jones County reaches Wapsipinicon River 3/27/2024 11:13:00 AM View Count 2432 DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a wastewater discharge at the City of Anamosa in Jones County.
Free Iowa Food Processors Pollution Prevention Roundtable Webinar on April 4 3/26/2024 3:44:00 PM View Count 2517 Iowa’s food processing sector faces a unique set of environmental challenges. Water use is a critical part of operations and optimizing water treatment processes is a continuous improvement effort.
DNR investigates tree and fire vandalism at Big Creek State Park 3/26/2024 11:46:00 AM View Count 2875 POLK CITY, IA – On March 15 around 10:30 p.m. several local law enforcement agencies were called to Big Creek State Park to extinguish an illegal bonfire at the east boat ramp, which was allegedly set by a party of youths. When officials arrived on scene, the youths dispersed. No arrests have been made.
Urban Forestry awards recognize local dedication to trees and outreach 3/26/2024 11:44:00 AM View Count 2734 DES MOINES – Every year the Urban Forestry Awards luncheon recognizes cities, college campuses and utilities that demonstrate a variety of dedication to the importance of trees in their respective communities.
Fort Atkinson Preserve closed for renovations 3/26/2024 11:40:00 AM View Count 2654 FORT ATKINSON -- Fort Atkinson State Preserve in Winneshiek County is currently closed to visitors as crews begin work to repair and stabilize the 1840s-era fort structures. The closure will continue until the project is complete later this summer.
Review safe hunting practices ahead of spring turkey season 3/26/2024 11:38:00 AM View Count 2684 Roughly 35,000 camo-covered hunters in stealth mode will be heading to the timber in the next few weeks for Iowa’s spring turkey season. And, just as important as contacting the landowner, checking the shell supply and finding the decoys, part of every hunt prep is to review safe hunting practices.
Iowa’s spring turkey season is right around the corner 3/26/2024 11:36:00 AM View Count 3438 Coming off record harvests in 2020 and again in 2023, Iowa’s spring turkey hunters could be living in the “good ol’ days.” And with three straight years of good hatches across much of the state, roughly 35,000 hunters are ready to hit the woods.
Iowa’s Prairie Chicken Festival is April 6 3/26/2024 11:34:00 AM View Count 3970 Kellerton, Iowa – The unique courtship of Iowa’s prairie chickens will be on full display at the Kellerton Grasslands Bird Conservation Area on April 6, during the annual Prairie Chicken Festival, in Ringgold County. The festival will be held at the Kellerton viewing platform, two miles west and one mile south of Kellerton. There is ample parking and the viewing platform is accessible for those with limited mobility.