ANKENY—Contracts and proposed plans for state revolving loan funds are on the March 17 agenda for the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission.
The 10:30 a.m. meeting will be held by teleconference. To join the conference call, call 405-701-9543, and enter the conference code of 871 528 followed by the pound (#) sign when prompted. The meeting is open to the public. There is no scheduled public participation. Written comments may be submitted up to one day before the meeting to Jerah Sheets at Jerah.Sheets@dnr.iowa.gov or to DNR, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319.
Commissioners will be asked to approve contracts for the following projects:
- A statewide volunteer water quality monitoring program, Save Our Streams. Izaak Walton League.
- Expand a stormwater education campaign aimed at decreasing runoff and preventing water pollution. Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District.
- Create a wetlands conservation trailer to provide education to farmers on the importance of wetlands and oxbows in reducing nutrients. Iowa State University for Iowa Learning Farms.
- Timber stand improvements and native prairie plantings at Easter Lake in Polk County, designed to improve biodiversity and protect lake shorelines.
- Install a fish barrier between Black Hawk Lake and Provost Bay in Sac County to inhibit rough fish, and improve water quality and wetland vegetation growth. Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
Also up for approval, a proposed rule change to update state water quality standards for metal toxicity to aquatic life. The new criteria accounts for dissolved metals being a better way to assess toxicity. A second change is proposed to account for the bioavailability of aluminum.
The complete agenda follows:
- Approval of Agenda
- Approval of the Minutes
- Monthly Reports
- Director’s Remarks
- Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund – FY 2020 Intended Use Plan Fourth Quarter Update
- Notice of Intended Action – Chapter 61 – Water Quality Standards (Update to Metals Criteria)
- Air Quality – Fiscal Year 2021 Proposed Budget Review
- Contract with Izaak Walton League of America for Save Our Streams: Statewide Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program for Iowa
- Contract Amendment #01 to the original Contract for the Polk County Rain Campaign with Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District
- Contract with Iowa State University for Iowa Learning Farms Wetlands Conservation Station
- Contract with Polk County Conservation Board – Easter Lake Water Quality Improvements
- Contract with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
- General Discussion
- Items for Next Month’s Meeting
- April 20 at 12:30 p.m. – EPC Education Tour – Hamilton/Hardin County
- April 21 at 10:30 a.m. – EPC Business Meeting – Polk County
- May 19at 10:30 a.m. – EPC Business Meeting – Polk County
A previously scheduled tour of the Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory after the business meeting has been cancelled.
Find more information at https://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/Boards-Commissions.
Commissioners include: Ralph Lents, Menlo, chair; Harold Hommes, Windsor Heights, vice chair; Bob Sinclair, Sigourney, Secretary; Stephanie Dykshorn, Ireton; Amy Echard, Farmersburg; Lisa Gochenour, Logan; Rebecca Guinn, Bettendorf; Howard Hill, Cambridge; and Tim Kaldenberg, Albia. Kayla Lyon is the DNR director.
Any person attending the public meeting who has special requirements such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments should contact the DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.