DNR News Releases

Search for a News Release

Press/Media inquiries: PIO@dnr.iowa.gov

DNR News Releases

Archive by tag: SIPReturn

Mississippi River boat accident victims identified

• 12/9/2024 2:08:00 PM
• View Count 2038

BELLEVUE - On Sunday, December 8th, at approximately 11 a.m., a boat with three occupants capsized below Lock and Dam No. 12 in Bellevue on the Mississippi River. The victims were fishing in a restricted area directly beneath the dam when their boat overturned.

Fatalities reported in boat accident on Mississippi River in Bellevue

• 12/9/2024 8:07:00 AM
• View Count 2707

BELLEVUE - On Sunday, December 8th, at approximately 11 a.m., a boat with three occupants capsized below Lock and Dam No. 12 in Bellevue on the Mississippi River. The victims were fishing in a restricted area directly beneath the dam when their boat overturned.

Guttenberg south boat ramps close November 27

• 11/14/2023 11:51:00 AM
• View Count 5464

The Guttenberg south public boat ramps will be closed from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, for repairs due to extreme low water levels on the Mississippi River.

DNR investigating drowning on Mississippi River

• 7/18/2023 11:41:00 AM
• View Count 3140

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is investigating an apparent drowning on July 14 on the Mississippi River near Buffalo Shores.

Heytman’s Landing boat ramp on Mississippi River closed for dredging

• 10/25/2022 11:53:00 AM
• View Count 3262

LANSING – The Heytman’s Landing boat ramp, south of Lansing, on Pool 9 of the Mississippi River is closed to dredge the boat channel. The work is expected to be completed by mid-November.

The Walter House

• 10/25/2022 11:35:00 AM
• View Count 3307

Quasqueton-native Lowell and Agnes Walter wanted to build a house for their retirement overlooking the Wapsipinicon River, near his hometown. The Des Moines couple owned Iowa Road Building Company in Des Moines and a farm management business in Buchanan County that amassed around 5,000 acres.

Series of islands in Mississippi River pools 16, 17 and 18 are public wildlife areas offering visitors rugged, solitary experience

• 9/20/2022 11:36:00 AM
• View Count 6380

Situated between the Quad Cities on the north and Burlington to the south is a number of islands that many Iowans may not know are open for public use.

Heytman’s Landing boat ramp on Mississippi River closed until Sept. 23

• 8/2/2022 12:14:00 PM
• View Count 3440

LANSING – The Heytman’s Landing boat ramp, south of Lansing, on Pool 9 of the Mississippi River is closed until Sept. 23 to replace the railroad bridge that spans the boat channel.

Coal spilled from train derailment south of Lansing

• 6/1/2022 3:54:00 PM
• View Count 2138

LANSING—A Canadian Pacific train derailed about 6:40 a.m. today (Wednesday), spilling coal into the Mississippi River.

State record smallmouth buffalo caught in lower Wapsipinicon River

• 4/12/2022 3:31:00 PM
• View Count 1375

John Dirks, from Anamosa, caught a 43 pound smallmouth buffalo on December 1, 2021 in the lower Wapsipinicon River. 

Iowa is hosting a large population of bald eagles this winter

• 1/11/2022 2:29:00 PM
• View Count 4213

Iowa is in the middle of its annual bald eagle population survey and although the numbers are still coming in, all indications point to 2022 being a really good year for eagles wintering in Iowa.

Train derailment into Mississippi River near Montrose

• 11/15/2021 8:17:00 AM
• View Count 2604

MONTROSE, IOWA -- At approximately 11:50 PM on November 13, 2021 a train collided with a barge that had been parked along the shore of the Mississippi River near Montrose in Lee County, Iowa. The southbound train operated by BNSF hit the stationary barge, derailing two locomotives and overturning several coal cars between the main line and side track. Several hundred gallons of diesel was released on the ballast material, and was seeping into the Mississippi River from the locomotive fuel tank. A number of coal ca...

Sny Magill boat ramp closed until Oct. 9

• 9/28/2021 1:44:00 PM
• View Count 1532

The Sny Magill boat ramp on Pool 10 of the Mississippi River is closed until Oct. 9  to repair the concrete under the railroad underpass.

Lansing Village Creek boat ramp dredging delayed until Oct. 1

• 9/28/2021 1:41:00 PM
• View Count 1681

Lansing, Iowa – Lansing Village Creek boat channel dredging scheduled to begin Sept. 15 has been delayed to Oct. 1, and is expected to continue through Nov. 1. The boat ramp will remain open, but space will be limited. 

Two seriously injured in boating incident on Mississippi River in Jackson County

• 9/7/2021 9:59:00 AM
• View Count 1838

SABULA, Iowa – Iowa DNR Conservation Officers responded to a boat crash on the Mississippi River on Sunday morning that left two people with serious injuries.

Boaters encouraged to avoid Heytman’s Landing and Village Creek boat ramps on Mississippi River

• 5/25/2021 12:12:00 PM
• View Count 2934

LANSING – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) urges boaters to use caution at the Heytman’s Landing and Lansing Village Creek boat accesses with lower water predicted through the week

Pleasant Valley man charged in fatal LeClaire Boat Crash

• 5/5/2021 7:43:00 AM
• View Count 3034

LeClaire, IOWA -- DNR Conservation Officers charged James Thiel, 44, of Pleasant Valley, with Involuntary Manslaughter and Reckless Use of a Watercraft among other charges relating to the August 16, 2020 fatal boat crash on the Mississippi River that killed Anita Pinc, 52, of Moline, IL, and Craig Verbeke, 61, of Moline, IL 

New law impacts boat operators on federal waterways beginning April 1

• 3/30/2021 2:38:00 PM
• View Count 4849

A new federal law goes into effect on April 1, that requires the operator of a boat with an installed Engine Cut-Off Switch (ECOS) to use the ECOS link while operating on all federally navigable waterways.

DNR to hold virtual public meeting for timber sale at Wapsipinicon State Park

• 10/20/2020 1:04:00 PM
• View Count 1996

ANAMOSA, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, October 22 at 10:00am to discuss a timber sale at Wapsipinicon State Park.

DNR investigating a boating incident that injured two

• 9/7/2020 7:27:00 PM
• View Count 2172

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 state parks making progress with derecho damage

• 9/1/2020 1:20:00 PM
• View Count 4764

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.

Four state parks remain closed through August following derecho

• 8/21/2020 1:28:00 PM
• View Count 3608

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.

Second person dies in boat crash on Mississippi River

• 8/19/2020 1:04:00 PM
• View Count 4579

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

Mississippi River walleye length limit changes effective April 1

• 4/1/2020 3:29:00 PM
• View Count 20777

Based on overwhelming support received during public meetings in March, Iowa DNR is extending current length limits in Mississippi River Pools 12-20 to now include the entire Mississippi River in Iowa. This change will reflect regulation changes in Minnesota and Wisconsin waters of Pools 9-12.

DNR investigating drowning on Mississippi River

• 3/23/2020 8:46:00 AM
• View Count 2978

GUTTENBERG, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a drowning that happened on March 21, around 1:30pm, near the spillway of Lock and Dam #10 on the Mississippi River.

Iowa DNR accepting comments on proposed walleye length limit changes on the Mississippi River

• 2/25/2020 3:13:00 PM
• View Count 4444

Des Moines - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting comments on proposed changes to walleye length limits on the Mississippi River, through March 5.

5 Hidden Surprises at Wapsipinicon State Park

• 7/3/2019 2:57:00 PM
• View Count 10438

Wapsipinicon State Park is a hole-in-one—and we’re not just talking about its golf course. Often referred to as Wapsi, this park is unlike any other Iowa state park because of its especially unique beginnings and natural history. With the help of Park Manager Dennis Murphy, here’s five hidden surprises waiting to be explored at Wapsipinicon. 

Littleton Dam removal on the Wapsipinicon River may create hazardous ice conditions

• 2/6/2019 1:39:00 PM
• View Count 4382

LITTLETON, Iowa -- A construction project on the Wapsipinicon River in Buchanan County to replace the Littleton Dam with a rapids, may create hazardous ice conditions on the river upstream. Work is expected to start on Monday, Feb. 11.

Body of missing boater located on Mississippi River

• 10/23/2018 2:38:00 PM
• View Count 3387

GUTTENBERG, Iowa – On Thursday, October 18, around 3:00 p.m., a 911 caller advised he located a body in the Mississippi River.

Public Comment Period for the 2015 Ozone Infrastructure State Implementation Plan

• 9/18/2018 8:55:00 AM
• View Count 2779

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is requesting public comment on the State of Iowa’s state implementation plan (SIP) for the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone.

DNR investigating manure spill in Clinton County

• 9/13/2018 12:22:00 PM
• View Count 2944

CLINTON – Wednesday, while doing a follow-up check on manure application just north of Clinton, the DNR found manure in a tributary of Silver Creek flowing into Silver Creek and about three miles to the Mississippi River.  

Exploring the lore of the Upper Mississippi at Paint Rock

• 7/30/2018 3:23:00 PM
• View Count 12734

Take a weekend escape along the bluff tops of the Upper Mississippi River, load the car with backpacking essentials and hike to camp at one of Iowa’s most revered places: Paint Rock. 

Popular Village Creek boat ramp on Mississippi River closes July 5

• 5/22/2018 11:41:00 AM
• View Count 4660

LANSING, Iowa - The Village Creek public boat ramp, south of Lansing, will be closed July 5 through Oct. 31, 2018, for improvements. 

Floodwaters damage Sweet Marsh Wildlife Area

• 7/31/2017 8:35:00 AM
• View Count 5465

TRIPOLI, Iowa - Heavy rainfall last weekend in the Wapsipinicon and Plum Creek watersheds in Chickasaw and Bremer counties has caused a 60 foot by 40 foot section of the dike on Martens Lake on the Sweet Marsh Wildlife Management Area to fail. The breach likely occurred during the night of July 23. 

Ice fishing not advised on the upper Mississippi River pools

• 12/15/2016 3:52:00 PM
• View Count 4710

Unpredictable changes in water levels are occurring on the Upper Mississippi River pools this week due to ice in the Lock and Dam gates at Locks 7, 9 and 10.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working to remove the ice frozen on the gates, but water levels could drop as much as 4 feet. 

Meet Wapsipinicon, one of Iowa's most unique state parks

• 11/4/2016 3:31:00 PM
• View Count 49558

Thus endures one of the many stories, myths, legends and even proven historical facts about Horse Thief Cave, a well-known feature of what is now Wapsipinicon State Park, and, though its tale-inspiring caves are definitely a main draw, Wapsipinicon is so much more. 

Dysart Man Dies After Falling Into Mississippi River

• 7/12/2016 3:20:00 PM
• View Count 4172

CLAYTON – A Dysart man has died after being pulled from the Mississippi River just south of Clayton.

Wildfire Haze Over Iowa Dissipates

• 5/8/2016 2:16:00 PM
• View Count 4557

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 24-hour health threshold for PM2.5 is 35 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3).   Exceedances of this threshold were recorded at several monitoring sites in Iowa on Saturday.

Expect Daytime Wastewater Discharges to Mississippi in Burlington Today, Tomorrow

• 5/3/2016 10:51:00 AM
• View Count 3363

BURLINGTON – The city of Burlington will be discharging untreated wastewater this week as the city connects to a new sanitary sewer.

Still Looking for a Place to Host Your Holiday Gathering?

• 12/1/2015 6:59:00 AM
• View Count 5323

Are you the one responsible for planning your holiday get-together or company party? Still need a place to host it? You might want to check out several state park lodges open year-round.

Agenda for November 19 Air Quality Client Contact Meeting

• 11/12/2015 8:07:00 AM
• View Count 4113

An Air Quality Client Contact Meeting will be held Thursday, November 19, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the DNR Air Quality Bureau conference rooms.

Foraging Wild Iowa: A Trip on the Wapsi

• 7/23/2015 10:06:00 AM
• View Count 13210

A Vermonter and wild food expert spend a Wapsipinicon weekend living off the land in Grant Wood Country.

7 Iowa Fish With Open State Records: How to Catch a Record Fish

• 6/9/2015 10:51:00 AM
• View Count 12756

Put your name as the first entry in the history books by catching one of these seven fish species we added to the eligible State Record Fish species list in 2013. With no records for these fish currently,you can be the first to set the record! Try these tips to help you catch a record fish.

8 Surprising Memorial Day Camping Getaways

• 5/1/2015 10:22:00 AM
• View Count 20381

Not all hope is lost when it comes to finding a place to camp this Memorial Day weekend, May 22-25. For those who like a little more quiet, don’t mind more primitive camping or are willing to take a chance on a first-come, first-served or “walk-in” campsite, here are some nice possibilities. Try kicking off the summer season with one of these lesser-known state parks: