Mississippi River boat accident victims identified 12/9/2024 2:08:00 PM View Count 1987 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 2657 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.
Busy Labor Day weekend expected on Iowa waters and at state parks 8/27/2024 11:50:00 AM View Count 5077 DES MOINES – The unofficial end to summer this weekend is expected to draw thousands of Iowans to their state parks and waterways.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Iowa Cubs team up for First Responders Night 7/2/2024 12:36:00 PM View Count 2953 Des Moines — Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Iowa staff teamed up with the Iowa Cubs on June 27, to recognize MADD Hero Award Winners who went above and beyond to save lives through enforcement and education of impaired driving laws in 2023.
Help stop aquatic hitchhikers this Fourth of July 6/25/2024 11:44:00 AM View Count 3511 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds all boaters and anglers to check for unwanted hitchhikers on their boats and equipment this Fourth of July to help protect Iowa lakes and streams.
Stay sober and alert on the water this July 4th weekend 6/25/2024 11:36:00 AM View Count 2696 DES MOINES - State, federal and local law enforcement agencies encourage all boaters to avoid alcohol and drugs this busy holiday weekend to ensure everyone’s safety on Iowa waters.
DNR shares tips for a safe Fourth of July holiday weekend 6/25/2024 11:33:00 AM View Count 3095 DES MOINES, Iowa – As the Fourth of July holiday weekend quickly approaches the forecast predicts very warm weather which will draw thousands of people to state parks, beaches, lakes and rivers.
Expect heavy boat traffic on Iowa waters for Memorial Day Weekend 5/21/2024 3:28:00 PM View Count 2360 The Memorial Day weekend marking the unofficial beginning to Iowa’s boating season is days away and boaters across the state are busy preparing their watercraft for the holiday.
Hamburg-Mitchell Missouri River boat ramp to close June 30 3/12/2024 2:37:00 PM View Count 2354 A popular boat ramp on the Missouri River, leased for public access by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), will close on June 30.
Guttenberg south boat ramps close November 27 11/14/2023 11:51:00 AM View Count 5462 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.
Busy Labor Day weekend expected on Iowa waters and at state parks 8/29/2023 2:13:00 PM View Count 4026 DES MOINES – The unofficial end to summer this weekend is expected to draw thousands of Iowans to their state parks and waterways.
Public meeting to discuss removing Steamboat Rock Dam on Iowa River 7/5/2023 12:14:00 PM View Count 3832 STEAMBOAT ROCK - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Hardin County Conservation, the City of Steamboat Rock, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will host a public meeting at 6:30 p.m., July 13, at the Iowa River Conservation Club Building near Pine Ridge Park.
Injuries reported in boat explosion at Lake Rathbun on Sunday 7/3/2023 2:17:00 PM View Count 4815 MORAVIA - A mechanical malfunction likely led to a boat motor explosion injuring five at Lake Rathbun on Sunday, July 2, 2023.
Operation Dry Water starts July 1 6/20/2023 2:33:00 PM View Count 4396 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.
Boater collides with bridge piling on Cedar River 5/27/2023 8:38:00 PM View Count 3495 CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - On May 27, 2023, at approximately 1:00 PM, Jeffrey Mattison, 51, of Cedar Rapids, collided with a bridge piling while boating on the Cedar River.
MADD, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, team up for boating BUI and ATV DUI prevention campaign to kick off summer recreation season 5/16/2023 1:56:00 PM View Count 2699 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Illinois volunteers and staff are teaming up with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to promote safe boating and ATV seasons and to educate about the dangers of operating a boat, watercraft, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) while impaired by alcohol or other drugs.
Help stop aquatic hitchhikers this Memorial Day weekend 5/16/2023 1:50:00 PM View Count 2180 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds all boaters and anglers to “Clean, Drain, and Dry” their boats and equipment this Memorial Day weekend to protect Iowa lakes and rivers from aquatic hitchhikers.
Boaters to hit the waters this Memorial Day weekend 5/16/2023 1:45:00 PM View Count 3142 The unofficial beginning to summer is just days away and that also marks the unofficial beginning of Iowa’s boating season. Boaters across the state are anxious to get out on the lake after the cool and wet spring and are preparing their watercraft for the long holiday weekend.
Spring is a great time for a boating education course 4/18/2023 4:19:00 PM View Count 2746 It may not feel like boating season yet, but the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), along with boating safety advocates nationwide, are urging boaters to enroll in a boating education course this spring.
Take time to clean and inspect lifejackets ahead of boating season 4/4/2023 11:49:00 AM View Count 3051 Surprising as it may seem, March is not a busy boating month in Iowa. But it is a good time to clean and inspect important boating equipment – lifejackets – so its ready to go when the snow and ice finally disappear.
Spring is only six weeks away (we hope) – Now’s the time for a midwinter boat checkup 2/7/2023 8:11:00 PM View Count 5926 A midwinter visit to check on the boat − no matter if stored ashore in a backyard or a marina parking lot − is a wise thing to do. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has four tips to ensure there are no surprises at spring commissioning.
Heytman’s Landing boat ramp on Mississippi River closed for dredging 10/25/2022 11:53:00 AM View Count 3261 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.
Iowa’s Stocker elected chair of National Association of State Boating Law Administrators 10/11/2022 12:02:00 PM View Count 3668 The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) elected Susan Stocker, Boating Law Administrator for Iowa, as chair of the organization for the 2022-2023 year during its 63rd Annual Conference, in Manchester, N.H., in September.
Heavy boat traffic expected for Labor Day Weekend 8/30/2022 1:48:00 PM View Count 3405 Boaters heading out for the Labor Day holiday will likely find busy waterways across the state.
Busy Labor Day weekend expected on Iowa waters and at state parks 8/30/2022 1:25:00 PM View Count 2761 DES MOINES – The unofficial end to summer this weekend is expected to draw thousands of Iowans to their state parks and waterways.
Tri-state campaign to eliminate boating while intoxicated 8/15/2022 1:58:00 PM View Count 3540 Eliminating boating while intoxicated on the Mississippi River will be the focus of a campaign by the Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin natural resources agencies and co-sponsored by the Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators to bring added awareness of the dangers of operating a boat while impaired.
Heytman’s Landing boat ramp on Mississippi River closed until Sept. 23 8/2/2022 12:14:00 PM View Count 3438 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.
Help stop aquatic hitchhikers this Fourth of July 6/21/2022 1:02:00 PM View Count 3213 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages all boaters and anglers to check for unwanted hitchhikers on their boats and equipment this Fourth of July to help protect Iowa lakes and streams.
Operation Dry Water starts July 2 6/21/2022 12:51:00 PM View Count 5044 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.
Officials seek public’s assistance regarding Missouri River fatality 6/8/2022 10:42:00 AM View Count 2730 MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement Bureau is requesting the public’s assistance for information regarding the activities involving the 30-foot red and white Scarab boat with an Oklahoma registration that was involved in the Memorial Day weekend fatality on the Missouri River.
Boaters in Western Iowa urged to use caution due to low water conditions 5/24/2022 3:27:00 PM View Count 1905 Water levels in oxbow lakes adjacent to the Missouri River are lower than normal going into the summer due to consecutive years of abnormally dry conditions in western Iowa and historic low flows in the Missouri River this past winter. Access to these lakes may be compromised.
Help stop aquatic hitchhikers this Memorial Day weekend 5/17/2022 3:30:00 PM View Count 1479 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds all boaters and anglers to “Clean, Drain, and Dry” their boats and equipment this Memorial Day weekend to protect Iowa lakes and rivers from aquatic hitchhikers.
Boaters to hit the waters this Memorial Day weekend 5/17/2022 3:20:00 PM View Count 1928 The unofficial beginning to summer is just days away and that also marks the unofficial beginning of Iowa’s boating season. Boaters across the state are anxious to get out on the lake after the cool and wet spring and are preparing their watercraft for the long holiday weekend.
National Safe Boating Week is May 21-27: Three tips to make boating safer this season 5/10/2022 1:50:00 PM View Count 1492 The nation’s largest recreational boating safety event of the year, National Safe Boating Week, is May 21–27, serves as a reminder to boaters to keep safety front and center all season long. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers three tips for boaters to be safety heroes on the water.
Five boating tips to keep waters clean all season long 4/19/2022 12:13:00 PM View Count 1333 Iowa boat owners can help to protect the environment by following five simple tips all summer long.
Iowa boat registrations expire April 30 4/6/2022 7:15:00 AM View Count 1914 Iowans will be registering more than 231,000 boats before April 30, when current boat registrations expire. Boat registrations are good for three years and registration fees go to support water trails, navigation enforcement, aquatic invasive species, and boater education and safety.
Spring is a great time for a boating education course 3/15/2022 2:27:00 PM View Count 1798 It may not feel like boating season yet, but the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), along with boating safety advocates nationwide, are urging boaters to enroll in a boating education course this spring.
Take time to clean and inspect lifejackets ahead of boating season 3/8/2022 1:43:00 PM View Count 1562 Surprising as it may seem, March is not a busy boating month in Iowa. But it is a good time to clean and inspect important boating equipment – lifejackets – so its ready to go when the snow and ice finally disappear.
Iowa boat registrations expire April 30 12/28/2021 1:11:00 PM View Count 3063 2022 is a boat registration year and Iowans will be registering about 215,000 boats before April 30.
Duck hunters encouraged to use safe boating practices while on the water 10/26/2021 4:08:00 PM View Count 2718 Duck hunters who hunt from a boat are encouraged to include boating safety as part of their hunting plan. Waterfowl hunters use boats on some of the coldest days of the year. Not only is the water deathly cold on these days, but the hunter is likely wearing enough layers to make themselves heavy and clumsy, and if they go into the water, they are in serious trouble.
Hales Slough ramp temporarily closed for tree removal 10/22/2021 2:07:00 PM View Count 1682 Access to the Hales Slough boat ramp area on Big Spirit Lake will be closed to all uses beginning Oct. 25 as part of the ongoing Anglers Bay shoreline and associated oak savanna restoration effort to benefit the highly diverse aquatic terrestrial plant beds present near shore.
Sny Magill boat ramp closed until Oct. 9 9/28/2021 1:44:00 PM View Count 1531 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 begins Sept. 15 9/13/2021 9:31:00 AM View Count 1692 LANSING – Lansing Village Creek boat channel dredging will begin Sept. 15 and is expected to continue through Oct. 15. 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.
A busy Labor Day weekend expected on Iowa waters and state parks 9/2/2021 4:08:00 PM View Count 1690 DES MOINES, Iowa – The unofficial end to summer this weekend is expected to draw thousands of Iowans out to their state parks and waterways.