DNR News Releases

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
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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.

Fuel Spill in West Nodaway River, Cass County

9/12/2022 10:00:00 AM
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CASS COUNTY, IOWA-- On Thursday, Sept. 8, the Iowa DNR was notified that a crane overturned into the West Nodaway River approximately 2-3 miles northeast of Massena in Cass County. It was initially reported that approximately 20 gallons of diesel and engine fuel from the crane were spilled.

Charges filed in May 29 Missouri River boating fatality

8/23/2022 11:56:00 AM
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LOGAN - The Harrison County Attorney’s Office has charged Garret Vanderheiden, 22, of Fremont, Neb., on Aug. 22, with involuntary manslaughter, a class D felony, and boating while intoxicated – first offense, a serious misdemeanor, for the boating incident on May 29, that resulted in the death of Emma Olsen, 20, of Omaha.

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

8/2/2022 12:14:00 PM
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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.

DNR offers safety tips for paddlers on the Raccoon River

7/5/2022 1:24:00 PM
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Bridge construction on I-80 over the Raccoon River is creating dangerous conditions for paddlers. Warning signs are posted at some of the river accesses.

Wastewater overflow in Carroll

6/20/2022 4:03:00 PM
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CARROLL—Untreated wastewater overflowed from a manhole near St. Anthony Regional Hospital on the southeast side of Carroll Monday morning.

M. U. Payne Wildlife Area is a great place for water bird watching, duck hunting, and hiking often with little competition

6/14/2022 2:23:00 PM
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Hidden behind a levee paralleling I-29, six miles northwest of Hamburg in the Missouri River floodplain, is the nearly 1,300-acre M. U. Payne Wildlife Area.

Officials seek public’s assistance regarding Missouri River fatality

6/8/2022 10:42:00 AM
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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.

Coal spilled from train derailment south of Lansing

6/1/2022 3:54:00 PM
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LANSING—A Canadian Pacific train derailed about 6:40 a.m. today (Wednesday), spilling coal into the Mississippi River.

Treated, but not disinfected, wastewater being released in Eldora

6/1/2022 6:44:00 AM
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ELDORA—A leak in a pipeline leaving the Eldora wastewater treatment plant caused treated wastewater to flow into the Iowa River recently.

Boaters in Western Iowa urged to use caution due to low water conditions

5/24/2022 3:27:00 PM
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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.

Popular central Iowa paddling destination closed

5/10/2022 1:52:00 PM
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This week’s warm weather is perfect for paddlers to get out on rivers. Water recreationists should be aware of bridge construction projects across Iowa.

State record smallmouth buffalo caught in lower Wapsipinicon River

4/12/2022 3:31:00 PM
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John Dirks, from Anamosa, caught a 43 pound smallmouth buffalo on December 1, 2021 in the lower Wapsipinicon River.

Wastewater discharge south of Sioux Center

3/16/2022 2:58:00 PM
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SIOUX CENTER—An unknown amount of wastewater from a packing plant reached a tributary of the West Branch of the Floyd River south of Sioux Center.

Project AWARE cleanup to take on the West Fork of the Des Moines River Water Trail

3/15/2022 2:32:00 PM
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Volunteers have the opportunity to spend their summer vacation cleaning up, learning about and exploring 61 miles of the West Fork of the Des Moines River from Petersburg, Minn., to near West Bend, Iowa, from July 10 to 15.

DNR investigating manure spill near Rock Valley in Lyon County

2/8/2022 1:33:00 PM
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ROCK VALLEY - DNR staff from the Spencer field office are investigating a manure spill about four miles north of Rock Valley.

Bald eagle found shot in Cedar Rapids, public help sought to find person responsible

2/3/2022 2:44:00 PM
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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking for help to identify the person responsible for shooting a bald eagle that was discovered in southeast Cedar Rapids on Jan. 9.

Missouri and Big Sioux rivers paddlefish fishing season opens Feb. 1

1/18/2022 2:15:00 PM
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The paddlefish snagging season on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers opens Feb. 1 and goes through April 30 (sunrise to sunset).

Iowa is hosting a large population of bald eagles this winter

1/11/2022 2:29:00 PM
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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.

Missouri and Big Sioux River paddlefish license on sale Dec. 15

12/7/2021 1:52:00 PM
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Iowa anglers can buy the Missouri and Big Sioux River paddlefish license and tags starting Dec. 15 through Jan. 7.

Train derailment into Mississippi River near Montrose

11/15/2021 8:17:00 AM
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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...

Enjoy Iowa’s natural landscapes fishing rivers and streams this fall

10/26/2021 1:02:00 PM
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Fall is a great time to catch fish in Iowa’s rivers. A unique angling challenge is hidden around every bend.

Sny Magill boat ramp closed until Oct. 9

9/28/2021 1:44:00 PM
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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
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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.

Hayesville Bend Wildlife Area packs a lot of diversity into its 540 acres

9/28/2021 1:38:00 PM
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Delta, Iowa - Hayesville Bend Wildlife Area is a mix of upland, floodplain timber, wetland and upland timber, in an oddly shaped 540-acre public area, four miles south of Delta in southwest Keokuk County.

The Iowa River Corridor is winning the battle over reed canary grass

9/21/2021 2:16:00 PM
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Born out of the historic flood of 1993, the Iowa River Corridor is a mix of federal and state public land, stretching from Marengo in the east, to west of Chelsea covering more than 15,100 acres of the Iowa River floodplain.

Public invited to Sept. 15 open house on current and future recreation projects

9/13/2021 1:50:00 PM
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WEST DES MOINES - An open house to discuss current and future projects in the neighborhood of Walnut Woods State Park, Raccoon River Park and Purple Martin Water Resource Area is set for Sept. 15, from 6-8 p.m., at Walnut Woods State Park Lodge, in West Des Moines.

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

9/7/2021 9:59:00 AM
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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.

DNR still seeking public’s assistance in tubing incident

8/22/2021 4:14:00 PM
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LINN COUNTY, Iowa – The DNR Law Enforcement Bureau continues to seek the public’s assistance with any tips or information related to a tubing incident on Cedar River at Mohawk Park on August 15, 2021.

Comments on the Cedar River Water Trail Plan accepted until Oct. 1

7/20/2021 11:41:00 AM
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Osage, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Mitchell County Conservation Board are accepting public comments that will be included in the upcoming Cedar River Water Trail Plan.

DNR checking diesel fuel cleanup in Tarkio River

7/19/2021 1:19:00 PM
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ELLIOTT - Sunday night, a broken axle caused a truck driver to lose control and enter the Tarkio River about 3 miles east of Elliott in Montgomery County.

Flash flooding causing closures at Yellow River State Forest

7/1/2021 1:33:00 PM
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ALLAMAKEE COUNTY, Iowa – Recent heavy rainfall has caused some significant road damage at Yellow River State Forest.

Iowa’s Scholastic Clay Target Program crowns youth sporting clays champions

6/23/2021 7:07:00 AM
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Athletes from 27 Iowa teams participated in the 2021 Iowa Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Sporting Clays Championships held June 18-20 at Highland Hideaway Hunting near Riverside.

Puccoon Prairie shines at Chachaqua Bottoms

6/1/2021 12:30:00 PM
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About a quarter mile off county road NE 112th Street sits a 10-acre sand prairie tucked into the southeast part of the roughly 11,500-acre Chichaqua Bottoms complex in northeast Polk County.

Quick action helps prevent potential fish kill in Crawford County

5/28/2021 2:26:00 PM
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SCHLESWIG—About 6:30 p.m. Thursday, a transport company reported a fertilizer spill about three miles southwest of Schleswig. DNR received three other calls about the incident.

DNR, city and county work to find source of Shelby County diesel spill

5/28/2021 2:21:00 PM
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HARLAN: DNR staff responded to a diesel spill in Harlan Thursday, meeting with local officials as they worked to track down its source.

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

5/25/2021 12:12:00 PM
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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
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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
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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.

Iowa DNR to begin annual spring burning

3/25/2021 8:33:00 AM
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SWISHER - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Iowa River Wildlife Unit in Linn, Johnson, Benton, Iowa, Tama, Cedar and Mahaska counties.

Proposed Boone River water trail extension topic of Feb. 10 virtual public meeting

2/2/2021 1:22:00 PM
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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Boone River Watershed Management Authority are hosting a virtual public meeting on Feb. 10, at 6 p.m., to discuss a proposal to extend the Boone River Water Trail from its current position in Webster City north to the Wright-Hancock County line.

Iowa DNR accepting comments on proposed catfish regulations and paddlefish licensing changes on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers

1/26/2021 12:05:00 PM
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DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting comments on proposed changes to catfish bag and length limits and paddlefish licensing on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers, through Feb. 15.