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DNR News Releases

Work at Towhead Lake supports grassland species, upland gamebirds

• 6/20/2023 2:27:00 PM
• View Count 2962

Towhead Lake was once a natural shallow lake, with a network of connected wetlands, considered sovereign land by the state highway commission when it visited the area in the 1910s.

Weather model forecasts bump in Iowa pheasant population

• 6/20/2023 2:24:00 PM
• View Count 4722

Favorable winter and spring weather across much of Iowa is expected to benefit pheasant hunters this fall.

Duplicate Air Quality Files in OpenText

• 6/20/2023 2:02:00 PM
• View Count 2726

Users of DNR’s OpenText electronic records management system may come across instances where searches for an air quality record may produce two identical records.

Air Quality Permits Under Review

• 6/15/2023 3:01:00 PM
• View Count 2809

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’s permitting staff review the applications to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality standards. The public has the right and is encouraged to comment on draft permits. DNR considers public comments before finalizing the permits.

DNR Enforcement Actions

• 6/15/2023 2:58:00 PM
• View Count 3077

DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state and federal laws. This approach is very effective. In the few cases where compliance cannot be achieved, the DNR issues enforcement actions. The following list summarizes recent enforcement actions. Find the entire, original orders on DNR’s website at www.iowadnr.gov/EnforcementActions

Unhealthy Air in Eastern Iowa Today

• 6/15/2023 2:42:00 PM
• View Count 3916

DES MOINES -- Exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulates are expected today over the Eastern third of the State. Smoke from wildfires in both Eastern and Northwestern Canada has converged over Iowa and is expected to lead to fine particulate matter exceedances over eastern and east-central Iowa today.

DNR Seeks Comments on Proposed Administrative Code Revisions

• 6/13/2023 1:34:00 PM
• View Count 2989

DES MOINES--Pursuant to Executive Order 10 (EO10), the Iowa DNR's Water Quality Bureau has reviewed the following rule chapter: 567 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 9 - Delegation of Construction Permitting Authority.

New rules and laws address raccoons, create year-round open season

• 6/13/2023 1:18:00 PM
• View Count 22725

Changes are coming soon to the way Iowans can hunt and trap raccoons, and how farmers can deal with raccoon depredation issues.

Aggressive treatment planned for Eurasian watermilfoil found in Lost Grove Lake

• 6/13/2023 1:16:00 PM
• View Count 3733

DAVENPORT - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will start treating Lost Grove Lake at the end of June with the approved aquatic herbicide Sonar A.S. to eliminate Eurasian watermilfoil.

DNR Seeks Public Input on State Park Administrative Rule Revisions

• 6/13/2023 1:15:00 PM
• View Count 3236

The DNR is seeking informal comments on administrative rules for Iowa state parks and related programs. Executive Order 10 (EO10), signed by the Governor on January 10, 2023, requires all state agencies to identify which administrative rule chapters will be retained or rescinded. The EO10 process includes public engagement with the opportunity for meaningful input.

Dry conditions delay campground opening at Pikes Peak State Park

• 6/13/2023 1:13:00 PM
• View Count 3474

MCGREGOR– An excessively dry start to the recreation season is delaying the opening of the newly renovated campground at Pikes Peak State Park.

Collision on Black Hawk Lake Sunday sends two teens to the hospital

• 6/13/2023 1:11:00 PM
• View Count 3566

A collision between a personal watercraft (PWC) and a pontoon Sunday afternoon at Black Hawk Lake sent two Harlan teenagers to the hospital.

Rugged and wild, Kirke Woods Wildlife Area is central Iowa’s newest public wilderness

• 6/13/2023 1:10:00 PM
• View Count 3530

Kirke Woods Wildlife Area, north of Bevington in northeast Madison County, is a new 240-acre mix of oak and hickory timber, and maple and cottonwood bottomlands, a reconstructed prairie and a 30-acre wetland that is open to the public.

Iowa’s Scholastic Clay Target Program hosts largest youth trap shooting championship in Iowa

• 6/13/2023 1:07:00 PM
• View Count 2902

Athletes from 123 teams across Iowa converged on the Iowa State Trapshooting Homegrounds north of Cedar Falls June 6-11 for the 2023 Scholastic Clay Target Program State Trap Shooting Championship.

DNR Enforcement Actions

• 6/8/2023 3:17:00 PM
• View Count 3007

DES MOINES – DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state and federal laws. This approach is very effective. In the few cases where compliance cannot be achieved, the DNR issues enforcement actions. The following list summarizes recent enforcement actions. Find the entire, original orders on DNR’s website at www.iowadnr.gov/EnforcementActions

Air Quality permits under review

• 6/8/2023 3:15:00 PM
• View Count 2702

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’s permitting staff review the applications to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality standards. The public has the right and is encouraged to comment on draft permits. DNR considers public comments before finalizing the permits. Submit comments in writing to the assigned permit writer before 4:30 p.m. on the last day of the comment period.

Grant awards and contracts highlighted at May EPC

• 6/8/2023 3:13:00 PM
• View Count 2729

DES MOINES— The Environmental Protection Commission will meet in Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, June 20.

Several Iowa companies team with Pollution Prevention Interns, save resources and enhance environmental performance

• 6/8/2023 3:10:00 PM
• View Count 2448

DES MOINES – Ten Iowa businesses have teamed with the Iowa DNR’s Pollution Prevention (P2) Intern Program this summer to increase the efficiency of their operations and reduce associated costs.

Crane Creek fish kill under investigation

• 6/8/2023 3:08:00 PM
• View Count 2578

READYN - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was notified on June 7 of a fish kill in Crane Creek, southwest of Readyn in Bremer County.

Drought watch in place with below normal rainfall in May

• 6/8/2023 3:06:00 PM
• View Count 3345

DES MOINES - The state of Iowa faced a dry May with only 2.54 inches of rainfall, which is just over half of its normal rainfall for the month. This lack of rainfall has led to deteriorating conditions in soil moisture and stream flows across the state. Southwest Iowa has been hit the hardest with less than two inches of rain, which is only 35 percent of expected May precipitation. As a result, Iowa's Drought Regions have been rated as "Drought Watch", indicating that at least three indicators in the ...

State Preserves Advisory Board to meet via teleconference June 20

• 6/6/2023 2:24:00 PM
• View Count 2547

The State Preserves Advisory Board of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will meet via teleconference at 1 p.m, June 20.

Public meeting to discuss in-lake improvements at Three-Mile Lake

• 6/6/2023 2:21:00 PM
• View Count 2809

AFTON – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a public meeting from 5:30-7 p.m., June 15, at Three-Mile Lake Lodge, 1577 Creamery Road, to discuss in-lake improvements planned for Three-Mile Lake starting this fall.

Drought conditions continue to impact water levels at Blue Lake in Lewis and Clark State Park

• 6/6/2023 2:19:00 PM
• View Count 3378

ONAWA – Blue Lake, located within Lewis and Clark State Park, continues to experience abnormally low water levels that may impact recreation opportunities. Launching boats is not recommended with the current low water levels.

Heavy rains delay opening at Lake Ahquabi State Park

• 6/6/2023 2:17:00 PM
• View Count 2951

INDIANOLA – Heavy rains last week caused washouts and erosion at Lake Ahquabi State Park, delaying reopening of the park until mid-July.

Long-term project is bringing prairie back to hard to get to places of the Loess Hills

• 6/6/2023 2:13:00 PM
• View Count 2375

“Limb’n and chunk’n in pieces your swampers can move,” yelled Doug Chafa in what sounded like secret code known only to the 30 or so select people who happened to be dressed in chainsaw chaps, long sleeve shirts, hard hats and gloves.

Join us this weekend! Kick off summer in Iowa State Parks, June 9-11

• 6/6/2023 2:11:00 PM
• View Count 2359

DES MOINES ⎯ Several state parks and forests will be hosting family-friendly programming and activities as part of Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) new Summer Kick-Off event, June 9-11.

Upcoming Payment Updates to Online AFO Application (EMMP)

• 6/6/2023 11:34:00 AM
• View Count 2561

The State of Iowa is transitioning to a new electronic payment system that will impact the online Animal Feeding Operation application (EMMP) later this summer.

Summer heat causes Otter Creek tributary fish kill

• 6/5/2023 4:14:00 PM
• View Count 2415

OELWEIN - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) investigated reports of dead fish in the unnamed tributary to Otter Creek that flows through Oelwein in Fayette County.

Avoid Contact with Perry Creek South of Hinton in Plymouth County

• 6/2/2023 4:46:00 PM
• View Count 2315

DES MOINES--Downstream users of Perry Creek west of Hinton in Plymouth County should avoid contact with the water, including recreation, and water for livestock after a manure discharge from a 3,000-head cattle facility flowed into the creek.

Fish Kill in Hampton Under Investigation

• 6/2/2023 10:45:00 AM
• View Count 2268

DES MOINES--DNR officials are asking for the public's help in determining the cause of a fish kill yesterday along Squaw Creek in the Franklin County town of Hampton.

Drinking Water Boil Advisory Lifted, But Level Yellow Water Use Restrictions Continue

• 6/2/2023 10:30:00 AM
• View Count 2492

AVOCA--The Regional Water Rural Water District announced that the Boil Advisory which went into effect on May 25 has been lifted effective immediately, while the mandatory water usage restrictions remain in effect for users of its Avoca Treatment Plant Distribution System.

Natural Resource Commission to meet June 8 in Des Moines

• 6/1/2023 4:29:00 PM
• View Count 2388

Des Moines – The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold its monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m., June 8, in the Wallace State Office Building, second floor, north conference room, 502 East Ninth Street, in Des Moines. The meeting is open to the public.

Air Quality permits under review

• 6/1/2023 4:18:00 PM
• View Count 2279

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’s permitting staff review the applications to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality standards. The public has the right and is encouraged to comment on draft permits. DNR considers public comments before finalizing the permits. Submit comments in writing to the assigned permit writer before 4:30 p.m. on the last day of the comment period.

DNR enforcement actions

• 6/1/2023 4:14:00 PM
• View Count 2256

DES MOINES – DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state and federal laws. This approach is very effective. In the few cases where compliance cannot be achieved, the DNR issues enforcement actions. The following list summarizes recent enforcement actions. Find the entire, original orders on DNR’s website at www.iowadnr.gov/EnforcementActions 

Wildfire smoke contributes to air quality exceedances in May

• 6/1/2023 4:11:00 PM
• View Count 2646

Des Moines, IA – The Air Quality Bureau has recorded 33 exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) over the last 14 days. Smoke from wildfires in Northern Canada contributed to 32 ozone exceedances and one fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exceedance between May 18th and May 31st. Iowa has averaged less than four ozone exceedances per year over the last five years. These exceedances are the first of the NAAQS measured in Iowa this year.

Don’t be fooled by summer heat: Iowa’s waters are still dangerously cold

• 6/1/2023 3:56:00 PM
• View Count 3801

Summer heat entices many to plunge into local lakes to cool off. Air temperatures may soar into the 90s this weekend but water temperatures are much cooler, especially below the surface.

Air Quality permits under review

• 5/30/2023 2:38:00 PM
• View Count 2677

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’s permitting staff review the applications to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality standards. The public has the right and is encouraged to comment on draft permits. DNR considers public comments before finalizing the permits. Submit comments in writing to the assigned permit writer before 4:30 p.m. on the last day of the comment peri...

Different habitats on the Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area attracts and supports diverse wildlife

• 5/30/2023 11:48:00 AM
• View Count 5601

The Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area is returning to a mix of wetlands, timber, and prairie that traditionally would make up this area, hosting various wildlife from sandhill cranes, Canada geese, red-shouldered hawks, bobolinks, pheasants, to wild turkeys, blandings turtles, smooth green snakes and white-tailed deer.

Discover Hidden Gems with the 2023 State Park Passport

• 5/30/2023 11:45:00 AM
• View Count 7930

The Iowa State Park Passport is back in 2023 and better than ever.

Boater collides with bridge piling on Cedar River

• 5/27/2023 8:38:00 PM
• View Count 3508

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.

Water conservation alert declared for portions of northern Pottawattamie, Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, and Cass County

• 5/26/2023 3:48:00 PM
• View Count 3821

AVOCA, Iowa - A mandatory nonessential water usage restriction is in effect immediately for the customers of the Avoca Treatment Plant Distribution System. Regional Water Rural Water District has declared “Level Yellow,” the second of a system of progressive levels within its Emergency Water Conservation Plan.

Boil order for portions of Pottawattamie, Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, and Cass County

• 5/25/2023 3:51:00 PM
• View Count 2656

AVOCA, Iowa - Pottawattamie, Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, and Cass County residents and businesses served by Regional Water Rural Water Association, PWS # 8300184, are being advised to boil their water before using it due to a problem in the distribution system resulting in a loss of pressure.

DNR seeks comment on proposed Administrative Code revisions

• 5/25/2023 3:34:00 PM
• View Count 2768

Pursuant to Executive Order 10, DNR has reviewed the following rule chapters: 567 Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) chapter 3 (adopted by reference from 561 IAC chapter 3), 567 IAC chapter 10, 567 IAC chapter 12, and 567 IAC chapter 17. Following the review of the rule chapters, the DNR has combined and revised the chapters to remove redundancies and create efficiencies. DNR seeks informal comment on the proposed rules. DNR will accept written comments until June 23, 2023. Written comments or questions regarding ...

Air Quality permits under review

• 5/25/2023 3:29:00 PM
• View Count 2660

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’s permitting staff review the applications to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality standards. The public has the right and is encouraged to comment on draft permits. DNR considers public comments before finalizing the permits. Submit comments in writing to the assigned permit writer before 4:30 p.m. on the last day of the comment period.

DNR enforcement actions

• 5/25/2023 3:27:00 PM
• View Count 2526

DES MOINES – DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state and federal laws. This approach is very effective. In the few cases where compliance cannot be achieved, the DNR issues enforcement actions. The following list summarizes recent enforcement actions. Find the entire, original orders on DNR’s website at www.iowadnr.gov/EnforcementActions

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