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DNR News Releases

Iowa DNR releases name of falling victim fatality at Bellevue State Park

• 9/20/2021 1:27:00 PM
• View Count 2277

BELLEVUE, Iowa - Authorities have identified 36-year-old Iris Merfeld, of Zwingle, as the woman involved in the fatal fall at Bellevue State Park this weekend.

Iowa DNR investigating fatal incident at Bellevue State Park

• 9/19/2021 10:11:00 AM
• View Count 1830

BELLEVUE, Iowa - At 4:21 a.m. on Sept. 18, local authorities were notified about an individual who had fallen from a bluff at Bellevue State Park located in Bellevue.

Six tips to protect your septic system

• 9/16/2021 1:24:00 PM
• View Count 2952

DES MOINES – Fall is a great time for one in four Iowans to take a few simple steps to protect their pocket books, their septic systems and Iowa’s waters.

DNR enforcement actions for Sept. 16

• 9/16/2021 1:23:00 PM
• View Count 1264

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.

Air Quality permits under review for Sept. 16

• 9/16/2021 1:22:00 PM
• View Count 1590

DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and air quality. DNR’s permitting staff review each permit application to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality requirements.

Workshop to promote small sawmill businesses set for Sept. 23

• 9/14/2021 3:23:00 PM
• View Count 1628

Solon, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University and the Wood Education Resource Center are hosting a Small Sawmill Business Workshop on Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Schwab/ Buford Property, near Solon, to provide educational and networking opportunities for exiting and startup small sawmill businesses.

DNR to eliminate the fish populations at three western Iowa lakes

• 9/14/2021 3:17:00 PM
• View Count 2079

Fremont and Mills counties - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will treat Folsom, Scott B, and Lake Virginia late this summer or early fall (pending workable weather conditions) with rotenone, a botanical pesticide, to eliminate the fish populations.

Survey finds derecho damaged or destroyed an estimated 7 million Iowa trees

• 9/14/2021 3:13:00 PM
• View Count 3205

Iowans lost an estimated $20 million in annual benefits from its urban tree canopy that was damaged by the derecho in August 2020, according to the results of a recently completed survey conducted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resource.

Learn to Hunt program opens registration for upland bird virtual Q & A panel discussion

• 9/14/2021 3:09:00 PM
• View Count 1384

DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a virtual program to teach skills needed to hunt, field dress and cook upland birds to anyone who has little to no upland bird hunting experience.

Iowa’s youth only waterfowl season starts Sept. 25 in the north zone

• 9/14/2021 3:06:00 PM
• View Count 1524

The first of Iowa’s two-day youth waterfowl seasons begin Sept. 25 in the north zone, allowing the kids to experience the fun of the hunt, without the pressure of keeping up with the adults, or fighting lousy weather. 

Iowa’s youth deer season begins September 18

• 9/14/2021 2:58:00 PM
• View Count 2873

The Iowa deer hunting tradition will be passed on to about 10,000 young hunters who are participating in the youth deer season, which opens on Sept. 18.

Save the Date: Statewide Volunteer Day is Sept. 25

• 9/14/2021 2:54:00 PM
• View Count 3053

Iowa state parks and forests have set Saturday, Sept. 25 as annual Volunteer Day, when Iowans are invited to lend a hand at nearly 20 parks and forests hosting events.

Iowa DNR accepting comments on proposed fee for new lifetime trout fishing license

• 9/14/2021 2:52:00 PM
• View Count 2458

DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting comments on the proposed fee for the new lifetime trout fishing license, through Oct. 26.

Often overlooked, Eagle Lake is a high quality North Iowa wild place that's ready for prime time

• 9/14/2021 2:50:00 PM
• View Count 3573

Eagle Lake Wildlife Area is a 960-acre high quality natural marsh within a 2,000-acre complex that is an important stop for marsh birds on the migration route and home to unique plant and animal species not found in many places around Iowa.

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

• 9/13/2021 1:50:00 PM
• View Count 1339

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.

Lansing Village Creek boat ramp dredging begins Sept. 15

• 9/13/2021 9:31:00 AM
• View Count 1565

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.

Air Quality permits under review, September 9, 2021

• 9/9/2021 12:08:00 PM
• View Count 1418

DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and air quality. DNR’s permitting staff review each permit application to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality requirements.

Public comment period for Section 401 Water Quality Certification of Nationwide Permits

• 9/9/2021 12:06:00 PM
• View Count 1537

DES MOINES -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is soliciting comments for the Section 401 Water Quality Certification of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Nationwide Permits.

Water gage contracts on environmental commission’s September agenda

• 9/9/2021 12:03:00 PM
• View Count 1533

DES MOINES - Contracts to monitor stream levels and water quality are up for the Environmental Protection Commission’s approval at their Sept. 21 virtual meeting.

Urban lumber now available at Des Moines, Iowa City Habitat for Humanity ReStores

• 9/9/2021 7:14:00 AM
• View Count 2674

Calling all woodworkers, DIYers and homeowners looking to support sustainable products – urban lumber may be for you.

Arson investigation leads state conservation officers to Williamsburg man

• 9/9/2021 7:10:00 AM
• View Count 5635

Jereme Goltz, of Williamsburg, faces charges including two counts of third-degree arson, felony possession of a controlled substance- methamphetamine (3rd or subsequent offense), and littering following a two-month long investigation by Iowa Department of Natural Resources conservation officers.

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

• 9/7/2021 9:59:00 AM
• View Count 1709

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.

Natural Resource Commission to meet Sept. 8, in Brighton

• 9/3/2021 1:04:00 PM
• View Count 1413

Des Moines – The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will hold its monthly meeting at 12:00 p.m., on Sept. 8, at Lake Darling State Park Lodge, 111 Lake Darling Rd in Brighton. The meeting is open to the public. 

Derecho Community Forestry Grant Program accepting additional applications

• 9/2/2021 4:12:00 PM
• View Count 1484

Local governments, schools and service organizations are eligible to apply for tree-planting grants in counties hard-hit by the 2020 derecho. The application deadline has been extended to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 13. 

A busy Labor Day weekend expected on Iowa waters and state parks

• 9/2/2021 4:08:00 PM
• View Count 1594

DES MOINES, Iowa – The unofficial end to summer this weekend is expected to draw thousands of Iowans out to their state parks and waterways.

Air Quality permits under review, September 2, 2021

• 9/2/2021 2:45:00 PM
• View Count 1227

DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and air quality. DNR’s permitting staff review each permit application to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality requirements.

Meeting to discuss statewide bacteria water quality improvement plan

• 9/2/2021 2:42:00 PM
• View Count 1268

DES MOINES – Iowans interested in the results of a DNR study to improve water quality in lake environments for bacteria can view a presentation on the Iowa DNR’s YouTube channel. 

Wildfire smoke caused air quality exceedances

• 9/2/2021 2:38:00 PM
• View Count 1732

DES MOINES - Several Iowa monitoring sites recorded exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particulate matter last month, including two measurements that were more than twice the national standard.

Water Summary Update: August rainfall brings improvement to drought conditions

• 9/2/2021 2:37:00 PM
• View Count 1910

DES MOINES — August was the first of the summer months to bring above-normal precipitation to the state, providing significant relief to the ongoing drought conditions, according to the latest Water Summary Update. 

Waterfowl season dates corrected

• 8/31/2021 11:51:00 AM
• View Count 3951

An error during a routine update of the Iowa Hunting Regulations mistakenly posted the 2020-21 waterfowl season dates to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources website late last week. The issue has been corrected.

Iowa DNR hunter education program partners with Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, Inc., to introduce shooting sports teams to hunting

• 8/31/2021 11:50:00 AM
• View Count 2055

DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is partnering with Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors to expand the Shooting Sports Outreach pilot program begun in 2020.

Late summer cattail and floating-leaved plant control for ponds

• 8/31/2021 11:48:00 AM
• View Count 1569

Have the cattails in your pond taken over your favorite fishing spot or crowded you from one side of the dock or swimming area?

Iowa’s rabbit, squirrel season opens Sept. 4

• 8/31/2021 11:46:00 AM
• View Count 2908

The good news for Iowa’s cottontail rabbit hunters is that Iowa has an abundant rabbit population, with the southern and east central part of the state seeing the best overall numbers. The better news for hunters is Iowa’s cottontail rabbit season begins Sept. 4 statewide.

Paddlers urged to stay off rain swollen rivers

• 8/31/2021 11:44:00 AM
• View Count 2983

Iowa streams are swollen and swift with consistent rainfall the past several days. Some rivers are already dangerously high, and more rivers could rise fast with chances of rain forecast this week.

Pheasant survey predicts another good year of hunting for most of Iowa

• 8/31/2021 11:42:00 AM
• View Count 9632

Results of Iowa’s 2021 pheasant population survey shows the impact that weather can have on the popular game birds. In the regions where less snow fell, the counts were better; where more snow and ice fell, the counts were worse.

Portions of Otter Creek Marsh temporarily closed after aerial spraying

• 8/30/2021 2:22:00 PM
• View Count 1583

TAMA/TOLEDO, Iowa - Hunter access to Otter Creek Marsh will be restricted to only segments - segments four and six on the southeast side of the wildlife area - through 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 1, to comply with the 48 hour no entry restriction required after the other huntable sections of the marsh were chemically treated. Segments four and six are currently holding the most water on the complex.

Public meeting to discuss renewal of five wastewater general permits

• 8/26/2021 11:20:00 AM
• View Count 1515

DES MOINES – The Iowa DNR will hold a public stakeholder meeting via Zoom to answer questions and collect public comments on a proposed rulemaking to renew five National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permits.

DNR enforcement actions for August 26

• 8/26/2021 11:18:00 AM
• View Count 2370

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.

Air Quality permits under review for August 26

• 8/26/2021 11:17:00 AM
• View Count 1339

DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and air quality. DNR’s permitting staff review each permit application to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality requirements.

Updated Air Dispersion Modeling Guidance and Form MD Available

• 8/25/2021 4:01:00 PM
• View Count 1618

For those projects that may require modeling, DNR updated three guidance documents and Form MD. The updates remove references to the 24-hour and annual SO2 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which have been revoked.

DNR on site at fire near Eddyville

• 8/25/2021 2:12:00 PM
• View Count 2419

EDDYVILLE—Multiple complaints of fire, smoke and odor flowed into DNR’s Washington field office following a fire that started Sunday afternoon at a composting facility about 2.5 miles south of Eddyville.

Drought impacting Iowa’s shallow lakes and wetlands

• 8/25/2021 8:21:00 AM
• View Count 2816

Parkersburg, Iowa - With much of Iowa currently under drought conditions, many shallow lakes and wetlands will either be dry or nearly dry, making scouting an important part of hunter’s preparation ahead of the 2021 waterfowl season.

Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area adding to southeast Iowa’s recreation options

• 8/25/2021 8:17:00 AM
• View Count 2623

Sometimes, it seems when the stars are aligned, big things can happen. In this case, repeated flood events on the Iowa River in the early 2000s culminating with the flood of 2008 was the thing that allowed farmers who were tired of battling wet farmland to unload that headache and create a 2,800-acre public area.

DNR still seeking public’s assistance in tubing incident

• 8/22/2021 4:14:00 PM
• View Count 1724

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.

Opportunity for Public Comment on the Muscatine 1-hour SO2 Maintenance Plan

• 8/21/2021 1:22:00 PM
• View Count 1522

The DNR invites the public to provide comments on a draft plan to help redesignate the Muscatine area from nonattainment to attainment with the 1-hour sulfur dioxide (SO2) national ambient air quality standard. The DNR intends to submit the plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a revision to Iowa’s state implementation plan (SIP).

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