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DNR News Releases

New Construction Certification form for confinements

• 2/13/2020 10:22:00 AM
• View Count 2285

To help producers and contractors, DNR has posted the Construction Certification form which notifies the agency after confinement construction is complete. With the time delay between receiving a construction permit and construction completion, contractors sometimes neglect to certify construction. However, the certification is required before populating any permitted confinement with more than 1,000 animal unit capacity. 

Manure Applicator Training Wraps Up Feb. 28

• 2/13/2020 10:21:00 AM
• View Count 2008

Confinement site applicators have just under three weeks to take live manure applicator certification training. The last on-site training session is offered Feb. 28.

MAC Renewals due before March 1

• 2/13/2020 10:19:00 AM
• View Count 1686

Certificates expire annually on March 1 for commercial manure applicators.

Most - 89 Counties - Opt In for Master Matrix

• 2/13/2020 10:18:00 AM
• View Count 1841

Exactly the same as the last two years, 89 of Iowa’s 99 counties plan to use the master matrix to evaluate construction permit applications and proposed sites for animal confinements this year. From Feb. 1 to Jan. 31 of 2021, producers who need a construction permit in these counties must meet additional requirements.

Build better manure storage systems

• 2/13/2020 10:17:00 AM
• View Count 1910

Concrete contractors building deep pit barns should plan to attend a DNR training session on concrete design and construction. Six sessions begin next week and are offered throughout the state.

Iowa DNR accepting comments on proposed fishing rules

• 2/12/2020 1:25:00 PM
• View Count 3199

Des Moines - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting comments on several proposed changes to the Iowa Administrative Code Chapters 44, 54, 81 and 113, through March 5.

Space available in upcoming hunter education classes

• 2/11/2020 2:06:00 PM
• View Count 5233

Hunter Education Classroom courses are offered by knowledgeable and certified volunteer instructors and Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers. Classroom courses are typically 12-15 hours in length and are held over 2 to 3 sessions (days). In order to receive certification, a student must attend all sessions and pass the final exam.

Trees for Kids grant applications due March 6

• 2/11/2020 2:04:00 PM
• View Count 4230

DES MOINES – The popular Trees for Kids grant program is now accepting applications through March 6.

Ice fishing shelters must be removed by Feb. 20

• 2/11/2020 2:03:00 PM
• View Count 2664

Des Moines – Permanent ice shelters must be removed from all state-owned lands and waters by Feb. 20. Ice shelter owners are encouraged not to wait until the last minute to get their shelter off the ice. If a shelter falls through the ice, the owner is responsible for getting it out of the lake.

Iowa artists help celebrate state parks centennial

• 2/11/2020 1:54:00 PM
• View Count 4604

DES MOINES – Iowa’s state parks have inspired visitors ever since the first site, Backbone State Park, opened in Delaware County in 1920.

Test results are in, chronic wasting disease has been found in four new counties

• 2/11/2020 1:49:00 PM
• View Count 10224

Chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in wild deer from Woodbury, Winneshiek, Fayette and Decatur counties this year, bringing the total number of counties in Iowa where wild deer have tested positive to eight.

Iowa hunters harvest nearly 95,000 deer from the 2019-20 seasons

• 2/11/2020 1:48:00 PM
• View Count 7154

Hunters reported harvesting nearly 95,000 deer during Iowa’s 2019-2020 hunting seasons, which is a decline from 2018-19, when hunters reported nearly 108,000 deer.

3 ducks you may not know live in Iowa

• 2/11/2020 10:15:00 AM
• View Count 9758

Some ducks in Iowa aren’t as common as mallards, wood ducks or blue-winged teals. Check out these duck species you might not know live here:

Proposed waterfowl rules available for public comment

• 2/9/2020 2:48:00 PM
• View Count 3221

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting comments on proposed waterfowl and coot hunting seasons and bag limits, which includes 2021-22 season dates, and the proposed restructuring of the hunting zones and seasons for 2021-2025.

Trumpeter swan soiree returns to central Iowa Feb. 15

• 2/9/2020 2:05:00 PM
• View Count 2438

West Des Moines, Iowa - The public is invited to a Trumpeter Swan Soiree, celebrating North America’s largest waterfowl species, on Feb. 15, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Walnut Woods State Park, in West Des Moines.

Natural Resource Commission to meet via teleconference on Feb. 13

• 2/6/2020 5:33:00 PM
• View Count 2544

Des Moines, Iowa – The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will meet via teleconference at 8:30 a.m., Feb. 13, originating from the fourth-floor conference room, in the Wallace State Office Building, 502 East Ninth Street, in Des Moines

Water Summary Update: January warmer with more rain and snow than usual

• 2/6/2020 12:06:00 PM
• View Count 2425

DES MOINES — Both statewide precipitation and temperatures were above average in January, according to the latest Water Summary Update. 

Livestock master matrix adopted in 89 counties

• 2/6/2020 12:05:00 PM
• View Count 2871

DES MOINES – In January, 89 of Iowa’s 99 counties notified DNR that they plan to evaluate construction permit applications and proposed animal confinement locations by using the master matrix.

DNR enforcement actions

• 2/6/2020 12:04:00 PM
• View Count 2305

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

• 2/6/2020 12:03:00 PM
• View Count 1708

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.

Construction Permit Lead Times Get Back on Track

• 2/4/2020 2:06:00 PM
• View Count 2640

For the last six months significant air quality construction permit staff time was diverted from application review to enable EASY Air’s on-time roll out. With the successful launch of EASY Air, staff can once again devote their time to application reviews.

Campground hosts needed for upcoming recreation season

• 2/4/2020 12:38:00 PM
• View Count 12108

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking people who enjoy the outdoors, camping and meeting new people, to consider becoming volunteer campground hosts for the upcoming recreation season.

DNR finalizes public meeting locations to recap hunting seasons, discuss possible rule changes

• 2/4/2020 12:36:00 PM
• View Count 5945

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff will provide updates on recently completed hunting seasons, discuss possible changes to hunting rules and regulations, and address other topics as requested.

Family trout fishing event this Saturday in Ames

• 2/4/2020 12:34:00 PM
• View Count 3257

Ames, Iowa – A family-friendly trout fishing event will be held at Ada Hayden Heritage Park this Saturday, Feb. 8 at noon.

Walleye season closes Feb. 14 on Iowa Great Lakes

• 2/4/2020 12:30:00 PM
• View Count 2760

Spirit Lake, Iowa – The walleye fishing season on Spirit, East and West Okoboji lakes is open through Feb. 14. It will close after that date and reopens on May 2. These are the only Iowa lakes that have a closed season for walleye.

Muskrat trapping season extended to April 1 on Lizard Lake

• 1/31/2020 12:20:00 PM
• View Count 3200

GILMORE CITY, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is extending the muskrat trapping season on Lizard Lake, in Pocahontas County, from Feb. 1 to April 1 to offer additional trapping opportunities of a temporarily abundant resource. Iowa’s trapping season for all furbearers except beaver closes statewide on Jan. 31.

DNR to recap hunting seasons, discuss possible rule changes at public meetings across the state

• 1/30/2020 12:51:00 PM
• View Count 9526

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff will provide updates on recently completed hunting seasons, discuss possible changes to hunting rules and regulations, and address other topics as requested.

DNR enforcement actions

• 1/30/2020 11:51:00 AM
• View Count 2164

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

• 1/30/2020 11:50:00 AM
• View Count 1787

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.

Trout stocking at Ada Hayden Heritage Park postponed

• 1/28/2020 3:39:00 PM
• View Count 3772

Ames, Iowa – The trout stocking and family trout fishing event scheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 1, at Ada Hayden Heritage Park, has been postponed due to unsafe ice conditions for the expected large crowd. 

Opportunity to help DNR track frog and toad populations

• 1/28/2020 3:34:00 PM
• View Count 4784

It’s 10 o’clock on a summer night along a gravel road anywhere in Iowa. In the farm pond next to the road, a raucous chorus of male frogs are making themselves heard as they vie for mates. A volunteer stands clipboard in hand, ear cocked, mentally sorting out each of the calling species which are using this seemingly ordinary pond.   

DNR assistance available for landowners interested in CRP

• 1/28/2020 3:32:00 PM
• View Count 2436

Landowners interested in enrolling a portion of their land into the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup have until Feb. 28 to write an offer. The general signup came out of the 2018 Farm Bill that increased the cap of acres enrolled from 22 million acres to 27 million.

January 30 Afternoon SLEIS training session cancelled

• 1/27/2020 1:56:00 PM
• View Count 2380

Due to low interest, the DNR has cancelled the SLEIS training session originally schedule for January 30 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.  Individuals who originally registered for the January 30 afternoon training session have been contacted and given an opportunity to register for a different training session. 

Missed the training? EASY Air permit how-tos are now online

• 1/24/2020 10:28:00 AM
• View Count 2507

Here to help and just published: Whether you missed the Dec. 19 training or forgot some of the steps, find the DNR’s EASY Air training video at eAirServices under the “What Instructions are Available” tab.

Central Iowa & Portable Plant Minor Source Emissions Inventory Reports Due May 15

• 1/24/2020 9:55:00 AM
• View Count 2190

Minor source facilities located in the central third of Iowa (counties listed below) must submit their Minor Source Emission Inventory (MSEI) for calendar year 2019 emissions to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Air Quality Bureau by May 15, 2020.

Meet Iowa's smallest owl

• 1/24/2020 9:41:00 AM
• View Count 8305

What has bright yellow eyes, weighs less than a lemon, and winters in Iowa? The northern saw-whet owl!

DNR grant opportunity available to develop a statewide volunteer water quality monitoring program

• 1/23/2020 12:11:00 PM
• View Count 2698

DES MOINES - The DNR’s Watershed Improvement Section is accepting applications for a grant to help develop a Statewide Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program.

Air Quality permits under review

• 1/23/2020 12:10:00 PM
• View Count 2138

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.

Chickadee tax check-off donations continues downward trend in 2018

• 1/21/2020 2:07:00 PM
• View Count 3800

Last year, more than 7,200 Iowa taxpayers helped boost wildlife conservation with donations to the Fish and Wildlife Fund on their state tax form, which is roughly 300 fewer donors than in 2017. Donors represent about 0.5 percent of total tax payers in Iowa.

Trout stocking this Saturday at Lake Petocka cancelled

• 1/21/2020 2:05:00 PM
• View Count 2903

Bondurant, Iowa – The trout stocking and family trout fishing event scheduled for this Saturday, Jan. 25 at Lake Petocka has been cancelled due to unsafe ice conditions for the expected large crowd.

Bald Eagle shot, killed in Ankeny; public’s help sought

• 1/21/2020 1:33:00 PM
• View Count 25959

ANKENY, Iowa -- On January 3, 2020, the Ankeny Police Department contacted a DNR Conservation Officer and a Wildlife Rehabber about a mature Bald Eagle that was not acting normal and sitting on the ground near Northeast Trilein Drive and East 1st Street.

Come visit DNR, take MAC training at Pork Congress

• 1/17/2020 11:10:00 AM
• View Count 1833

Producers and consultants, come visit with DNR’s technical experts at Pork Congress Jan. 22 and 23 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

Water quality improvements lead to mussels’ return, Upper Iowa River off state impaired waters list

• 1/16/2020 11:48:00 AM
• View Count 7238

DECORAH -- The Upper Iowa River seemed an unlikely candidate for Iowa’s impaired waters list, noted for its exceptional water quality and stellar outdoor recreation opportunities. Still, native freshwater mussels were struggling to survive in the river - until a local effort stepped in to make major changes on the land. That effort was just recognized as a water quality success story by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Contracts on the Environmental Protection Commission’s agenda

• 1/16/2020 11:47:00 AM
• View Count 3370

DES MOINES – Departing from its usual Tuesday meetings, the Environmental Protection Commission will meet at 1 p.m., Jan. 22, in the Wallace State Office Building auditorium, second floor, 502 E. Ninth St. in Des Moines.

Air Quality permits under review

• 1/16/2020 11:46:00 AM
• View Count 2038

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.

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