DNR holding public hearings on updates to surface water quality standards for copper 10/13/2016 2:14:00 PM View Count 3570 DES MOINES – The DNR is holding public hearings across the state this November to gather input on proposed updates to surface water quality standards for copper.
Fish kill on Dubuque County's Whitewater Creek still undetermined 10/13/2016 2:13:00 PM View Count 4100 MANCHESTER – The fish kill count is in, but the responsible party for a pollutant that killed nearly 8,000 fish in Whitewater Creek in mid-September remains undetermined.
DNR traced red color in Cherokee County stream to cattle feedlot 10/13/2016 2:11:00 PM View Count 3753 LARRABEE - DNR investigators tracked down red color in Bear Creek about four miles west of Larrabee to runoff from an earthen basin at a cattle feedlot owned by Nathan Tentinger of Tentinger Farms.
Quail on the rise in Iowa 10/13/2016 8:52:00 AM View Count 24809 Loren Zaruba looked on in excitement—it was the wildlife identification section of the annual Youth Hunter Education Challenge. He and his wife, Ellen, had spent the last three months working with a handful of young competitors, so when the speaker played a familiar “bob-white” call, Loren beamed. But as the teenagers’ faces turned blank and unsure, he realized that question wasn’t easy anymore—hunter or not, none of the youngsters had seen or heard a bobwhite quail.
DNR Investigating red color in a Cherokee County stream 10/13/2016 8:36:00 AM View Count 3343 LARRABEE - After a report from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s office Wednesday afternoon, the DNR is looking for the cause of a red color in Bear Creek about four miles west of Larrabee.
State Preserves Advisory Board meets October 20 10/11/2016 3:30:00 PM View Count 3503 The State Preserves Advisory Board of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will meet at 10 a.m., Oct. 20, in the second floor conference room of the Wallace State Office Building, 502 East Ninth Street, in Des Moines.
Lake restoration project underway at Center Lake 10/11/2016 3:29:00 PM View Count 5627 SPIRIT LAKE – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will begin another phase of work on Center Lake this fall to improve habitat and water quality on the 257-acre lake southwest of Spirit Lake.
Receive 50 bonus seedlings with a fall color packet 10/11/2016 3:27:00 PM View Count 3833 DES MOINES – Love fall color? Plant some for yourself with a specialty packet from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ State Forest Nursery.
2016 Iowa trout angler survey 10/11/2016 3:25:00 PM View Count 4314 Anglers who purchased the trout permit for the 2016 season may receive a postcard soon encouraging them to participate in the 2016 Trout Angler Survey. As of October 1, 2016, nearly 45,000 resident and non-resident anglers purchased the trout permit, and 10,000 of these purchasers were selected to participate in the trout survey.
Deer poachers caught on camera 10/11/2016 3:23:00 PM View Count 34139 Fort Dodge, Iowa - A nine month investigation into deer and turkey poaching in Webster County, Iowa, was closed on Oct. 7, when Kyle Alstott, 23, of Fort Dodge, the last of the 10 individuals facing charges from Iowa and Nebraska, pleaded guilty.
Natural Resource Commission to meet October 13 in Des Moines 10/11/2016 9:21:00 AM View Count 3703 Des Moines – The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will meet at 9:30 a.m., on October 13, at in the fourth floor conference room, Wallace State Office Building, in Des Moines.
Water Summary Update: 2016 Water Year much wetter than normal 10/11/2016 9:16:00 AM View Count 6963 DES MOINES— The 2016 Water Year (ending September 30, 2016) brought a statewide average precipitation of almost 45 inches, 9.6 inches more than normal. This ranks as the third wettest water year among 144 years of record.
Pump failure results in wastewater bypass to Storm Lake 10/8/2016 6:12:00 PM View Count 3434 Storm Lake – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) responded to a bypass at the Tyson Fresh Meats pork plant on October 8, 2016. The bypass occurred when a lift station pump failed and caused a power failure at two lift stations.
Colors of the Driftless 10/7/2016 3:14:00 PM View Count 15204 Far up in the northeast corner of Iowa lies a tiny gem of a town called Marquette. The town proudly proclaims to be “Iowa’s Best Kept Secret.” In fact, if it wasn’t for the congenial welcome sign that reads “The People of Iowa Welcome You. Iowa: Fields of Opportunities,” most Iowans would never know they were still in the Hawkeye State. Yet, in this area of Iowa, the sign almost seems like a misnomer as there are few fields to see.
Endangered barn owls thriving in one Iowa woodlot 10/7/2016 2:06:00 PM View Count 15525 Join Iowa DNR Biologist Bruce Ehresman as he describes a night among barn owls, great horned owls and raccoons – all in one special north Iowa woodlot.
Contracts and final livestock and poultry rule proposal on EPC's October agenda 10/6/2016 1:35:00 PM View Count 9360 DES MOINES – Commissioners will be asked to approve three contracts and a final rule proposal on animal feeding operations at the Oct. 18 Environmental Protection Commission meeting in Des Moines.
8 cool things you should know about rabbits 10/5/2016 3:03:00 PM View Count 45803 Rabbits are a common pet, pest and prey, but how much do you really know about them? Check out the facts below to see why bunnies are important in Iowa and around the world.
Howard County fish kill tracked to land application 10/4/2016 1:46:00 PM View Count 4324 RICEVILLE – DNR staff investigated the report of a fish kill on a tributary of the Wapsipinicon River on Sept. 28 about 2.5 miles south of Riceville in Howard County.
View raptors at the High Trestle hawk watch 10/4/2016 1:44:00 PM View Count 4388 Join experts and birding novices at the family-friendly High Trestle Hawk Watch Saturday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The hawk watch will be at the High Trestle Bridge’s main viewing platform on the west side of the bridge and the new shelter on the east side of the bridge.
Trout fishing under a canopy of fall colors 10/4/2016 1:43:00 PM View Count 12596 Enjoy the vibrant scenery and cool weather this fall fishing for Iowa’s prize trout in northeast Iowa’s hundreds of miles of trout streams. From easily accessible streams in state or county parks, to those found in Iowa’s most wild and remote natural spaces, there are plenty of places to catch rainbow, brown and brook trout.
Fall urban trout stocking begins October 13 10/4/2016 1:42:00 PM View Count 5209 Seventeen locations across Iowa are gearing up to receive trout this fall. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will release between 1,000 to 2,000 rainbow trout at each location as part of its cool weather trout program that brings trout to areas that cannot support them during the summer months.
Louisa County man pleads guilty to deer poaching 10/4/2016 1:41:00 PM View Count 11627 DES MOINES – A Morning Sun man has pled guilty to multiple counts of illegally taking deer in Louisa County.
Lake Odessa in Louisa County impacted by flood 9/30/2016 2:45:00 PM View Count 4762 WAPELLO - The Lake Odessa Complex in Louisa County is currently being impacted by major flooding on the Mississippi and Iowa Rivers.
Out of the way fall color 9/30/2016 11:17:00 AM View Count 9839 Autumn brings a welcoming crispness to the air. It’s officially fall in the Midwest, and fun abounds statewide for those in search of color and good times outdoors. Yes, northeast Iowa is the top hotspot for fall color, but here are some less trod places with everything from fishing to paddling and hiking. So get out—there is much to explore!
Top 10 destinations for trout fishing this fall in Iowa 9/30/2016 10:30:00 AM View Count 27493 Start a new fall tradition with a trip to northeast Iowa’s hundreds of miles of trout streams. From easily accessible streams in state or county parks, to those found in Iowa’s most wild and remote natural spaces, there are plenty of places to catch rainbow, brown and brook trout.
7 must-see waterfalls in Iowa State Parks 9/29/2016 3:39:00 PM View Count 67418 From nature's splendor to man-made spillways, these water features are definitely wonderful. Below, get the full list of Iowa's waterfalls, how to get to each one, and ideas on other things to do in the area while on your waterfall tour.
Meeting to discuss Eldred Sherwood Lake water quality improvement plan 9/29/2016 11:23:00 AM View Count 4012 KLEMME – Iowans interested in the results of a DNR study to improve water quality in Eldred Sherwood Lake in Hancock County can attend a meeting Oct. 12. Citizens are encouraged to bring their questions and ideas to improve the lake to the meeting for discussion.
Grants available for fishing and boating education programs in Hispanic communities 9/29/2016 9:02:00 AM View Count 4269 he Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Fish Iowa! angler education program has partnered with the Recreational Fishing and Boating Foundation’s (RBFF) Vamos A Pescar program to provide grants to local 501(c)(3) organizations to support local efforts to educate and engage families in high-density Hispanic communities through programs, classes and fishing activities.
So you think you can mulch 9/28/2016 3:34:00 PM View Count 11313 Mulching can be the best thing you can do to promote the health of trees, shrubs and plants. It can also be the worst, if done improperly.
Scouting encouraged for duck hunters in Eastern Iowa flood zone 9/28/2016 3:00:00 PM View Count 3964 Duck hunters planning to hunt public wildlife marshes, lakes, sloughs, river bottoms or flats in eastern Iowa are encouraged to scout the areas before they plan to hunt.
September 29 Title V Emission Fee Advisory Group Meeting Rescheduled 9/28/2016 2:58:00 PM View Count 3238 We are not longer able to meet on September 29 as previously planned. We apologize for the late notice.
State parks peak season winding down 9/27/2016 2:23:00 PM View Count 4356 Another busy year in Iowa’s state parks will be coming to an end and soon staff will be preparing for the first freezing temperatures of the fall.
Cedar Rapids area site added for walnut collection 9/27/2016 2:20:00 PM View Count 4990 CEDAR RAPIDS -- Iowa’s State Forest Nursery is in need of walnuts to propagate walnut seedlings this coming year, and is offering $2.50 per bushel.
Iowa’s archery deer hunting season opens October 1 9/27/2016 2:12:00 PM View Count 12692 The days are getting shorter, nights are getting cooler and treestands are being moved into place. For bow hunters, the long wait is nearly over. Iowa’s archery deer season begins Oct. 1.
Cattle manure identified as source of fish kill in Jackson County 9/23/2016 3:21:00 PM View Count 3687 ANDREW – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has identified a small beef open feedlot as the source of a 3.5-mile- long fish kill investigated Sept. 9 in Upper Brush Creek, a trout stream north of Andrew in Jackson County.
Flooding in northern Iowa impacts some public areas and raises baiting questions 9/23/2016 3:19:00 PM View Count 4507 DES MOINES - It will not be a run-of-the-mill type of opener for many waterfowl hunters in northern portions of the state on Saturday. Extensive flooding has impacted some of the more popular public areas and also raises questions on when hunting flooded fields might be considered baiting.
11 tips and tricks to handle “nuisance” wildlife responsibly 9/23/2016 3:12:00 PM View Count 20807 Not every furry face has to be your favorite, but you can support a healthy ecosystem by choosing to handle your wildlife woes responsibly. Rather than exterminating these common “nuisance” critters, use the following tips to avoid problems while preserving wildlife in your area.
7 unexpected health benefits of nature 9/23/2016 2:30:00 PM View Count 11693 As most Americans have heard, we need to get out more. Intuitively, it makes sense that time spent out in nature is good for us, and helps us ward off obvious health issues like obesity. But researchers have found much more than that. Whether you’re 5, 25, 50 or 95, think about these quirky benefits of nature today—they just might motivate you to spend some more minutes in the great outdoors.
6 tips for cool-weather camping 9/23/2016 1:06:00 PM View Count 15368 Campers don’t have to pack up the tent and park the camper just because the calendar flips to September (or wait for it to hit June, either!). These off-peak seasons can be some of the best times to go, with cooler temperatures and in the fall, gorgeous fall colors at the campground. As the temperature dips, here are some tips to stay cozy at the campground.
Intense rainfall in northern Iowa creating a number of environmental issues, park closures 9/22/2016 4:15:00 PM View Count 7926 DES MOINES – People with private drinking wells in flooded areas are being urged by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to use caution before using water from those sources.
Reminder: grant opportunity to help small Iowa communities with abandoned commercial properties 9/22/2016 11:24:00 AM View Count 3738 DES MOINES-- Funding is still available to Iowa communities with populations of 5,000 or smaller to inspect and properly remove asbestos from abandoned commercial buildings.
Habitat improvement off and running at McIntosh Woods State Park 9/21/2016 9:53:00 AM View Count 4178 VENTURA -- Forty goats are the new ecosystem managers at McIntosh Woods State Park on Clear Lake and they are taking their roles very seriously. For six weeks they will clear targeted areas of woody invasive vegetation that is overpowering the native plants in the park.
Boil advisory lifted for city of Malcom 9/21/2016 9:06:00 AM View Count 3209 MALCOM – A boil advisory for the city of Malcom in Poweshiek County has been lifted.
Wapello campground reopens 9/20/2016 1:28:00 PM View Count 6237 Wapello State Park, in southeast Iowa’s Davis County, will open its newly renovated campground on Sept. 30, just in time for the fall camping season.
Iowa is getting a glimpse of fall color 9/20/2016 1:21:00 PM View Count 4259 Iowa’s leaf watchers are getting ready for the big fall show.