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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 6, 2018
MEDIA CONTACT: Steve Hopkins, 515-725-8390 or stephen.hopkins@dnr.iowa.gov
DANVILLE — Every stream flows somewhere, and new signs along stream crossings are helping Iowans learn which waters flow into their local lakes.
Near Lake Geode in Des Moines County, new signs along Cedar Creek announce that the stream feeds into the lake. It’s part of the watershed, the area of land that drains into a specific creek, river or lake. And at Geode, a larger community project is working to improve the lake’s water quality.
"We want to help people living in the area understand that using conservation practices to protect water quality in Cedar Creek will also benefit Lake Geode, since they are part of the same watershed," said Mary Beth Stevenson, a DNR watershed projects manager.
People have had a lot of interest in the project, according to Lake Geode Watershed Coordinator Caleb Waters.
“Since Lake Geode was drained last fall, we and our project partners have received numerous questions from residents asking how the lake will refill once the lake restoration project is complete,” Waters said.
In another watershed project, the DNR will also work with the City of Des Moines to place “Source of Easter Lake” signs along Yeader Creek and Magnolia Creek.
The signs join a number of creek name signs at stream crossings in a number of watersheds across the state, all designed to help Iowans gain a greater recognition and appreciation of their local waters.
“Every day we drive across a stream, creek or river and most of the time we don’t realize the name of the creek, where it starts or ends,” said Waters. “We believe these signs will create awareness linking the community to Cedar Creek and the watershed in which they live.”
Funding for the signs comes from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 319 funds through the Iowa DNR Watershed Improvement program.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jerah Sheets at 515-313-8909 or Jerah.Sheets@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES – The biennial groundwater status report and proposed rule changes are up for approval at the Dec. 18 Environmental Protection Commission meeting.
Commissioners will be asked to approve the 2018 groundwater report, which is focused on availability of groundwater. The report summarizes collaborative work by DNR and the Iowa Geological Survey over the past decade and the intent to work together on future aquifer modeling.
In other action, commissioners will be asked to approve DNR going forward with rule changes designed to clean up existing administrative rules, and update them to reflect three recent changes in state law:
- transferring the State Geologist and Iowa Geological Survey to the University of Iowa,
- adding an animal unit capacity for small fish in the animal feeding operations rules, and
- increasing the reimbursement cap for the Land Recycling Program.
The meeting begins at 10 a.m. in Room 116 of the Iowa State Capitol, 1007 E. Grand Ave. in Des Moines. The meeting is open to the public.
Please submit written comments to Jerah Sheets at Jerah.Sheets@dnr.iowa.gov or call 515-313-8909, or by mail to DNR, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319 by noon the day before the meeting.
The complete agenda follows:
Approval of Agenda
Approval of the Minutes
Monthly Reports
Acting Director’s Remarks
Groundwater Status Report 2018
Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund – FY 2019 Intended Use Plan update
Contract with City of Des Moines – Easter Lake Southeast 14th Street Bio-Retention Cells
Notice of Intended Action – Chapters 50, 51, 53, 65, 72, 82, and 137 – Proposed Rule Amendment
Notice of Intended Action – Chapter 61 – Water Quality Standards (Stream Reclassifications via Use Assessment and Use Attainability Analyses – Batch #5)
General Discussion
- Petition for Rulemaking to Adopt Lake Nutrient Standards – History
Items for Next Month’s Meeting
- 23 – Joint NRC/EPC Meeting – Des Moines
- 23 – EPC Business Meeting – Des Moines
- 19 – EPC Business Meeting – Des Moines
The complete agenda and item briefs are available on the DNR website.
Commissioners include: Ralph Lents, Menlo, chair; Joe Riding, Altoona, vice chair; Rebecca Guinn, Bettendorf, Secretary; Mary Boote, Des Moines; Nancy Couser, Nevada; Lisa Gochenour, Logan; Howard Hill, Cambridge; Harold Hommes, Windsor Heights; and Bob Sinclair, Sigourney. Bruce Trautman is the acting director of the DNR.
DES MOINES — This fall’s wet weather has pulled the entire state out of drought conditions for the first time since May 2017, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Streamflow is above normal in most locations, and shallow groundwater has recharged across all of the state.
"The wetter than normal fall months have resulted in Iowa having abundant shallow groundwater going into the winter months," said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources.
September, October and November saw temperatures about 2 degrees below normal, but 6 inches more rainfall than normal. That makes it the third wettest fall on record, and the wettest since 1941. Temperatures in November were 6.6 degrees cooler than usual.
For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, go to www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.
The report is prepared by technical staff from Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.
MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah Piziali, DNR, at 515-725-9549 or Sarah.Piziali@dnr.iowa.gov for construction permits.
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 public comment period.
Construction Permits
DNR engineers review and issue construction permits to facilities before they build new or modified sources of air pollution. The public may review the following air quality construction permits available online at www.iowadnr.gov/airpermitsearch.
Linn County Cargill, Inc. – 1710 16th St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Project No. 18-453, Modification of permits associated with starch production for changes to monitoring and recordkeeping language. The public comment period ends Jan. 4.
Muscatine County
SSAB Iowa, 1770 Bill Sharp Blvd., Muscatine.
Project 18-405, Modification of permit for existing ladle dryer. Public comment period ends Dec. 12.
Polk County
MidAmerican Energy Company – Greater Des Moines Energy Center, 4401 Carlisle Road, Pleasant Hill.
Project No. 18-351, modification of permits for two existing combustion turbines. Public comment period ends Jan. 5.
MEDIA CONTACT: Kelli Book, DNR, at 515-725-9572 or Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov.
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.
Consent Orders A consent order is issued as an alternative to issuing an administrative order. A consent order indicates that the DNR has voluntarily entered into a legally enforceable agreement with the other party.
Jasper County
Hewitt's Service Center, Ltd and Steve Hewitt
Cease improper opening burning on the property; remove all solid waste within 60 days; remove all tires by Feb. 1, 2019; comply with regulations for future use of tires; and pay an administrative penalty of $4,000.
Muscatine County
City of Muscatine
Submit comprehensive plan for evaluation and inspection; complete construction of a redundant line; and pay an administrative penalty of $10,000.
O’Brien County
Doug and Dan Schmitz
Empty basin; maintain basin levels; and pay an administrative penalty of $5,000.
Scott County
Arconic Inc.
Identify all actions needed to cease illegal bypass by May 1, 2019; submit a study of all actions that may be implemented by Nov. 1, 2021; select final action for implementation and submit a schedule by April 1, 2023; implement all actions by Nov. 1, 2028; and pay an administrative penalty of $5,000.
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