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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2020
MEDIA CONTACT: Jerah Sheets at 515-313-8909 or Jerah.Sheets@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES—Water-related contracts dominate the monthly Environmental Protection Commission’s meeting on Aug. 18.
Commissioners will meet by video conference at 10 a.m. To join by video, connect with https://meet.google.com/rqw-nksu-aak. To join by phone, call 216-505-9946, and enter the conference code of 208540651 followed by the pound (#) sign. The meeting is open to the public. There is no scheduled public participation. Written comments may be submitted up to one day before the meeting to Jerah Sheets at Jerah.Sheets@dnr.iowa.gov or to DNR, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319.
Up for commission approval is a contract amendment that will fund terraces and streambank protection to Silver Creek in Clayton County. The additional funding completes the multi-year project designed to improve in-stream fish and insect habitat by reducing sediment.
An overview of Iowa’s floodplain mapping program’s progress will precede a request for commissioners to approve contract amendments for floodplain mapping services. The amended contracts will help DNR meet the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s requirements for Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Funding comes from FEMA and will improve future maps and risk awareness with updated data and more precise engineering.
A related contract amendment aims at assisting the DNR in helping communities to understand and mitigate flood risks, fulfilling FEMA standards and guidelines.
Finally, a contract amendment with the Association of Boards of Certification will enable drinking water and wastewater operators to take their certification exams via remote proctoring. This option will help eliminate the backlog of exams that occurred after traditional testing locations became unavailable due to COVID-19.
In other action, commissioners will be asked to approve the annual water use permit fee required for all water use permits using 25,000 gallons or more of water on any day during the year. The proposed fee is $95 and is the same as last year.
Find the complete agenda at http://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/Boards-Commissions.
Commissioners include: Ralph Lents, Menlo, chair; Harold Hommes, Windsor Heights, vice chair; Bob Sinclair, Sigourney, Secretary; Stephanie Dykshorn, Ireton; Amy Echard, Farmersburg; Lisa Gochenour, Logan; Rebecca Guinn, Bettendorf; and Howard Hill, Cambridge. Kayla Lyon is the DNR director.
MEDIA CONTACT: Tim Hall, Iowa DNR, 515-725-8298 or Tim.Hall@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES — For the first time in almost two years, an area of extreme drought exists in Iowa, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Current conditions show nearly 80 percent of Iowa with some level of drought. The area of extreme drought covers about 6 percent of the state, centered over Audubon, Carroll, Greene and Guthrie counties.
"Conditions continue to deteriorate over west central Iowa, with July being another dry month. Anytime extreme drought shows up in the state, it gets our attention,” said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources. “So far, average streamflow conditions statewide remain near normal, but some areas are beginning to show low stream flows and stressed groundwater supplies."
Statewide precipitation averaged 2.87 inches in July, or 1.63 inches less than the 30-year climatological average. This puts July 2020 as the 41st driest July in 148 years of statewide records.
Iowa experienced warmer than normal conditions statewide during July with an average temperature of 75.3 degrees, 1.7 degrees above normal. This ties July 2020 with 1911 and 2001 as the 47th warmest July on record. Little Sioux in Harrison County reported the month’s high temperature of 98 degrees on July 18, 12 degrees above normal. Mason City Municipal Airport reported the month’s low temperature of 44 degrees on July 16, 17 degrees below normal.
Streamflow is average on a statewide basis, but there are several areas that are showing below normal flow. Shallow groundwater conditions are deteriorating in several areas of Iowa as well.
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: Jeff Berckes at 515-725-8391 or jeff.berckes@dnr.iowa.gov.
HARLAN – Iowans interested in the results of a DNR study to improve water quality in Prairie Rose Lake in Shelby County can view a presentation on the Iowa DNR’s YouTube channel.
Prairie Rose Lake is on the state’s list of impaired waters for high levels of algae and turbidity. The current study, or DNR water quality improvement plan, shows how these problems are caused by too much phosphorus in the lake. The problems impact recreation on the lake and aquatic life.
The plan explores the amounts and sources of phosphorus entering the lake and offers potential solutions to reduce those levels and work toward fixing the problem. The document is designed as a guide for local resource agencies, partners, stakeholders and residents to improve the lake.
The presentation is available now at youtube.com/iowadnr through Sept. 8. The full document can be downloaded on the Iowa DNR’s website at the following: http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/WaterQuality/WatershedImprovement/WatershedResearchData/WaterImprovementPlans/PublicMeetingsPlans.aspx.
Public comments on the plan must be submitted by Sep. 8 to the following:
E-mail: jeff.berckes@dnr.iowa.gov
Mail: Jeff Berckes, care of Iowa DNR, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth St. Des Moines, Iowa 50319
After gathering Iowans’ comments, the DNR will forward the final plan, also called by its technical name of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval.
 Iowa Outdoors magazine AND a t-shirt for just $20!
Since we won't see you at the Iowa State Fair this year, we're bringing the popular "state fair" magazine special to your door!
Subscribe to Iowa Outdoors magazine to get four big issues filled with beautiful photography, wildlife articles, outdoor destinations, and next year's calendar. You'll get the state fair t-shirt, in light-blue 100-percent preshrunk cotton, promoting the 100th anniversary of state parks.
To subscribe, visit the Iowa Outdoors magazine special page, or purchase through the DNR's online license site.
When subscribing, choose your t-shirt size (XXXL cost extra), and you can purchase an additional t-shirt when you order. T-shirts will be mailed by Sept. 30, 2020. The $20 price includes a one-year subscription, t-shirt and shipping costs.
Hurry! This offer is only available through August 31, 2020. We hope you enjoy Iowa Outdoors!
MEDIA CONTACT: Tamara McIntosh, DNR, at 515-725-8242 or Tamara.Mcintosh@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.
For copies of the orders below, contact Kelli Book at Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov. Older actions can be found 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.
Allamakee County
Brian and Steve Nelson
Complete restoration and stabilization of Dousman Creek consistent with the DNR-approved plan by December 2020; and maintain, inspect, and make necessary improvements of the features and structures for five years.
Bremer County
SLG, LLC
Apply for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit as required by law; comply with all terms of any issued NPDES permit, including those specific to filing a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan prior to a Notice of Intent; do not make false statements to the DNR; and pay a $5,000 administrative penalty.
Franklin County
Seabee Corporation
Submit Title V fees for 2019; timely submit 2020 Title V Emissions Inventory and prorated fees for 2020; and pay a $10,000 administrative penalty.
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. We encourage public comments on draft permits, providing help on how to make effective comments. Submit written comments to the assigned permit writer before 4:30 p.m. on the last day of the comment period. DNR considers public comments before finalizing the permits.
Construction Permits
DNR engineers review and issue construction permits to facilities before they build new or modify existing sources of air pollution. The public may review the following air quality construction permits available online at www.iowadnr.gov/airpermitsearch OR through the EASY Air Public Inquiry Portal and then click the Public Notice tab.
Black Hawk County
University of Northern Iowa – 1901 W 30th St., Cedar Falls.
Project No. 20-114, Adding CO CEM. The public comment period ends Sept. 7.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is working with state and local officials to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and has transitioned employees to work remotely. DNR offices are closed to the public during this time and only available by appointment.
In another effort to further reduce the spread of COVID-19, the DNR is encouraging the use of the online services for submitting applications, payments and other daily tasks and interaction with DNR staff.
We thank you for your patience and flexibility during this time. If you need to contact DNR staff you can reach them by email or phone or by calling 515-725-8200.
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