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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT: Tim Hall, Iowa DNR, 515-452-6633 or Tim.Hall@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES — Last month’s polar vortex led to the eighth coldest February in Iowa on record while also tallying below-average precipitation, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
For the meteorological winter (December to February), statewide temperatures were 0.9 degrees below normal, while precipitation totaled 2.82 inches, about one half inch below normal. The statewide average snowfall was 32.2 inches, more than 9 inches above normal.
"While February was definitely a very cold month, precipitation was below normal on a statewide average,” said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources. “Hopefully the spring months will bring normal rainfall to replenish soil moisture and shallow groundwater supplies.”
The upcoming months of March through June typically bring more than 15 inches of rain to the state. If normal precipitation does fall across Iowa, abnormally dry and drought conditions could improve through the spring months.
Frigid temperatures blanketed Iowa for much of the first half of February due to an arctic air outbreak from a bulge in the polar vortex. While there was a rebound in the statewide average temperature at the end of the month, the average temperature for February was anywhere from 8 to 16 degrees below normal.
February’s statewide average maximum temperature was 20.7 degrees, 12.7 degrees below normal, while the average minimum temperature was 4.4 degrees, 14.5 degrees below normal. This ranks February 2021 as the eighth coldest in 149 years of state records.
Current streamflow conditions across most of the state are normal, but average flows during the month of February were below normal across much of central Iowa, especially in the Des Moines River basin.
For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, go to 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.
DES MOINES – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon invite Iowans to nominate individuals or families in their communities for the 2021 Farm Environmental Leader Award. Nominations will be accepted until Monday, May 3, 2021, to be considered for the 2021 awards ceremony held at the Iowa State Fair.
Farmers and landowners who invest in conservation practices, like cover crops or wetlands, and incorporate best management practices into their operations to improve and protect the state’s natural resources are eligible for the award. They must also actively serve as leaders in the agriculture community.
“For generations, Iowa farmers have led in conservation efforts and continue to be excellent stewards of the land,” said Gov. Reynolds. “They go above and beyond improving water quality and soil health, serving as a model for others to follow. The 2021 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards is one way we say thank you, and recognize farmers for all they do.”
“These are the farmers and landowners who are making financial investments to protect their farming legacies and sustainability. As leaders in their own communities, they’re showing others how to do the same,” said Secretary Naig. “This program is a great opportunity to honor these individuals for their hard work. They’re making meaningful, impactful changes to our soil and water and helping the state advance the goals outlined in the Nutrient Reduction Strategy.”
“We always have great joy in honoring and recognizing these leaders in our farming communities throughout our state that put healthy conservation practices on the forefront of their operations,” said Director Lyon. “It’s now more important than ever that we focus on protecting and enhancing our natural resources—especially our water quality and land quality.”
An appointed committee representing both conservation and agricultural groups will review the nominations and select the winners. The recipients will be recognized on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, at the Iowa State Fair. Gov. Reynolds, Secretary Naig and Director Lyon will present the winners with an Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award and a yard sign donated by Bayer.
Since the creation of the award in 2012, more than 650 farm families have been recognized. The nomination form and a list of previous awardees can be found at iowaagriculture.gov/farm-environmental-leader-awards.
MEDIA CONTACT: Dr. Katie Greenstein at 515-725-8400 or Katie.greenstein@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES -- The Environmental Protection Commission is proposing to amend Chapter 61 to streamline the process by which the Iowa Department of Natural Resources certifies that each United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) nationwide or regional Federal Water Pollution Control Act Section 404 permit (Corps’ nationwide or regional permit) meets Iowa’s water quality standards.
A public hearing on the proposed changes to Chapter 61 will be held via conference call at 3 p.m. on March 30. Persons who wish to attend the conference call should contact Dr. Katie Greenstein via email at Katie.greenstein@dnr.iowa.gov. A conference call number will be provided prior to the hearing. Persons who wish to make oral comments at the conference call public hearing must submit a request to Greenstein prior to the hearing to facilitate an orderly hearing.
Written comments can be submitted until 4:30 p.m. on April 2. Please send written comments via email to Section401WQC@dnr.iowa.gov, by fax to 515-725-8201, or by mail to Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Attn: Section 401 Water Quality Certification, 502 East Ninth St., Des Moines, Iowa, 50319.
View the Proposed Chapter 61
Questions regarding the renewal can be directed Greenstein at 515-725-8400 or Katie.greenstein@dnr.iowa.gov.
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. 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.
Crawford County
Harold Chapman
Follow all laws and regulations related to the discharge of pollutants to waters of the state; and pay a $1,350 administrative penalty.
Dallas County
Keystone Equity Group, LLC
Cease all illegal construction; obtain proper permits prior to commencing any future construction; and pay a $5,000 administrative penalty.
Linn County
Tyler Bauer
Revocation of all certifications for drinking water treatment, drinking water distribution, and wastewater treatment; and prohibition against holding any such certifications in the future.
Polk County
Des Moines Area Community College
Submit its Minor Source Emission Inventory within the next 14 days and pay a $2,500 administrative penalty.
Scott County
Joint Use of Sanitary Sewers and Sewage Disposal Facilities: City of Davenport, City of Bettendorf, City of Riverdale and City of Panorama Park
Complete construction of disinfection outfall #001 by Feb. 28, 2022; commit to annual improvements to the inflow and infiltration of the collection system of an average of $3,000,000 annually from 2020 to 2026; between 2021 and 2034, submit yearly progress reports to the Department by April 1; provide the Department with construction documents by Jan. 1, 2023 of a flood mitigation project for the water pollution control plant, and meet other specified construction deadlines; complete the flood mitigation project by Nov. 1, 2026; submit a report to the Department by July 1, 2030 detailing the feasibility and reasonableness of disinfection for outfall #801 and the feasibility and reasonableness of treatment of wet weather flows; and complete construction of disinfection outfall #801 by July 1, 2034.
MEDIA CONTACT: Marnie Stein, DNR, at 515-725-9525 or Marnie.Stein@dnr.iowa.gov for Title V permits.
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.
Title V Operating Permits
Title V Operating permits are reviewed and re-issued every five years. Facilities with a Title V permit have the potential to emit large amounts of air pollutants compared to other facilities. The five-year reviews are a federal requirement and ensure adequate monitoring is included in the permit. The DNR plans to issue Title V Operating Permits for the following facilities. Find permit details at www.iowadnr.gov/titlev-draft.
Linn County
International Paper Cedar River Mill – 4600 C St. S.W., Cedar Rapids.
The renewal application was submitted to operate their existing paperboard manufacturing facility. The public comment period ends April 9.
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