Tag: Iowa Department of Natural Resources

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Dairy in northwest Iowa to pay $38K for fish kill, manure spill in July

Gary Dickson

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has ordered Roorda Dairy to pay over $38,000 due to a manure spill that killed over 107,000 fish in Mud Creek. The dairy must also submit its operating procedures for manure management for approval following an incident caused by a ruptured tile line during manure application. Continue reading Dairy in northwest Iowa to pay $38K for fish kill, manure spill in July

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New report shows 10 years of agriculture spills into Iowa waterways

Gary Dickson

A report by Food and Water Watch analyzed nearly 200 manure spills in Iowa between 2013 and 2023, highlighting northwest Iowa’s high spill concentration linked to animal feeding operations. It urged stricter regulations, citing inadequate enforcement and underreporting of incidents. The report calls for more accountability for corporate polluters in Iowa. Continue reading New report shows 10 years of agriculture spills into Iowa waterways

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Union of Concerned Scientists pushes for wetland protections in Farm Bill

Gary Dickson

A report by the Union of Concerned Scientists highlights the critical status of wetlands in the Upper Midwest, which provide annual flood protections valued at $23 billion. It advocates for inclusion in the upcoming Farm Bill to counteract damage from industrial agriculture and recent legal challenges, ensuring wetlands’ preservation and ongoing benefits. Continue reading Union of Concerned Scientists pushes for wetland protections in Farm Bill

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Iowa pheasant population survey begins Aug. 1

Gary Dickson

Iowa DNR staff will conduct a statewide pheasant survey between Aug. 1-15. The fall forecast will be based on this annual roadside count, predicting lower numbers this year. The survey, conducted since 1962, covers over 6,000 miles of rural, gravel roads and includes data on various wildlife species. Results will be available online in early September. Iowa’s pheasant season begins Oct. 26. Continue reading Iowa pheasant population survey begins Aug. 1

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Warmer weather at Okoboji: What it means for the lakes and those who use them

Gary Dickson

The ice on Spirit Lake went out this year on March 3.

From 1944, when the record-keeping began, through 1981, the ice went out in the latter half of April about once every third or fourth year.  Since 2001, the ice has gone out in the latter half of April only once.

Looking at it another way, the ice cover on Spirt Lake has been decreasing in terms of how long it lasts each year for the past quarter-century or so.

The obvious conclusion is that the water temperatures in the Iowa Great Lakes are getting warmer, a result of ongoing global warming, which is part . . .
Continue reading Warmer weather at Okoboji: What it means for the lakes and those who use them

Agriculture, Environment, IowaLeave a comment

More than half of Iowa’s tested streams and lakes are ‘impaired’

Gary Dickson

There are at least 721 water body segments in Iowa that do not meet water quality standards for recreation, public water supplies and the protection of aquatic life, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR has drafted its latest list of “impaired” waters that it is required to submit to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency every two years. The list is based on data collected by the department and numerous other entities between 2020 and 2022, and it is used to guide restrictions for stream pollution for Continue reading More than half of Iowa’s tested streams and lakes are ‘impaired’