Diesel spill near Mapleton reaches Willow Creek

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a diesel spill in a tributary of Willow Creek in Monona County. The spill occurred when a pickup truck carrying red diesel crashed, causing the contents to empty into the water. Booms have been deployed to contain the spill, and the driver is cooperating with the authorities for cleanup. Continue reading Diesel spill near Mapleton reaches Willow Creek

Iowa pheasant population survey begins Aug. 1

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

Winnebago Tribe to get back 1,600 acres of land once taken for proposed recreation area along Missouri River

By Paul Hammel, Nebraska Examiner The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska stands to receive 1,600 acres of land that were taken a half-century ago for a recreation area that never materialized. The land, on the Iowa side of the Missouri River, would be returned under a bill introduced recently in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer and her fellow Iowa and Nebraska senators — Pete Ricketts, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst. The chairman of the Winnebago Tribe, Victoria Kitcheyan, said the return will be a “historic and beautiful moment” for her tribe, whose reservation is located north of Omaha. … Continue reading Winnebago Tribe to get back 1,600 acres of land once taken for proposed recreation area along Missouri River