From DNR:

1.      Huxley residents urged to conserve water
2.      Talk to wildlife, forestry specialists now for CRP

3.      Tanker rollover spills ethanol in Muscatine

  

HUXLEY RESIDENTS URGED TO CONSERVE WATER

 

MEDIA CONTACT: City of Huxley, (515) 597-2562; or Janet Gastineau, DNR, at (515) 725-0334 or [log in to unmask] 

 

HUXLEY - The City of Huxley is asking residents to be prepared, as further flooding may threaten the town's drinking water system. The city's drinking water well field is currently underwater, but the well heads are still a foot above flood waters. 

 

City officials fear there is a potential risk to the drinking water wells' electrical components if further flooding should take place. If this were to occur, the wells may not be able to produce safe drinking water. In addition, if repairs are required on the wells, due to the flooded well field, it may take several days to complete the work. 

 

The city of Huxley is asking residents to have two days' worth of drinking water on-hand in the event of well malfunction. Customers are asked to conserve all water possible. This includes:

·         not watering lawns, plants or gardens

·         not washing cars

·         running dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads

·         reducing the length of showers

·         turning off the water while brushing teeth or shaving

·         limiting water use as much as possible. 

 

Repairing leaking faucets and constantly running toilets also reduces water use. Customers are also asked to reduce all other non-critical uses of water during this period.

 

The well field currently shows signs of receding but officials wanted to inform residents in advance to allow time for preparation. 

 

For more information, the City of Huxley may be contacted at (515) 597-2562. 

 

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TALK TO WILDLIFE, FORESTRY SPECIALISTS NOW FOR CRP 

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Todd Bogenschutz at (515) 432-2823 or [log in to unmask], or Kelly Smith at (515) 281-6247 or [log in to unmask] 

 

DES MOINES-Talking to a DNR biologist or forester can pay off for landowners who want to enroll marginal cropland in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

 

"Our private lands biologists and foresters know plants," said Kelly Smith, coordinator of the DNR's private lands program. "So they can help landowners find the best vegetation mix to meet their conservation and wildlife goals.

 

"If someone wants to create a haven for pheasant, we can help them meet that goal," she said. "If they are more interested in seeding down an erosive hill to prevent a pond from silting in, we can help them pick a seeding mix."

 

The DNR's specialists offer technical advice tailored to each landowner's objectives. They will base their recommendations on the landowner's tolerance for required maintenance, the specific types of wildlife they want to attract and other factors. 

 

The CRP is a competitive program where landowners offer a bid and USDA accepts only the top bids - the ones with greatest benefits to control soil erosion, improve water quality and increase wildlife habitat. Because of their familiarity with USDA program requirements, the DNR specialists can help landowners develop a competitive bid offer. 

 

"The USDA gives priority to land in areas that require improved water quality, and areas that need more wildlife habitat created," Smith said. The areas were identified as state or national priority areas based on Iowa's 2009 Wildlife Action Plan and the 2008 lists of impaired streams and lakes.  

 

Maps of the priority areas and a fact sheet on the program are available on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/crp.html. Look for a list of biologists and foresters on the website, too.

 

Landowners receive an annual rental payment by enrolling eligible land in the general CRP. Signups are taken in local USDA Farm Service Agency offices from now until Aug. 27. 

 

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TANKER ROLLOVER SPILLS ETHANOL IN MUSCATINE

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Terry Jones, DNR Washington field office, at (319) 653-2135.

 

MUSCATINE -Cleanup continues Thursday in Muscatine following an ethanol tanker truck rollover accident Wednesday afternoon.

 

An Iowa Tanklines truck hauling 7,800 gallons of ethanol rolled into a ditch, leaking an estimated 500 to 750 gallons of ethanol. The accident took place near an unnamed tributary that drains to Muscatine Slough. About 10 minutes after the accident, the Iowa Department of Transportation installed a berm to dam the ethanol. 

 

A contractor later pumped the ethanol, which mixed with storm water in the ditch, from both behind and in front of the dam. However, some ethanol likely reached the unnamed stream before the dam was installed.

 

The DNR will inspect the site again Thursday for any impacts to the stream and slough. No dead fish have been observed.

 

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