Iowa Department of Natural Resources
September
25, 2008
For
immediate release
1. DNR and Public Health receive grant to study
blue-green algae
2. DNR seeks public opinion on
wastewater rule changes
3. Delaware
County residents asked to share ideas
on improving Silver
Lake
4. DNR investigates fish kill in Dubuque
County
DNR AND PUBLIC HEALTH RECEIVE GRANT
TO STUDY BLUE-GREEN ALGAE
MEDIA CONTACTS: Eric O’Brien at
(319) 353-2835 or [log in to unmask]
DES MOINES -- The Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources have received a grant from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention to study blue-green algae and its potential
effects on human health.
Blue-green algae or cyanobacteria are naturally occurring organisms in
the environment that perform many roles that are vital to the health of
ecosystems. However, they may also cause harm through either excessive dense
growth or release of toxins produced within the cyanobacteria themselves. The
nuisance conditions that can be associated with cyanobacterial blooms are often
influenced greatly by nutrient enrichment and climatic conditions.
"This is a topic
that our departments have been very interested in and continually monitoring
for a number of years,” said Eric O’Brien who heads the DNR’s
beach monitoring program. “With the assistance provided from this grant
we will be able to garner a better understanding of the dynamics of
cyanobacterial blooms in Iowa waters and their possible connection with human health
impacts."
The two departments will participate in an expanded surveillance
program that will monitor blue-green algae blooms (cyanobacteria) at the
state-owned beaches throughout Iowa
and potential adverse health impacts from exposure to higher levels of
blue-green algae.
This grant was obtained because the two departments made the monitoring
of cyanobacteria and its associated toxins a priority over the last three
years. In 2006, the DNR’s Beach Monitoring Program began strategic
monitoring for cyanobacteria. After three years, monitoring results showed
lower levels of total toxins associated with cyanobacteria in each successive
year. None of the samples from beaches taken during the summer and early fall
of 2008 exceeded the World Health Organization’s recommended safe level
for recreational waters.
For the grant, the DNR will collect water samples at state park beaches
and will analyze these samples for microcystins (a group of toxins produced by
cyanobacteria). If elevated levels of microcystins are found, the Iowa
Department of Public Health will track the incidences of human and animal
reports of illness that could be attributed to exposure to elevated levels of
blue-green algae. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will maintain
this information in a database.
The Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources will receive $118,488 for the first year of the program. The program
is anticipated to continue for at least five years.
Additional details of the program can be obtained from: Stuart C.
Schmitz, M.S., P.E., Environmental Toxicologist at the Iowa Department of
Public Health by calling (515) 281-8707. Or, by calling (319) 353-2835 to reach
Eric H. O’Brien, M.S., Environmental Microbiologist at the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources.
# # #
DNR SEEKS PUBLIC OPINION ON
WASTEWATER RULE CHANGES
MEDIA CONTACT: Courtney Cswercko at
(515) 281-7206 or [log in to unmask]
DES MOINES – The DNR is seeking public comments on proposed
changes to the rules governing wastewater discharges from all wastewater
treatment facilities in the state.
People can comment orally or in writing on the proposed rules at three
public meetings:
6 p.m. on Oct. 7 in
the Fort Dodge Public Library Meeting Room at 424 Central Ave., 7 p.m. on Oct. 8 in
Room A of the Iowa City
Public Library, 123 South
Linn St., or 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 9
in the fifth floor conference rooms of the Wallace
State Office
Building, 502 East Ninth St. in Des Moines.
“The proposed rules will provide us with a better understanding
of the pollutants discharged after wastewater is treated, which will be used to
improve water quality,” said Courtney Cswercko, a DNR wastewater
specialist.
The proposed rules would increase monitoring requirements for municipal
and semi-public wastewater treatment plants. Municipal systems serve cities,
and semi-public systems serve facilities like trailer courts, schools and
campgrounds.
Monitoring for nutrient levels, including nitrogen and phosphorus,
would also be added for municipal and semi-public facilities. The DNR will use
the nutrient monitoring results to determine the amounts of nutrients entering
streams from the plants.
Another proposed rule would give anyone the right to request a change
in the permits that set pollutant limits for each facility. Also, changes are
proposed in the reporting requirements for discharges of untreated or partially
treated wastewater.
People can submit written comments by sending them to Cswercko at the
DNR, 502 East Ninth St.,
Des Moines, IA
50319, or by email to
[log in to unmask]
The DNR will accept comments until Oct. 10.
For more information, view the complete rule proposal at http://www.iowadnr.com/water/npdes/rulemaking.html.
Or, contact Cswercko by email or at (515) 281-7206.
# # #
DELAWARE COUNTY
RESIDENTS ASKED TO SHARE IDEAS ON
IMPROVING SILVER LAKE
MEDIA CONTACT: Jeff Berckes at (515)
281-4791 or
[log in to unmask] or Melinda Buyck at (515) 281-6113
[log in to unmask]
DELHI – Iowans
interested in improving Silver Lake in Delaware
County can attend a
meeting Oct. 8 to discuss and review a recent water quality study and its
suggestions for improving the lake.
Silver Lake is on the state’s impaired
waters list because excessive phosphorus
has caused nuisance algal growth, pH, turbidity and ammonia violations
within the lake.
The study, or
DNR water quality improvement plan, looks at the problems and potential
solutions for the problems in Silver
Lake. It is designed as a
guide for improving the lake for local resource agencies, partners,
stakeholders and residents.
“The citizens of Delhi
have been very active through the process of this study and have given us great
input,” said Melinda Buyck with the DNR’s watershed improvement program.
“We are excited to present them with this plan and help them take the
next steps to move forward toward restoring the water quality of this lake.”
After a presentation of the water quality improvement plan, Iowans can
provide their input at 6 p.m. at the Delhi
City Hall, 316
Franklin St,
Staff from the DNR’s Watershed Improvement Program and Fisheries
and Wildlife bureaus will also be on hand to answer questions.
Those not able to attend
the public meeting can receive more information at www.iowadnr.gov/water/watershed/tmdl/publicnotice.html.
They can also submit comments on the plan by Oct. 27 by
mailing Jeff Berckes, Iowa DNR, 502
E. Ninth St.,Des Moines, Iowa 50319
or by emailing him at [log in to unmask] . Iowans
can also ask questions of Berckes by calling (515) 281-4791.
After gathering comments, the DNR will forward the final plan, also
called by its technical name of Total Maximum Daily Load, to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency for approval. Local groups interested in
helping Silver Lake can then use the plan to assist
their improvement efforts.
# # #
DNR INVESTIGATES FISH KILL IN DUBUQUE COUNTY
MEDIA CONTACT: Tom McCarthy at (563)
927-2640 OR [log in to unmask]
EPWORTH – The DNR is investigating a fish kill that was reported
late Sunday evening near Epworth, southwest of Dubuque.
DNR fisheries staff estimated there were 3,360 dead fish along about
7.4 miles of Whitewater Creek. The investigators were not able to determine a
source of the fish kill south of Epworth on Monday. The DNR found mostly
non-game fish with a few smallmouth bass.
“The person who reported this did exactly the right thing, but
unfortunately when he found the fish they had have been dead for quite a while
so it was difficult to find the cause of the fish kill,” said Tom
McCarthy of the DNR’s Manchester
field office.
Anyone who finds dead fish can help in the investigation by calling the
DNR 24-hour spill line immediately. The number is at (515) 281-8694.
The DNR will continue to investigate.
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