Iowa Department of Natural Resources

 

For Immediate Release                                                              

April 21, 2009

 

DNR ISSUES FIRST ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT CARD

Iowa scores a B minus on health of its natural resources

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Baskins at (515) 281-8395 or [log in to unmask] 

 

DES MOINES - Iowans are making great strides to improve their state's natural resources, but they still have some homework to do, according to the state's first Environmental Report Card, released Tuesday by the DNR.

 

The DNR graded the health of the state's natural resources in eight subject areas. When averaged together, it gives Iowa a grade point average of 2.7, or a B minus. The report card shows improvements and successes, but room for improvement as well. Grades reflect both assessment (testing) and effort (homework).



"We know there is a lot of improvement we need to see in the actual results, but Iowans and the DNR are working together to get some of the all-important homework done," said DNR Director Richard Leopold. "That homework will result in future success stories for all of the subject areas."

 

Leopold pointed to specific appropriations made by the Governor and Legislature in recent years for lake restoration, as well as work done in developing a long-term wildlife diversity plan, as just two examples of laying important groundwork for improving the report card grades.

 

"This is the kind of effort that will translate into tangible results in the future," Leopold said.

 

The report card, by assigning a B plus to the Iowans Outdoors subject, points out the growing opportunities for more Iowans to experience nature. The DNR determined the grade based on Iowans hunting, fishing, camping, volunteering and attending educational programs, as well as national trend data on outdoor recreation and efforts underway in Iowa to improve outdoor recreation.

 

"An environmental ethic is often born out of experiencing the outdoors," said DNR Deputy Director Pat Boddy. "When Iowans have the chance to get outside, they develop an appreciation for our natural resources and better understand the need to preserve and protect them."

 

Iowa's streams and rivers are just behind lakes in terms of water quality. The report card gives lake water quality a B, and water quality in streams and rivers a C minus. The streams and rivers grade considers the Water Quality Index. The index works by measuring different factors that affect fish and aquatic life, drinking water, recreation and aesthetics, making it an easy way to gauge water quality in the state.

 

The DNR will issue the Environmental Report Card each year near Earth Day, reporting on changes over the past year.

 

"The report card measures what matters. The subject areas are interdependent and give a snapshot of the state of our natural resources," said Leopold. "We hope the report card starts a dialogue among Iowans on how we can build on the successes we've had and figure out how to fix these problems together."

 

Individual subjects and grades are as follows:

Iowans outdoors                       B+                   

Land protection                        B-                    

Deer                                         B          

Game birds                               B

Nongame birds                         C-

Clean air                                   B          

Clean lakes                               B

Water quality                            C-

 

Overall grade                            B-

 

More information on the report card, including fact sheets, grading criteria and additional data, is available on the DNR Web site at www.iowadnr.gov/reportcard/ 

 

-30-

 

 

 

 

 


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