From Gerry Shimek of DOT staff, forwarded by Jane Clark at
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The Iowa Department of Transportation held an informal meeting open to
the public on March 8 to discuss their recommended alignment for U.S. 65
in Polk and Jasper Counties.  The project segment begins at Polk County
Road S-27 and extends northerly for about 5.9 miles to north of Jasper
County Road F-17 (i.e., Baxter Road).  This segment includes the
vicinity of Engeldinger Marsh.

The Iowa DOT is recommending to the Iowa Transportation Commission that
the future 4-lane U.S. 65 facility bypass the Engeldinger Marsh property
to the west and north (i.e., Far Northwest Alignment).  That
recommendation will be formally presented to the Commission during the
April 11 Commission Meeting in Fairfield, Iowa.  The Far West Alignment
is being recommended because it would have less direct impacts to
residences, less impacts to prime agricultural land, and it will impact
natural resources of lower quality than other alignments studied.  The
Far West Alignment will impact more total acres of natural resources,
and will cost about 3 - 4 million dollars more, than upgrading the
existing alignment.  It will avoid the "McCoy Meadows," eliminate about
2/3 of "VanOel Prairie (we'll salvage what we can), cross the PCCB's
recently acquired Shaw Property, "nick" the Engeldinger watershed, and
avoid "Kimberley's Fen" and "Kimberley's Wetland."

We anticipate having the final NEPA document (I don't recall if it is a
supplemental EIS, or what) completed for public review about the first
part of April.  If you wish more information, please contact Scott
Dockstader or Mike Clayton at 1-800-926-4368.

Editorial Comment from Gerry Shimek --
I have spent a lot of time listening to folks on all sides of the
controversy relating to this project.  Most of them have been quite
thoughtful in their analysis of the issues;  many have done their own
research on wetlands, plant communities, and T&E species.  Several
recognize that the Marsh property has been badly abused in years past.
Many realize that the Mulberry Wing is on the edge of it's range here in
Iowa and is abundant elsewhere in the Country.

If we (the "environmental community") hope to have "others" share our
view that places like Engeldinger and species like the Mulberry Wing are
special, we have a lot of work to do.  It will take some serious
"environmental education" efforts, relationship building, and tolerance
for other points of view.  I hope we will be successful because I
believe that if our only strategy is "confrontational eco-politics" we
may "win some battles" but ultimately "lose the war."

Gerry

From Loren Lown of Polk County in response:

Gerry is correct in that confrontation is often nonproductive for both
parties involved.

The nose to nose, "so's your Mama," style of debate can make enemies of
supporters.  There have been, however,  times when such action seems to be
the
only option remaining.  The danger is that we tend to harden opinions and
become more judgemental with each confortation.

I have been and continued to be pleased with the DOT's wetlands divisions
dedication toward accurately analyzing and creatively designing less
damaging
alternatives around the Engeldinger complex.  This was an extremely
divisive
project with high emotions on all sides.  The environmental staff worked
hard
to gather and present the information necessary to select the least
damaging
alternative.  It is my opinion that this has not always been the approach
taken by highway construction design in Iowa.  I am extremely pleased that
there is a new professionalism and environmental awareness at the DOT that
is
obvious in recent years.

Sometimes as you mend fences you find someone with very similar views
mending
the fence from the other side.

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