From the Iowa DNR:

1. Public's help needed to improve water quality in the Cedar River basin
2.   Silver Lake water quality plan meeting on June 2
3.  Meeting on Black Hawk Creek water quality plan on June 6

PUBLIC'S HELP NEEDED TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE CEDAR RIVER; PUBLIC
MEETINGS ANNOUNCED

DES MOINES - From the Minnesota line to Mason City through Waverly to Cedar
Rapids - the DNR is seeking your suggestions, comments and questions about
how water quality in the Cedar River basin can be improved.

Whether you live near the Winnebago, Shell Rock or Cedar River, the quality
of the water in those streams eventually affects the drinking water supply
for many people including the residents of Cedar Rapids. That water supply
is in trouble because of excess nitrates that come downstream from areas
around Albert Lea, Minnesota, Charles City, Hampton, Vinton and Waterloo.

If you have concerns and questions about the rivers' water quality or ideas
to improve it, please send those comments to the DNR by June 3.  Your ideas
and concerns will be addressed at three public meetings. Residents can
submit their questions and comments to Chris Van Gorp at
[log in to unmask], (515) 281-4216; or to Jerry Neppel at
[log in to unmask], (515) 42-6149.

"We hope people will submit questions, observations and comments early, and
then come to the meetings to discuss the river and its health," said Cris
Van Gorp, DNR environmental specialist. "Sending comments in early will help
us plan public meetings that can best address their concerns."

These won't be the typical government public meetings, Van Gorp added. We
will build the topics around residents' questions and concerns, with a
chance for everyone to participate during the meetings.

Public meetings will be held in Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Charles City at
the following times and locations:
* Waterloo:  June 6, 10 a.m., Hawkeye Community College, Room 106, Tama
Hall.
* Cedar Rapids:  June 6, 2 p.m., Kirkwood Community College, Amana Room,
Iowa Hall.
* Charles City: June 7, 2 p.m., Charles City Public Library, 106 Milwaukee
Mall.

Water quality monitoring shows that the Cedar River is impaired, or
polluted, from where it meets McLeod Run to where Bear Creek enters the
river just upstream of Cedar Rapids. However, the situation cannot be fixed
without the help of people upstream who can address the water quality in
their local streams.

With public help, water quality improvement plans are being developed to
address waters across the state considered to be impaired. The DNR
calculates how much of a pollutant a water body can receive and still
maintain its designated use such as maintaining aquatic life, allowing body
contact such as swimming or being used as a drinking water supply. Then it
is up to people living in the river basins to develop and implement the
plans.

In the case of the Cedar River, it is impaired because of high nitrate
levels, which keeps the river from meeting its designated use as a drinking
water supply for thousands of watershed residents. These people get their
drinking water from the Cedar River directly or from shallow wells in sand
and gravel deposits associated with the river.

Excessive levels of nitrate can make drinking water unsafe for pregnant
women and infants under six months old, even if the water is used in infant
formula or is boiled or filtered. Nitrates are water soluble and can make
their way into water from runoff from farm fields, residential lawns and
golf courses.

For more information, contact Chris Van Gorp at (515) 281-4216 or Kevin
Baskins at (515) 281- 8395.

# # #

SILVER LAKE WATER QUALITY PLAN UNDERWAY

NORTHWOOD - The Iowa DNR is seeking public input to improve the water
quality at Silver Lake in Worth County.

A meeting is scheduled for June 2 to provide information on existing water
quality and encourage input from the public who may have additional
information and data concerning Silver Lake. The meeting will start at 7
p.m. at the USDA Service Center on Highway 65 on the south side of
Northwood. The Worth County Conservation Board in cooperation with the Iowa
DNR will be hosting the meeting.

Silver Lake is included on Iowa's 303(d) impaired waters list due to excess
algae and turbidity impairments. The water quality improvement plan, also
called a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) will identify pollution sources,
quantify the pollutant, and suggest improvements to the lake and land
draining to the lake that would reduce the algae blooms and improve
turbidity.

TMDLs calculate how much pollutant a water body can receive and maintain its
designated uses. The designated uses for Silver Lake are primary contact
recreation and wildlife and aquatic life support. Silver Lake is also
designated as a High Quality Water Resource.

The Worth County Soil and Water Conservation District completed a watershed
assessment in the spring of 2005 to evaluate the land uses and management
practices in the Silver Lake Watershed.  This information will be used to
estimate soil erosion rates for the land draining into the lake and
sedimentation rates for the lake.

In addition, a brief summary on the Cedar River TMDL for nitrate will also
be presented. A meeting to discuss the Cedar River TMDL is scheduled for
June 7 at 2 p.m. in the Charles City Public Library, 106 Milwaukee Mall.

For more information, contact Jerry Neppel at 515-242-6149 or by e-mail at
[log in to unmask]

# # #

BLACK HAWK CREEK WATER QUALITY PLAN UNDERWAY

GRUNDY CENTER - The Iowa DNR is seeking public input to improve the water
quality of Black Hawk Creek in Grundy and Black Hawk Counties.

A meeting is scheduled for June 6 to provide information on existing water
quality and encourage input from the public who may have additional
information and data concerning Black Hawk Creek. This meeting will be held
in conjunction with the regularly-scheduled Grundy County Soil and Water
Conservation District (SWCD) meeting. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. in
the district office at the USDA Service Center, 805 W 4th Street, Grundy
Center. Staff from the Iowa DNR will give a presentation about the water
quality concerns of Black Hawk Creek.

Black Hawk Creek is included on Iowa's 303(d) impaired waters list due to
high levels of fecal coliform bacteria. The water quality improvement plan,
also called a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) will identify potential
sources of the pollutant, quantify the pollutant, and suggest improvements
to the creek and land draining to the creek that would reduce the amount of
pollutant in the creek.

TMDLs calculate how much pollutant a water body can receive and maintain its
designated uses. The designated uses for Black Hawk Creek are primary
contact recreation and wildlife and aquatic life support.

In addition, a brief summary on the Cedar River TMDL for nitrate will also
be presented. A meeting to discuss the Cedar River TMDL is scheduled for 10
a.m. on June 6 in Room 106, Tama Hall at Hawkeye Community College,
Waterloo.

For more information, contact Chris Van Gorp at 515-281-4791 or by e-mail at
[log in to unmask]

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