FORT DODGE ADDED TO REGIONAL WATER QUALITY MEETING SCHEDULE In response to public demand, the DNR has scheduled an additional regional water quality meeting Nov. 5 in Fort Dodge. "We added the Fort Dodge meeting at the request of local people. We're trying to cover the entire state," said Bernie Hoyer, special assistant to the director of the DNR. Remaining meetings also include Sioux City and Estherville. The meetings will address general water quality issues, nutrients and Iowa's impaired waters and will include a presentation by DNR staff and an open public discussion. Each regional meeting will also highlight a local water quality project. The public's ideas and input at the regional meetings will be taken to the Iowa Water Summit Nov. 24 in Ames. The governor's Iowa Water Summit is an unprecedented commitment to address impaired waters, and Governor Tom Vilsack has listed water quality as one of his top priorities. "People have given us very sincere and open comments at every session so far. We're really appreciative of that," Hoyer said. The Sioux City meeting will include a presentation focusing on the success of the ongoing Storm Lake Restoration Project. Presenter Gary Lalone is president of the Storm Lake Preservation Association, chairman of the Storm Lake Improvement Committee and director of the Storm Lake Area Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce. John Call, Storm Lake City Administrator, is also presenting. John Bird, Emmetsburg City Administrator, will present at the Estherville meeting on the Five Island Lake Restoration Project and its significance to the Emmetsburg area. The remaining three meetings are scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the following locations and dates: October 23, 2003 Western Iowa Technical College 4647 Stone Avenue PO Box 5199 Sioux City IA 51106 Building A, Room 920, Large Lecture Hall October 30, 2003 Iowa Lakes Community College 300 South 18th Street Estherville, IA 51344 Auditorium November 5, 2003 Webster County Extension Office Bank of America Building, Second Floor 108 South 8th Street Fort Dodge, IA 50501 The general agenda for each session: 6:30 p.m. Status of Water Quality and Water Quality Trends in Iowa 6:50 p.m. Iowa's Nutrient Budget and Nutrients in Iowa's Waters 7:10 p.m. Iowa's Impaired Waters 7:30 p.m. Break 7:40 p.m. Local Water Quality Program 8:00 p.m. Public Participation 9:00 p.m. Adjourn Those unable to attend the meetings or with further comments or questions can contact [log in to unmask] Questions on local project presentations can be directed to: Sioux City: Gary Lalone, (712) 732-3780. Estherville: John Bird, (712) 852-4030. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]