Opponents of Waterloo coal plant plan rally Environmentalists don't want the plant built; the owner says it would be a clean-burning facility. By PERRY BEEMANREGISTER STAFF WRITER The fight over a proposed coal-fired power plant near Waterloo will move to Merle Bell's farm Sunday, where opponents will rally against the $1.5 billion project.Bell lives on the century farm just east of Waterloo. In 1876 Bell's grandfather approved the railroad line that ironically now would carry coal trains to the 750-megawatt plant Merle vehemently opposes.The generating plant could power up to 500,000 homes. Owner LS Power of New Jersey would sell part ownership or electric output to municipalities, co-ops or investor-owned utilities across the Midwest. If approved, construction would begin next year and the plant could go online in 2012 or 2013.http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070908/NEWS/709080343/1001 -------- Monarchs will sport Iowa tags at Monarch Madness Day By MIKE KILENREGISTER STAFF WRITERThe biologist runs through the Indian grass, a huge butterfly net trailing her in the breeze. She leaps off one leg, in stride, and comes down with nothing but air.Now there's a picture.Karen Viste-Sparkman, dressed in the brown uniform of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, has her sights set on the monarch butterfly, that prized wonder of nature for kids, adults and even biologists. http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070908/LIFE/709080302/1039/archive ------------ Big rains hamper pelican viewing When Saylorville Lake is full, the white birds don't show up in big numbers for the Jester Park festival. By JULI PROBASCO-SOWERSREGISTER STAFF WRITER Recent heavy rains and a full Saylorville Lake translate to a short supply of white pelicans to view during the Pelican Festival on Sunday afternoon at Jester Park near Granger."Our lower campground is flooded, and the water is high. Pelicans don't like deep waters," said Patrice Petersen-Keys, environmental education coordinator with the Polk County Conservation Board. "They like shallow water with mud flats, and there are no mud flats to be found."Typically, as many as 10,000 pelicans can be found in the area on any given day during the fall migration, Petersen-Keys said."Sure, there are pelicans this year, but they are scattered out on ponds and smaller places," she said. http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070908/NEWS/709080331/-1/archive - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/