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Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 17:54:20 -0600
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From: "I'M for Iowa" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Water Quality Alert
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Dear Friends,

First, I regret to have to tell you that the global warming plunge
scheduled for December 8th at Gray=92s Lake in Des Moines has been cancelled=
.


Second, Iowa=92s streams and rivers need your help.  While I am no
water-quality wizard, I have worked hard on a range of environmental issues
over the past 15 years.  I have gained a lot of respect for Iowa=92s
grassroots environmental leaders, including Steve Veysey.  Steve is a
well-respected scientist and spokesman on water quality.  He=92s the
environmental protection coordinator for the Hawkeye Fly Fishing
Association and the conservation co-chair of the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra
Club.

Just this week, I learned from him and others that the Iowa DNR proposes to
downgrade water-quality standards in 279 river and stream segments,
rendering these waters less safe for both aquatic life and human
recreation.  To quote from a recent letter Steve sent to Sierra Club
members, =93DNR is essentially saying they have no evidence that anyone has
ever recreated in these rivers and streams since 1975 in a manner that
would pose a significant risk of ingesting water.  Therefore, recreational
protection will be reduced in order to allow cities and industries to
continue discharging unnecessary pollution.=94

It=92s up to us to let the DNR know that human activity IS occurring in thes=
e
streams, and that the water quality needs to be protected.  The period
allowed for public comments closes on December 11th.  You can learn more
about the issue by visiting
http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=3DNkoOAQZbUAYaA1sBRVFdBAMB  To
weigh in with your own comments on streams and rivers where you=92ve seen
people fishing, canoeing, swimming, wading, tubing, etc, go to=20
http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=3DNkoOAQZbUAcaA1sBRVFdBAMB  If
you have photos that document any such activity, I imagine those would be
of interest to the DNR as well.

In my own county of Polk, both Beaver and Four Mile creeks are on the DNR=
=92s
list of streams to downgrade.  I=92ve canoed Beaver Creek several times, and
have also seen people tubing and fishing in it.  I=92ve seen kids wading
along a sandbar on Four Mile Creek, and on two occasions have watched deer
drink from it.  In Dallas County, I=92ve canoed the South Raccoon River,
which is also on the DNR=92s hit list.

Friend and former legislative colleague, Bill Witt, summed it up in an
e-mail to me yesterday, asking how far down the slippery slope we want to
slide, suggesting that if you push the standard of "reasonable attainment=
=94
back far enough, Cleveland=92s Cuyahoga River could still be burning.

One more quote of interest from Steve:  =93{T}he key question I keep asking
{the DNR}is, =91When discussing recreational uses, does the occurrence of th=
e
use prove the existence of the use?=92  Well, of course it does, but I can't
get DNR to admit it.  We have them on record saying, =91Swimming in polluted
water doesn't prove the existence of swimming as a use; it proves the
existence of swimming in polluted water as a use, and that is all that
needs to be protected for.=92  That usually gets a stir from the crowd.=94

And it ought to get a stir from us, too.  If you have experience with
activity on any of the streams and rivers proposed to be downgraded, please
share that with the DNR.  Thanks for your help!

Ed Fallon


For no more emails from us  go here:
http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=3DNkoOAQZbUAQaA1sBRVFdBAMB



.  =20




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Content-Type: text/html; charset = "iso-8859-1"
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<html><head></head><body>Dear Friends,<br><br>First, I regret to have to tel=
l you that the global warming plunge scheduled for December 8th at Gray=92s=20=
Lake in Des Moines has been cancelled. <br><br>Second, Iowa=92s streams and=20=
rivers need your help.&nbsp; While I am no water-quality wizard, I have work=
ed hard on a range of environmental issues over the past 15 years.&nbsp; I h=
ave gained a lot of respect for Iowa=92s grassroots environmental leaders, i=
ncluding Steve Veysey.&nbsp; Steve is a well-respected scientist and spokesm=
an on water quality.&nbsp; He=92s the environmental protection coordinator f=
or the Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association and the conservation co-chair of the=20=
Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club.<br><br>Just this week, I learned from him a=
nd others that the Iowa DNR proposes to downgrade water-quality standards in=
 279 river and stream segments, rendering these waters less safe for both aq=
uatic life and human recreation.&nbsp; To quote from a recent letter Steve s=
ent to Sierra
Club members, =93DNR is essentially saying they have no evidence that anyone=
 has ever recreated in these rivers and streams since 1975 in a manner that=20=
would pose a significant risk of ingesting water.&nbsp; Therefore, recreatio=
nal protection will be reduced in order to allow cities and industries to co=
ntinue discharging unnecessary pollution.=94<br><br>It=92s up to us to let t=
he DNR know that human activity IS occurring in these streams, and that the=20=
water quality needs to be protected.&nbsp; The period allowed for public com=
ments closes on December 11th.&nbsp; You can learn more about the issue by v=
isiting http://iowa.sierraclub.org/.&nbsp; To weigh in with your own comment=
s on streams and rivers where you=92ve seen people fishing, canoeing, swimmi=
ng, wading, tubing, etc, go to <br>http://iowa.sierraclub.org/Maps2/Water%20=
Uses%20Outreach%20Form1.pdf.&nbsp; If you have photos that document any such=
 activity, I imagine those would be of interest to the DNR as well.<br><br>I=
n my own county
of Polk, both Beaver and Four Mile creeks are on the DNR=92s list of streams=
 to downgrade.&nbsp; I=92ve canoed Beaver Creek several times, and have also=
 seen people tubing and fishing in it.&nbsp; I=92ve seen kids wading along a=
 sandbar on Four Mile Creek, and on two occasions have watched deer drink fr=
om it.&nbsp; In Dallas County, I=92ve canoed the South Raccoon River, which=20=
is also on the DNR=92s hit list.<br><br>Friend and former legislative collea=
gue, Bill Witt, summed it up in an e-mail to me yesterday, asking how far do=
wn the slippery slope we want to slide, suggesting that if you push the stan=
dard of "reasonable attainment=94 back far enough, Cleveland=92s Cuyahoga Ri=
ver could still be burning.<br><br>One more quote of interest from Steve:&nb=
sp; =93{T}he key question I keep asking {the DNR}is, =91When discussing recr=
eational uses, does the occurrence of the use prove the existence of the use=
?=92&nbsp; Well, of course it does, but I can't get DNR to admit it.&nbsp; W=
e have them on record saying,
=91Swimming in polluted water doesn't prove the existence of swimming as a u=
se; it proves the existence of swimming in polluted water as a use, and that=
 is all that needs to be protected for.=92&nbsp; That usually gets a stir fr=
om the crowd.=94<br><br>And it ought to get a stir from us, too.&nbsp; If yo=
u have experience with activity on any of the streams and rivers proposed to=
 be downgraded, please share that with the DNR.&nbsp; Thanks for your help!<=
br><br>Ed Fallon<br><br>

<p>--</p><p>For no more emails from us  <a href=3D"http://mlist.orchidsuites=
.net/lists/lt.php?id=3DKkoOAQZbUAQaA1sBRVFdBAMB" >go here</a></p>


<p><img src=3D"http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/ut.php?u=3D7a7888bc98d0e2=
79e374b9913aa9eaee&m=3D295" width=3D"1" height=3D"1" border=3D"0"></p>
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.   <br />
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