Iowa Department of Natural Resources Feb. 7, 2008 For immediate release 1. DNR to hold volunteer water quality monitoring workshops 2. Most counties decide to evaluate animal confinement sites 3. Public asked for ideas to improve East Fork Des Moines River 4. UPDATED: potential state actions to reduce greenhouse gases topic of ICCAC meeting February 8 DNR TO HOLD VOLUNTEER WATER QUALITY MONITORING WORKSHOPS MEDIA CONTACT: Jacklyn Gautsch at (319) 335-1761 or [log in to unmask] IOWA CITY - IOWATER, Iowa’s statewide volunteer water quality monitoring program, will host workshops throughout the state this summer. During the two-day workshop, classroom instruction will be combined with hands-on training as participants learn how to monitor and assess the quality of their local streams, rivers, and lakes. IOWATER emphasizes a perspective based on the “watershed,” or the area of land that drains into a body of water. As workshop participants will learn, much of the trash, chemicals and other materials used on the land will eventually end up in the water. Water quality monitoring includes physical, chemical, biological and habitat assessments. Physical assessments document the physical attributes of a waterbody, such as temperature and water clarity. Chemical testing includes pH, nitrogen, phosphate, chloride and dissolved oxygen monitoring. Biological monitoring includes identification of “benthic macroinvertebrates,” or organisms that live in streams, rivers and lakes. Habitat assessments can be used to document the suitability of water bodies to sustain aquatic life. If they choose to do so, volunteers may submit their data to an online database via the IOWATER website, www.iowater.net. Anyone can view data submitted by volunteers, but only certified IOWATER volunteers can enter data. The dates and locations for workshops in 2008 are: April 4-5 in Poweshiek County April 23-24 in Linn County May 2-3 in Franklin County July 18-19 in Dallas County July 30- 31 in Scott County Aug 15-16 in Howard County Sept 5-6 in Jefferson County Sept 26-27 in O’Brien County Workshop registration fees are $25 per person or $35 for a team and cover all program fees, meals and testing equipment. The deadline for registration is one week before the workshop. For more information or to register, please visit www.iowater.net. # # # MOST COUNTIES DECIDE TO EVALUATE ANIMAL CONFINEMENT SITES D ES MOINES – Nearly 90 percent of Iowa counties have decided to use the master matrix to evaluate the proposed locations of animal confinement operations that need to apply for a construction permit. Animal producers in counties that file the resolutions must meet higher standards than other confinement operations with a construction permit. They must earn points on the master matrix by choosing a site and using practices that reduce impacts on the environment and the community. The DNR has received resolutions from 87 counties that plan to use the master matrix to evaluate construction permit applications. Shelby County passed the resolution for the first time since the master matrix became available in 2003. The following 12 counties had not adopted a resolution to use the master matrix as of Jan. 31: Decatur, Lee, Fremont, Iowa, Jasper, Keokuk, Mahaska, Osceola, Plymouth, Wapello, Warren and Washington. Counties that adopt the master matrix can provide input on site selection, and the type of structures and facility management that is being proposed. Counties that passed a resolution can use the matrix during the next 12 months, ending Jan. 31, 2009. Producers and citizens can obtain more information and view a map of participating counties at www.iowadnr.com/afo/matrix.html. Only those producers who must get a construction permit are affected by the matrix. Writer: Karen Grimes # # # PUBLIC ASKED FOR IDEAS TO IMPROVE EAST FORK DES MOINES RIVER DES MOINES — The DNR is asking Iowans to review and comment on a draft water quality improvement plan for the East Fork of the Des Moines River. The East Fork Des Moines River is considered “impaired” along a segment stretching from the mouth of the river in Humboldt County to Highway 169 at Devine Access in Kossuth County. High bacteria levels are the main cause of water quality problems in this segment. The bacteria indicate that waste from wildlife, livestock, birds and humans is in the water. The bacteria drain into the impaired segment of the river from a 1,308-square-mile watershed. A watershed is an area of land that drains into a stream, river or lake. The East Fork Des Moines River originates in Tuttle Lake in Emmet County and flows about 120 miles through the cities of Armstrong, Algona, St. Joseph, Livermore and Dakota City to Humboldt County, where it meets the West Fork Des Moines River. The two forks join at Frank A. Gotch State Park to become the Des Moines River. It’s necessary to improve water quality in this entire watershed to maintain clean water along the impaired segment of the river. To address this, the DNR has developed a draft water quality improvement plan, also known as a TMDL, or Total Maximum Daily Load, for the East Fork Des Moines River. TMDLs are calculations used to determine how much of a pollutant a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards. The water quality improvement plan includes information on how Iowans can use conservation efforts in the watershed to improve water quality. Iowans can submit comments on the draft East Fork Des Moines River plan via e-mail, phone or mail. Public comments will be accepted until March 17, 2008. Copies of the draft plan are available from the following sources, which can also be used to submit comments: Internet: www.iowadnr.gov/water/watershed/tmdl/publicnotice.html E-mail: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] Telephone: Allen Bonini at (515) 281-5107 or Melinda Buyck at (515)281-6113 Mail: Allen Bonini or Melinda Buyck, care of Iowa DNR, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, Iowa 50319 More information about water quality improvement plans is available on the DNR Web site at www.iowadnr.gov/water/watershed/tmdl/ After receiving public comments, the DNR will forward the draft plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for final approval. # # # UPDATED: Potential State Actions to Reduce GREENHOUSE GASES Topic of ICCAC Meeting February 8 NOTE TO EDITORS: This is a correction to a previous news release. Previously the time for the ICCAC meeting was omitted. The following news release provides the meeting time. DES MOINES — The Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council (ICCAC) will meet Friday, Feb. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to review and approve subcommittee lists of potential state actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Council will also elect a new secretary and discuss possible funding for climate change education in Iowa. ICCAC is the governor-appointed council created by Senate File 485 during the 2007 General Assembly charged with recommending short, medium and long term reduction goals, as well as developing multiple scenarios to lower statewide greenhouse gas emissions. There will be opportunity for public comment at noon and at 3:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Air Quality Bureau at 7900 Hickman Rd., Suite 1 in Urbandale. The public may comment in person or by calling (800) 704-9804 and providing the operator with public conference code 484 447#. The complete meeting agenda is posted at http://www.iaclimatechange.us/capag.cfm, click on Meeting #3, Notice and Agenda. Written by Mindy Kralicek # # # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -To unsubsribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:[log in to unmask] out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.aspTo view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see:http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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 To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp