DES MOINES RIVER IMPROVEMENT PLAN Iowans interested in improving water quality in the Des Moines River can attend a June 24 meeting to review and discuss a water quality improvement plan and its suggestions for improving the river. The Des Moines Water Works uses water in the Des Moines River as a source of drinking water. Because the river is a drinking water source, it is subjected to a nitrate drinking water standard upstream of the intake. The Des Moines River is on the state's impaired waters list because of high monitored levels of nitrates that exceed the drinking water standard. The Des Moines Water Works operates the largest nitrate removal facility in the world to help reduce the high levels of nitrates to ensure safe drinking water for Iowans. The nitrate issues come primarily from wastewater treatment plant discharges, runoff and tile drainage from farm fields, and runoff from fertilized residential lawns. The DNR water quality improvement plan looks at potential causes of and solutions for water quality problems in the Des Moines River watershed, including nitrates. When completed, the plan will provide local resource agencies, partners, stakeholders and residents with guidance to improve the lake. "The Des Moines River is clearly an important resource to the citizens of the area," said Jeff Berckes, who coordinates the plans for the DNR. "Communities have a vested interest in protecting their drinking water sources and this meeting is a great opportunity to collaborate with the DNR to discover where the problems are coming from and how we can fix them together." The DNR will ask Iowans for their input at a June 24 meeting at the Crown Point Community Center. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the center, located at 6300 Pioneer Parkway in Johnston. Staff from the DNR's Watershed Improvement Program will deliver a presentation on the river and will be available to answer questions. Those not able to attend the public meeting can receive more information at www.iowadnr.gov/water/watershed/tmdl/publicnotice.html and submit comments on the plan by July 6, 2009 via the following ways: E-mail: [log in to unmask] Telephone: Jeff Berckes at (515) 281-4791 Mail: Jeff Berckes, care of Iowa DNR, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, Iowa 50319 After gathering Iowans' comments, the DNR will forward the final plan, also called by its technical name of Total Maximum Daily Load, to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval. Local groups interested in improving the Des Moines River watershed can then use the plan to assist their improvement efforts. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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