For immediate release: Feb. 23, 2012 1. Public meeting to discuss groundwater supplies for Linn and Johnson counties scheduled for March 1 2. DNR-funded conservation practices reduce water pollution in 2011 3. Grants awarded to school districts for diesel emissions reduction PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES FOR LINN AND JOHNSON COUNTIES SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 1 MEDIA CONTACT: Bob Libra at 319-430-2954, [log in to unmask] IOWA CITY― The DNR Geological and Water Survey and Water Allocation programs will host a public meeting March 1 to discuss groundwater sources serving Linn and Johnson counties. As a result of studies and predictive modeling for the Jordan and Silurian aquifers, the DNR has information to help plan for future water needs in Linn and Johnson Counties. “Taking a good look at our water sources tell us we have some localized areas where groundwater is over-used, areas where supply issues could develop in the future, and how new groundwater users will affect existing users,” said Bob Libra, State Geologist. “Having this information will help local government, developers, water withdrawal permit holders and others plan for water use in this area in the coming decades.” At the meeting, DNR staff will present the current status and future predictions for the aquifer sources, regulations that constrain adding new wells and potential groundwater management approaches. The public meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m., March 1, in Ballroom B and C at The Hotel at Kirkwood, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. # # # DNR-FUNDED CONSERVATION PRACTICES REDUCE WATER POLLUTION IN 2011 MEDIA CONTACT: Steve Hopkins, DNR watershed improvement, 515-281-6402 or [log in to unmask] DES MOINES — More than 20,000 tons of soil are staying put on the land and out of Iowa streams, rivers and lakes, thanks to conservation practices installed in fiscal year 2011, according to numbers released by the DNR. Put that amount of soil in dump trucks, and it would make a line more than 6 miles long. The numbers indicate that conservation practices on agricultural and urban land are effectively reducing pollutants reaching Iowa’s water. Local watershed projects work with landowners to use conservation practices in a watershed, which is an area of land that drains into a lake, river or stream. Common conservation practices include wetlands, ponds, terraces and buffers. “We continue to make progress, improving our lakes, rivers and streams,” said Bill Ehm, head of DNR’s environmental services division. “Looking at the results over time, it shows that Iowans are taking ownership of their local waters. We enjoy working with Iowans to improve water quality and look forward to future successes.” Each year, the DNR helps fund a number of locally-led projects that help Iowans improve their water. Of those projects, 21 reported constructing a total of 307 conservation practices during federal fiscal year (FFY) 2011. From Oct. 1, 2010 to Sept. 30, 2011, those conservation practices: a.. Reduced sediment reaching waterways by at least 20,985 tons per year. b.. Reduced phosphorus reaching waterways by at least 27,164 pounds per year. c.. Reduced nitrogen reaching waterways by at least 41,881 pounds per year. One successful local effort in Jackson County installed practices that keep sediment and nutrients from reaching Tete Des Morts Creek. The Tete Des Morts project coordinator worked with landowners to install practices in federal fiscal year 2011 that reduced sediment delivery to the creek by 1,777 tons per year, enough to fill 118 dump trucks. Phosphorus was reduced by 2,310 pounds per year and nitrogen loading was reduced by 3,972 pounds per year. These conservation practices will continue to reduce pollutants at the same rate if properly maintained. The new numbers apply only to practices installed in 2011 through DNR-funded watershed projects and do not reflect the total effects of all conservation practices in the state. Practices installed through DNR watershed projects since 2004 now collectively reduce sediment reaching Iowa’s waters by 175,867 tons per year and phosphorus loading by 260,592 pounds per year. The DNR is currently accepting applications for grant funding for new watershed efforts. More information is available at watershed.iowadnr.gov. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides DNR funding for nonpoint pollution programs. Sediment can make water cloudy, damage the habitat of fish and other aquatic life, and fill in lakes and streambeds. High levels of nutrients, like phosphorus or nitrates, can cause algae blooms, increase drinking water costs and lead to poor aquatic life diversity. # # # GRANTS AWARDED TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR DIESEL EMISSIONS REDUCTION MEDIA CONTACT: Mindy Kralicek, DNR information specialist and BEEP communications coordinator, (515) 281-7832, [log in to unmask] DES MOINES — Six school districts have been selected to receive up to $38,000 in reimbursement as a match for a new school bus to replace the oldest school buses still in regular use. These six school districts will also receive full reimbursement for retrofits to reduce diesel emissions on bus engines older than 2004 models in their fleets. One other school district has been selected to receive full reimbursement for retrofits only. A total of $280,359 will be awarded. The community school districts receiving the bus and retrofit funding are: Albert City-Truesdale in Buena Vista County, East Union in Union County, North Iowa in Winnebago County, Rock Valley in Sioux County, West Harrison in Harrison County and Westwood in Woodbury County. One community school district receiving retrofits-only funding is Sibley-Ocheyedan in Osceola County. Funding is provided by the Iowa DNR through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Diesel Campaign. School Administrators of Iowa is handling administration of the grant on behalf of the DNR. The Bus Emissions Education Program (BEEP) has assisted with grant publicity and other roles. Judging was based primarily on the strength of each school district’s idling reduction policy, the age and use of the bus to be replaced, efforts each school district makes to reduce air pollution, and efforts made to teach programs and develop curriculum for air quality, mobile source pollution and its effect on the earth’s atmosphere. Diesel engines are rugged, well-built engines and have a long useful life. Model bus engines 2010 or newer and certified by the EPA reduce diesel exhaust emissions by 95 percent compared to pre-1994 engines. The EPA has determined that retrofits of diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) and closed crankcase ventilation systems (CCVs), together on pre-2004 school bus engines, reduce particulates by 25 to 33 percent, hydrocarbons by 42 to 52 percent, and carbon monoxide by 13 to 40 percent depending upon the selected product and bus performance. DOCs reduce the amount of pollution emitted out of the bus exhaust system. CCVs reduce the amount of pollution in a bus cabin, which enters from the engine and builds as the children enter and exit the bus. These two technologies together reduce the most diesel emissions per dollar than other types of diesel retrofits. Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of diesel pollution because their lungs are still developing and they breathe 1.5 times the air volume for their size compared to adults. Diesel engine emissions are responsible for hospital admissions, asthma attacks and other respiratory symptoms, and lost school and work days. Additionally it causes visibility reduction and is a potent greenhouse agent involved in climate change. BEEP is a collaborative effort to reduce childhood exposure to harmful diesel exhaust. Its objective is to reduce emissions in school bus fleets. The partners include the School Administrators of Iowa, the Iowa Association of School Boards, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Department of Education, and the Iowa Pupil Transportation Association. More information about this grant and BEEP is available at www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/AirQuality/BEEPSchoolBusEmissGrants.aspx. - 30 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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/