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.
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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:
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.
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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.
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