The Bill Northey address is not effective; please send a short comment to the Governor and Director NR Chuck Gipp. Here is a brief comment I composed.  Earlier comments were given to agency representatives at June 28^th meeting. 

Jim Redmond

 

 

Chuck Gipp, Director

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

I ask that your Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the Dept of Agriculture and Land Stewardship grant a Water Quality certificate to the Army Corps of Engineers for the Little Sioux Bend habitat project and future Corps habitat projects.  State agencies along the Missouri River need to cooperate with the Corps rather than delay projects so crucial to survival of native fish species.  The State of Iowa has issued these WQ certificates for 21 previous and similar projects.  Only 3500 acres of habitat, however, have been created in the last decade, a sure sign that the delays raised by the Missouri Dept of Conservation set a terrible precedent for Iowa’s Dept of Natural Resources.  I cannot envision a way for the Army Corps to escape a legal finding that they are not in compliance with federal court orders. 

One of the most disturbing developments is that Iowa is using the newly created Nutrient Reduction Strategy as a delaying mechanism for constructing habitat that will pay great dividends in reducing nutrient run off into Iowa streams (including the Missouri River). This is an embarrassment for Iowa farmers , the recipients of tremendous Army corps disaster service in the 2011 flood.

The reasons for delay are over; the National Academy of Science study of Sedimentation has made it clear that the Corps methods are as conservative of budget and water quality as any other method. 

Dr. Jim Redmond

3700 Jackson St

Sioux City Iowa  51104

 

 

 

Governor Branstad, 

I ask that your Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the Dept of Agriculture and Land Stewardship grant a Water Quality certificate to the Army Corps of Engineers for the Little Sioux Bend habitat project and future Corps habitat projects.  State agencies along the Missouri River need to cooperate with the Corps rather than delay projects so crucial to survival of native fish species.  The State of Iowa has issued these WQ certificates for 21 previous and similar projects.  Only 3500 acres of habitat, however, have been created in the last decade, a sure sign that the delays raised by the Missouri Dept of Conservation set a terrible precedent for Iowa’s Dept of Natural Resources.  I cannot envision a way for the Army Corps to escape a legal finding that they are not in compliance with federal court orders. 

One of the most disturbing developments is that Iowa is using the newly created Nutrient Reduction Strategy as a delaying mechanism for constructing habitat that will pay great dividends in reducing nutrient run off into Iowa streams (including the Missouri River). This is an embarrassment for Iowa farmers , the recipients of tremendous Army corps disaster service in the 2011 flood.

The reasons for delay are over; the National Academy of Science study of Sedimentation has made it clear that the Corps methods are as conservative of budget and water quality as any other method. 

Dr. Jim Redmond

3700 Jackson St

Sioux City Iowa  51104

Dept of Ag, Secretary Bill Northey,  I ask that your Dept of Agriculture and Land Stewardship cooperate with the Army Corps and the Iowa Dept of Natural Resources to  grant a Water Quality certificate to the Army Corps of Engineers for the Little Sioux Bend habitat project and future Corps habitat projects.  State agencies along the Missouri River need to cooperate with the Corps rather than delay projects so crucial to survival of native fish species.  The State of Iowa has issued these WQ certificates for 21 previous and similar projects.  Only 3500 acres of habitat, however, have been created in the last decade, a sure sign that the delays raised by the Missouri Dept of Conservation set a terrible precedent for Iowa’s Dept of Natural Resources.  I cannot envision a way for the Army Corps to escape a legal finding that they are not in compliance with federal court orders. 

One of the most disturbing developments is that Iowa is using the newly created Nutrient Reduction Strategy as a delaying mechanism for constructing habitat that will pay great future dividends in reducing nutrient run off into Iowa streams (including the Missouri River). This is an embarrassment for Iowa farmers , the recipients of tremendous Army corps disaster service in the 2011 flood. 

The reasons for delay are over; the National Academy of Science study of River Sedimentation has made it clear that the Corps methods are more conservative of water quality and more economic for taxpayers than other methods. 

Dr. Jim Redmond

3700 Jackson St

Sioux City Iowa  51104