www.iowadnr.gov | facebook.com/iowadnr | twitter.com/iowadnr | pinterest.com/iowadnr
1. DNR investigates two fish kills in north central Iowa
2. Meeting to discuss Little River Lake water quality improvement plan
3. State interagency group holds meeting regarding Missouri River Oct. 16
DNR INVESTIGATES TWO FISH KILLS IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA
MEDIA CONTACT: Jeff Vansteenburg at 641-424-4073 or [log in to unmask].
MASON CITY – Starting Monday, the DNR investigated two fish kills, one in Kossuth County on the East Fork of the Des Moines River and the other on the Boone River in Hamilton County.
The DNR staff is searching for the source of a pollutant that turned the East Fork of the Des Moines River green west of the town of Irvington. An angler reported the fish kill on Sunday. Staff found low oxygen levels and a chemical odor. They are still looking for the source of the pollutant.
In Hamilton County, DNR staff are looking for a contaminant that killed fish and aquatic organisms along a stretch of the Boone River southwest of Woolstock. A caller reported the fish kill Monday afternoon to the DNR, but had seen the dead fish on Friday. At least one mile of the river was affected.
The DNR will continue to look for the source of pollution on both fish kills. Staff did not detect ammonia at either site, making it less likely that manure was a cause of the fish kills.
Anyone with information about either fish kill, please contact the DNR Mason City field office at 641-424-4073.
In general, anyone seeing dead fish or a likely pollutant should call the DNR’s 24-hour spill line at 515-281-8694.
# # #
MEETING TO DISCUSS LITTLE RIVER LAKE WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN
MEDIA CONTACTS: Jeff Berckes at (515) 281-4791 or [log in to unmask] or Charles Ikenberry at (515) 281-8753 or [log in to unmask]
LEON – Iowans interested in the results of a DNR study to improve water quality in Little River Lake in Decatur County can attend a meeting Oct. 23. Citizens are encouraged to bring their questions and ideas to improve the lake to the meeting for discussion.
Little River Lake is on the state’s list of impaired waters for turbidity (poor water clarity). The current study, or DNR water quality improvement plan, shows how these problems are related to excessive levels of sediment and phosphorus in the lake. The problems impact recreation and aquatic life (fish populations) in the lake.
The plan explores the amounts and sources of phosphorus entering the lake and offers potential solutions to reduce those levels and work toward fixing the problem. The document is designed as a guide for local resource agencies, partners, stakeholders and residents to improve the lake. Staff from the DNR’s Watershed Improvement Program will be on hand to answer questions.
The Oct. 23 meeting will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Central Decatur High School, 1201 NE Poplar St., in Leon. Those not able to attend the public meeting can receive more information at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/WaterQuality/WatershedImprovement/WatershedResearchData/WaterImprovementPlans/PublicMeetingsPlans.aspx and submit comments on the plan by Nov. 12 via:
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 (TMDL), to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval.
# # #
STATE INTERAGENCY GROUP HOLDS MEETING REGARDING MISSOURI RIVER OCT. 16
MEDIA CONTACT: Sharon Tahtinen at 515-281-7066 or [log in to unmask].
DES MOINES – The State Interagency Missouri River Authority (SIMRA) will meet in Des Moines Oct. 16. Presentations will include current and projected precipitation, river and stream flows, and shallow groundwater conditions in Iowa; an update of the conditional permit for the Shallow Water Habitat Project located at Little Sioux Bend in Harrison County; and how congressional changes to FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program taking effect this month will affect policyholders.
The SIMRA seeks stakeholder input and makes recommendations on policies affecting the Missouri River. The group will meet at 9:30 a.m. in the Iowa Utilities Board Conference Room 1 at 1375 E. Court Ave., Des Moines. The meeting is open to the public.
The complete agenda is available below and on the state public meetings calendar at www.iowa.gov/state/main/pmc/pmc.php under DNR.
Interested people can attend the meeting by conference call. Dial 866-685-1580 and follow the prompts. The conference code is 2816326 followed by the pound (#) sign.
SIMRA includes representatives from the Governor's office, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Utilities Board, the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Iowa DNR and Iowa Department of Transportation.
- 30 -