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DNR News Releases

Harmon Lake Wildlife Area ready for a busy fall

• 10/3/2023 12:38:00 PM
• View Count 3687

Standing at the gravel boat ramp on the middle pool of Harmon Lake, among a dense stand of bur-reed full of seeds, four noisy trumpeter swans appeared over the trees then banked west at the sight of unwelcomed visitors.

Air quality permits under review

• 9/28/2023 2:27:00 PM
• View Count 3674

DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and the air where we live.

DNR enforcement actions, published 9/28/2023

• 9/28/2023 2:24:00 PM
• View Count 4062

DES MOINES – DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state and federal laws.

Stay safe this harvest season

• 9/26/2023 1:05:00 PM
• View Count 4606

AMES - As fall harvest starts across Iowa, the risk of wildfires in crop fields increases. Recent rains across Iowa provided some relief from the on-going drought, but crop fields are still dry, cured and could spark wildfires.

Wait until after Oct. 15 to prune oak trees

• 9/26/2023 1:03:00 PM
• View Count 4352

The best way to prevent the spread of oak wilt is to not prune any oak tree during the growing season.

Derecho-damaged trees focus of salvage timber sale at Pilot Knob State Park

• 9/26/2023 1:02:00 PM
• View Count 3633

FOREST CITY – A portion of Pilot Knob State Park will close Sept. 26 to allow for removal of trees in the southeast portion of the park. Visitors are asked to avoid the area east of the tower and south of the road, which will be closed for public use.

Drivers stay alert for deer movement

• 9/26/2023 1:00:00 PM
• View Count 4604

Drivers are advised to stay alert as they travel Iowa’s roadsides over the coming weeks. Autumn deer behavior, crop harvest and peak travel times for motorists combine to hike the risk of vehicle-deer collisions in Iowa.

Bowhunters encouraged to practice the ABCs of tree stand safety

• 9/26/2023 12:58:00 PM
• View Count 3535

Tree stand incidents can happen to deer hunters regardless of skill level or experience and result in serious injury or even death. Unfortunately, in nearly every case, these incidents were preventable.

For those willing to hike, South Skunk Wildlife Area offers off-the-beaten-path experience

• 9/26/2023 12:54:00 PM
• View Count 4017

A 40-foot strip of wild plum-lined land leads from the one-and-only parking lot on the north end of the South Skunk Wildlife Area, to a large remote floodplain grassland in southern Jasper County.

DNR to host a virtual public meeting regarding Supreme Beef nutrient management plan

• 9/21/2023 2:37:00 PM
• View Count 3840

DES MOINES --The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be hosting a virtual public meeting on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 at 10 a.m. to gather public comment on the Supreme Beef, LLC Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). The facility is located at 15869 Glider Road, Monona, Iowa in Giard Township in Clayton County.

Drought conditions worsen – but recent rain will help

• 9/21/2023 2:35:00 PM
• View Count 4148

DES MOINES -- Drought conditions across eastern Iowa continue to worsen, according the latest Water Summary Update. The National Drought Mitigation Center’s Sept. 21 U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) released this morning shows areas of Exceptional Drought (D4) for the first time since the fall of 2012. 

Air Quality permits under review for Sept. 21

• 9/21/2023 2:33:00 PM
• View Count 3611

DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and the air where we live. DNR’s permitting staff review the applications to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality standards. The public has the right and is encouraged to comment on draft permits. DNR considers public comments before finalizing the permits. Submit comments in writing to the assigned permit writer before 4:30 p.m. on the last day of the comment period.

DNR to host open house to discuss Loess Hills State Forest Wildfire Restoration Plans

• 9/19/2023 2:13:00 PM
• View Count 3577

PISGAH -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public open house on Monday, Sept. 25, beginning at 6 p.m., at the Brent S. Olson Memorial Visitor Center.

State Preserves Advisory Board to meet Sept. 26

• 9/19/2023 2:05:00 PM
• View Count 3486

The State Preserves Advisory Board of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will meet at 8:00 a.m., September 26, at the DNR Upper Maquoketa Wildlife Unit Headquarters, 1282 120th Street, Strawberry Point, IA 52076. 

Discounted trees available at distribution events this fall

• 9/19/2023 1:58:00 PM
• View Count 3837

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), through a partnership with the USDA Forest Service, is offering a mixture of hardwoods, low-growing ornamental and evergreen tree species for $25 each. 

Secluded Winford Wildlife Area supports quality deer and pheasant populations

• 9/19/2023 1:52:00 PM
• View Count 3876

That narrow access lane off a dead-end road is the only way in and out of the Winford Wildlife Area, a 637-acre floodplain grassland, just north of Oskaloosa. 

Popular wildlife area emerges from historic ‘Flood of ‘93’

• 9/19/2023 1:50:00 PM
• View Count 3718

West Fork Wildlife Area in Palo Alto County was developed after the historic flood of 1993, then expanded after the floods of 2018 and 2019 as landowners exited the floodplain.  

Cedar Valley Lakes Trail Reopening Ribbon Cutting Event

• 9/19/2023 1:47:00 PM
• View Count 2963

WATERLOO - On Wednesday, Sept. 20, the Cedar Valley Trails Partnership and the Iowa DNR will host a celebration and ribbon cutting for the newly paved section of the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail from Krieg's Crossing to the George Wyth State Park Lodge

REAP builds communities – how do you want to build yours?

• 9/15/2023 10:22:00 AM
• View Count 3238

Iowa’s Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) assemblies begin tomorrow, giving all Iowans an opportunity to share and discuss their visions for Iowa’s outdoor recreation, soil and water enhancement, historical resources and land management and more.

Need to change your Title V Responsible Official? Submit a modification application in Iowa EASY Air

• 9/15/2023 10:20:00 AM
• View Count 3239

Is your facility changing your Title V Responsible Official? If so, you must submit a Title V modification application in Iowa EASY Air, the DNR’s electronic air permit application system.

Revised Air Dispersion Modeling Guidance Available

• 9/15/2023 9:51:00 AM
• View Count 3052

The DNR has finalized updates to guidance documents used for air dispersion modeling analyses.

Air quality permits under review

• 9/14/2023 4:14:00 PM
• View Count 3098

DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and the air where we live. DNR’s permitting staff review the applications to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality standards. The public has the right and is encouraged to comment on draft permits. DNR considers public comments before finalizing the permits. Submit comments in writing to the assigned permit writer before 4:30 p.m. on the last day of the comment period.

DNR Enforcement Actions

• 9/14/2023 4:12:00 PM
• View Count 3279

DES MOINES – DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state and federal laws. This approach is very effective. In the few cases where compliance cannot be achieved, the DNR issues enforcement actions. The following list summarizes recent enforcement actions. Find the entire, original orders on DNR’s website at www.iowadnr.gov/EnforcementActions

Iowa companies achieve economic and environmental results through DNR P2 program

• 9/14/2023 4:11:00 PM
• View Count 3060

DES MOINES — Iowa companies have saved more than 116.6 million dollars since 2001 as a result of implementing environmental improvements recommended by interns with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Pollution Prevention Intern Program.

Fishing regulations to be relaxed at Cherry Lake in Tama County

• 9/14/2023 4:03:00 PM
• View Count 4751

TAMA - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will relax the fishing regulations at Cherry Lake on the south side of Tama starting September 15 to allow anglers to more freely harvest fish.

Fall webworm abundant in southern Iowa this fall

• 9/12/2023 2:12:00 PM
• View Count 3311

The fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), a native moth of North America, is commonly found across Iowa during late summer and early fall.

Lend a hand in a state park at Statewide Volunteer Day on Sept. 23

• 9/12/2023 1:32:00 PM
• View Count 2726

Iowans are invited to lend a hand at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' annual statewide Volunteer Day on Saturday, Sept. 23

Experience the rugged beauty of the Loess Hills at Green Hollow and Blackburn areas

• 9/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
• View Count 3189

Tucked in to the southern end of the Loess Hills, within eyeshot of I-29 and nearly adjacent to Forney Lake, is the Green Hollow and Blackburn wildlife areas and state park complex in northwest Fremont County.

Natural Resource Commission to meet Sept. 14

• 9/11/2023 11:09:00 AM
• View Count 2570

Des Moines – The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will meet at 9:30 a.m., Sept. 14, in the Wallace State Office Building, conference room 2 north, 502 East Ninth Street, in Des Moines. The meeting is open to the public.

Air quality permits under review

• 9/7/2023 3:10:00 PM
• View Count 2803

DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and the air where we live. DNR’s permitting staff review the applications to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality standards. The public has the right and is encouraged to comment on draft permits. DNR considers public comments before finalizing the permits. Submit comments in writing to the assigned permit writer before 4:30 p.m. on the last day of the comment peri...

Water Summary Update: Drought conditions worsen in eastern Iowa

• 9/7/2023 3:08:00 PM
• View Count 3281

DES MOINES - August saw another below normal rainfall month in Iowa, with preliminary data showing that the state received 3.25 inches of rain, 0.88 inches below normal. This marks the sixth month in a row of less than normal rainfall.

Public Comment Opportunity for Draft Air Quality Rule Changes

• 9/7/2023 10:04:00 AM
• View Count 2807

As part of the implementation requirements for Executive Order 10 (EO10), the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public comment period from September 6 – September 28, 2023, for proposed rule changes to the air quality chapters.

Iowa DNR to host open house on Clear Lake State Park improvement plans

• 9/5/2023 1:11:00 PM
• View Count 3090

CLEAR LAKE -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting an open house to discuss renovation and improvement plans for Clear Lake State Park, at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 11, at Clear Lake State Park Lodge. The public is invited to attend.

Learn to Hunt program opens registration for rabbit workshop

• 9/5/2023 1:09:00 PM
• View Count 4804

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a program to teach skills needed to hunt, field dress and cook rabbits to youth and adults who have little to no small game hunting experience.

Learn to Hunt program opens registration for women’s upland bird hunting workshop and mentored hunt

• 9/5/2023 1:06:00 PM
• View Count 2743

DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a comprehensive program on hunting upland game for women who have little or no upland bird hunting experience or who are looking to return to the field and build a network of female upland hunters.

Low flows and high temperatures delay stocking in select trout streams

• 9/5/2023 1:05:00 PM
• View Count 2813

Several catchable trout stockings on a few trout streams in Northeast Iowa will be delayed until the week of Sept. 11, due to low flows and high temperatures.

DNR enforcement actions, published 9/1/2023

• 9/1/2023 3:46:00 PM
• View Count 2996

DES MOINES – DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state and federal laws.

Manure clean-up underway in tributary of North Raccoon River

• 9/1/2023 3:44:00 PM
• View Count 3115

COOPER (Greene County) - The DNR has identified the source of the manure release in an unnamed tributary of the North Raccoon River to the Crosman Land and Livestock confinement facility, located north of the town of Cooper in Greene County.

Order Your Fall Seedlings Today

• 9/1/2023 3:24:00 PM
• View Count 3012

The State Forest Nursery online store opens today for fall 2023 and spring 2024 seedling orders.

Iowa’s rabbit, squirrel season opens Sept. 2

• 8/29/2023 2:23:00 PM
• View Count 3638

The good news for Iowa’s cottontail rabbit hunters is that Iowa has an abundant rabbit population, with the south-central part of the state seeing the best overall numbers. The better news for hunters is Iowa’s cottontail rabbit season begins Sept. 2 statewide.

Busy Labor Day weekend expected on Iowa waters and at state parks

• 8/29/2023 2:13:00 PM
• View Count 3693

DES MOINES – The unofficial end to summer this weekend is expected to draw thousands of Iowans to their state parks and waterways.

Pheasant survey results highest in eight years

• 8/29/2023 2:12:00 PM
• View Count 13383

The 2023 August pheasant population survey had the highest statewide counts since 2015, with the biggest increases coming from southwest, northwest and northeast regions. The statewide average was nearly 23 birds per route; a 15 percent increase over 2022.

Iowa’s dove season begins Sept. 1

• 8/29/2023 2:11:00 PM
• View Count 4215

Iowa’s sunflower and wheat fields will be popular places on Sept. 1, when thousands of hunters slip into the standing flowers and field edges in the early morning darkness for the opening day of dove hunting season.

Brook trout thrive at South Pine Creek wildlife area

• 8/29/2023 2:08:00 PM
• View Count 3137

The brook trout in South Pine Creek might be the most well-known of the trout species in the Hawkeye State. And for good reason. This strain has been confirmed through two genetic assessments as unique to Iowa.

Landowner adds trees and shrubs to enhance, diversify Allamakee County century farm

• 8/29/2023 2:03:00 PM
• View Count 2648

Sandy Koehring was cautious when making changes to the family farm. After all, the Postville-native was born and raised here and it’s been in the family for more than 110 years. So, when she decided to convert part of her land into trees, she started small.

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