IA DNR: Recreational use of streams on EPC April 8 agenda in Carroll

CARROLL - Commissioners will be asked to approve the DNR's final recommendations on state water quality standards at the Environmental Protection Commission meeting April 8 in Carroll.

Iowa has a wide array of streams and rivers, varying from the nation's largest river, the Mississippi, to small streams that people can cross in one step. Before 2006, many small streams received limited protection for aquatic life and no protection for recreation.

The DNR proposed the reclassifications based on the physical characteristics of the stream, on-site visits looking for evidence of stream use, and more than 2,000 public comments attesting to how the streams are used. Initial recommendations for 47 stream segments were revised after DNR staff considered public comments.

If approved, the rule would reclassify 295 stream and river sections, granting protection for children's recreational use to 39 of them and protecting 241 for secondary contact such as wading, fishing, trapping or boating. The proposal would protect fish and aquatic life in all of the stream sections under consideration.

In other action, commissioners may approve grants totaling $97,500 to expand and enhance Regional Collection Center services in Cass, Adair and Guthrie Counties. The centers dispose of hazardous materials such as toxic, corrosive, flammable or reactive substances.

Another contract for commissioners to consider will support the Iowa Learning Farms Project with $98,512 to promote conservation tillage to farmers. The grant would help fund field demonstrations that illustrate the effectiveness of conservation practices on water quality.

The meeting will start at 9 a.m. at the Carroll County Conservation Board, 22676 Swan Lake Drive in Carroll. Public participation will open at 10:30 a.m.

Commissioners will tour POET Biorefining, 1015 Grant Ave. in Coon Rapids at 2:30 p.m. April 7 prior to the meeting. The tour will be followed by dinner at Charlie's Restaurant at 6:30 p.m., at the corner of Hwy. 71 N and 18 Street.

The full agenda for Tuesday is:

Approval of Agenda
Approval of Minutes
Director's Remarks
Regional Collection Center Establishment Grant - Contract Recommendation
Contract - Provide Compliance Inspector Training and Continuing Education (Refresher) Courses to Iowa Licensed UST Professionals
Final Rule - Chapters 20, 21,22, 23, 25, and 33, Air Quality Program Rules - Updates, Revisions and Additions
Proposed Rule - Chapters 20, 21, 22, 23 and 33, Air Quality Program Rules -Updates, Revisions and Additions
Proposed Rule -113.2(8) of 567-Chapter 113 Sanitary Landfills for Municipal Solid Waste: Groundwater Protection Systems for the Disposal of Non-Hazardous Wastes
Final Rule - Chapter 61 - Water Quality Standards (Stream Reclassifications via Use Assessment and Use Attainability Analyses)
Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Project
Monthly Reports
General Discussion
Items for Next Month's Meeting
May 13 - Urbandale
June 10 - Urbandale
July 7-8 - Storm Lake - King's Pointe Resort

Look for more information about the agenda items on the DNR Web site under Commissions and Boards at www.iowadnr.gov.

The members of the commission are David Petty, chair, Eldora; Charlotte Hubbell, vice chair, Des Moines; Suzanne Morrow, secretary, Storm Lake; Henry Marquard, Muscatine; Ralph Klemme, LeMars; Susan Heathcote, Des Moines; Paul Johnson, Decorah; and Scott Mahr, Coralville. The director of the DNR is Richard Leopold.