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As the DNR works to bring Iowa’s water quality standards into compliance with the federal Clean Water Act, it is assigning designated uses to each stream and river in Iowa. This assessment process is all part of establishing new goals and levels of protection for Iowa’s water.
Assessment Protocols:
Field assessments on Iowa’s rivers and streams began this year as a result of DNR rulemaking and 2006 legislation that determined all 26,000 miles of Iowa’s perennial streams are protected for swimming and fishing. This protection brings the DNR closer to compliance with Federal Clean Water Standards and establishes new goals for water quality in the state of Iowa.
Of particular concern are the streams and rivers that receive a discharge from a facility with a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. These facilities may have to meet more stringent permit limits as a result of the increased protection.
The DNR is assessing these streams for aquatic life and recreational uses to determine if the new classifications are appropriate. This means these waters are considered fishable and swimmable unless shown otherwise through a scientifically based assessment, in this case a Use Attainability Assessment (UAA). The department is conducting this field work to determine whether this “fishable and swimmable” presumption is appropriate for these waters. Once the field work is complete, the DNR will be drafting the UAA reports which will provide an analysis of attainable uses for that specific waterbody. These UAAs will be available for public review and any recommended use designation change shall proceed through the formal rulemaking process.
UAA Batch #1, Rulemaking Documents:
UAA Batch #2, Rulemaking Documents:
UAA Designations – Batch 2 Streams:
These maps provide the opportunity to view the departments designated use stream segments for the 2nd batch of stream assessments.
Other Documents:
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April 7, 2009 - 1 p.m.
Wallace State Office Building
4th Floor Conference Rooms, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, Iowa |
April 9, 2009 - 10 a.m.
Cherokee Community Center, 530 W. Bluff St., Cherokee, Iowa |
April 9, 2009 - 6 p.m.
Atlantic Municipal Utilities Conference Room, 15 W. 3rd St., Atlantic, Iowa |
April 14, 2009 - 10 a.m.
Falcon Civic Center, 1305 5th Ave NE, Independence, Iowa |
April 14, 2009 - 6 p.m.
Iowa City Public Library, 123 Linn St., Iowa City, Iowa |
April 16, 2009 - 1 p.m.
Clear Lake Community Meeting Room, 15 N. 6th St., Clear Lake, IA |
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