Grant Applications Available Now for School and Community Tree Planting 6/7/2016 2:01:00 PM View Count 4400 Trees For Kids grant applications are now available for the fall 2016 grant cycle. The Trees For Kids grant program is designed to provide hands-on educational opportunities for Iowa youth by planting trees on school grounds and other public places.
It's Not Too Late to Reserve a State Park Cabin 6/7/2016 1:59:00 PM View Count 4635 Not interested in sleeping in a tent? Don’t have an RV? How about trying an overnight stay in a state park cabin this summer?
Iowa Raptors Take Center Stage 6/7/2016 1:33:00 PM View Count 4543 Iowa’s 24 active osprey nests will be a bustling with activity this week and next as young ospreys are beginning to hatch. The osprey nest at the Wells Fargo campus in West Des Moines has two young hatching today and can be viewed live online.
June is Great Outdoors Month 6/7/2016 1:32:00 PM View Count 3905 The 2016 summer recreation season is just getting started and there are plenty of days ahead to enjoy the outdoors.
Natural Resource Commission to Meet June 9 in Webster County 6/6/2016 10:04:00 AM View Count 3796 OTHO, Iowa – The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will meet at 8:30 a.m., on June 9, at Center Lodge, in Dolliver Memorial state Park, 2757 Dolliver Park Ave., Otho.
Boil Advisory Still in Place for New Market 6/2/2016 4:23:00 PM View Count 3673 NEW MARKET – Even though water pressure has been restored, a boil advisory will remain in place for the city of New Market in Taylor County until bacteria samples can be collected to ensure the water is safe.
7 Cool Things You Should Know About Hummingbirds 6/2/2016 2:46:00 PM View Count 58554 Hummingbirds are some of the most distinctive birds to see in Iowa – if your eyes can keep up. Known for their extremely speedy flight and abrupt stops, these winged gems are fun to spot and easy to attract to your yard or apartment windowsill with a feeder. Look for them over the summer and you might even see a rare species!
Entrance Roads at Lost Grove Lake Closing June 6 6/2/2016 2:44:00 PM View Count 5109 Road paving construction will begin next week at Lost Grove Lake located east of Eldridge. The south entrance road leading to Backcast Bay Shoreline Access Area (located near the corner of 250th Street and 230th Avenue) will close on June 6 and the entrance road leading to the Old Red Barn Boat Ramp (formerly the middle boat ramp; also located near the corner of 250th Street and 230th Avenue) will close on June 8.
Contracts Abound on Environmental Commission's Meeting in Moravia 6/2/2016 11:12:00 AM View Count 4617 MORAVIA – Contracts for air, land and water quality dominate the June 21 agenda for the Environmental Protection Commission’s meeting at Honey Creek State Park Resort, 12633 Resort Drive in Moravia.
Manure Spill to Small Creek in Union County 6/1/2016 12:59:00 PM View Count 3670 THAYER – Tuesday afternoon, Union County maintenance staff accidentally nicked a hose used to transport manure while mowing a right-of-way about one mile north of Thayer.
2016 Spring Turkey Harvest Tops 12,000 5/31/2016 1:04:00 PM View Count 5049 Turkey hunters reported harvesting nearly 12,200 Iowa birds this spring, which is highest harvest total since hunters were required to report their harvest in 2007.
Iowan Selected as National Hunter Education Volunteer Instructor of the Year 5/31/2016 1:03:00 PM View Count 6899 Rick Cerwick flashes back to the days when he started hunting, rolling down the Webster County gravel roads in the ‘63 Ford Galaxy 500 with mom and dad up front and he and his brothers and sisters in back competing to see who could spot the most rooster pheasants and who could retrieve them when dad shot one.
Boil Advisory Issued for One Block in Mason City 5/31/2016 11:35:00 AM View Count 3925 MASON CITY – The city of Mason City has issued a boil advisory for one block along Highway 122 after a water main break earlier today.
Iowa's 2016 Air Monitoring Network Plan Available for Public Review and Comment 5/31/2016 8:46:00 AM View Count 4112 The air monitoring network plan will assist the Iowa DNR in its efforts to monitor the quality of Iowa’s air and to keep the public aware of air quality problems.
Fishing the Graveyard Shift 5/26/2016 4:11:00 PM View Count 18475 Ultimately, I think the lure of the riverbank and flathead fishing is that life slows down so much. It is so very simple, so basic and elemental, almost like a form of asceticism. Life is reduced to its simplest terms.
DNR Derelict Building Grant Program Awards Grants to 15 Rural Communities 5/26/2016 1:36:00 PM View Count 5006 DES MOINES – The DNR Derelict Building Grant Program will award grants to 15 small, rural Iowa communities to help deconstruct or renovate abandoned structures, remove asbestos and limit construction and demolition materials going to the landfill.
DNR Program Helps Iowa Communities Monitor Drinking Water for Microcystin 5/26/2016 1:34:00 PM View Count 5064 DES MOINES – Iowa public drinking water supplies will have an opportunity to participate in a voluntary microcystin monitoring program.
Know Your Catch: How to ID Northern Pike and Muskies 5/25/2016 11:47:00 AM View Count 55759 Pikes and muskellunge are both predatory prize fish any angler would love to catch, but knowing the difference between the two makes a big difference in your fishing story… especially if you need to tell it to a conservation officer, because the rules for these species are different. Check out the easy tips below for identifying what’s on your line and what to do about it.
Iowa Residents Enjoy Free Fishing Days June 3-5 5/24/2016 1:36:00 PM View Count 16867 Iowa residents may fish without a license on June 3, 4 and 5 as part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources free fishing weekend.
Iowa DNR and Iowa Tourism Office Launch Campaign to Promote Family Fishing in the State 5/24/2016 1:34:00 PM View Count 5058 Des Moines — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Iowa Tourism Office are calling on families to put down the screens and make lasting memories fishing in a new joint marketing campaign launched today.
Boaters Urged to Help Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers 5/24/2016 1:32:00 PM View Count 7233 The Iowa DNR is encouraging all boaters and anglers to “Clean, Drain, and Dry” their boats and equipment this Memorial Day weekend to protect Iowa lakes and rivers from aquatic hitchhikers.
Boaters Face Rainy Forecast Over Holiday Weekend 5/24/2016 1:31:00 PM View Count 3759 The Memorial Day weekend forecast calls for temperatures in the upper 70s-80s, with a chance of rain each day. Will that keep boating numbers down for the unofficial beginning to Iowa’s boating season? Not likely.
Camping Season is Underway 5/24/2016 1:27:00 PM View Count 6638 Many Iowa campers have already taken advantage of this spring’s beautiful camping weather, and many more will join them at the end of the week. Anxious campers are going through their equipment and checking supplies, preparing for the Memorial Day weekend and kickoff to summer. Likewise, state park staff is going through the final stages of prep work for its peak camping season. Iowa’s state parks expect to host more than 900,000 overnight stays and nearly 15 million day visits this year.
Tank of Dilute Herbicide Recovered From Delaware County Stream 5/21/2016 8:57:00 PM View Count 4259 MANCHESTER – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will continue to monitor a small tributary of Golden Branch northeast of Ryan in Delaware County after a tank with dilute herbicide fell into the stream Saturday morning.
Shimek State Forest Puts on Stunning Show of Butterflies and Birds 5/20/2016 11:58:00 AM View Count 10093 This southeast Iowa forest hosts one of our most diverse woodland bird migrations, followed by a stunning summer butterfly show perhaps unequaled anywhere else in the state.
DNR Seeking Input on Animal Feeding Operations Proposed Rule 5/19/2016 1:26:00 PM View Count 4780 DES MOINES – The DNR is holding six public hearings from May 23 to June 3 to gather input on proposed rule changes for animal feeding operations.
Beach Closing at Pleasant Creek State Rec Area 5/18/2016 4:00:00 PM View Count 4565 PALO -- The beach at Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area is officially closing today until shoreline restoration is completed and the lake refills.
Spring Cleaning? Here's Where to Take Your Stuff 5/18/2016 3:27:00 PM View Count 12367 Shake off those winter doldrums and rejuvenate the home with a good spring cleaning. But don’t dull the shine of your good deed by improperly disposing of cleaners or unwanted items that could be reused around the house or community.
Here's Why Skunk Smell is So Hard to Get Rid Of 5/18/2016 2:49:00 PM View Count 88619 Everything about a skunk says, “don’t mess with me.” Their distinctive black and white stripes show they don’t need to hide for safety. If a curious predator doesn’t get that message, the skunk employs an intimidating foot-stamping. If a threatening animal still doesn’t respond to an obvious tail-lifting, the skunk lets loose.
Cleanup Underway On Taylor County Manure Spill 5/18/2016 12:46:00 PM View Count 4285 LENOX – Cleanup is underway at a Taylor County farm following reports of an overflowing manure pit Tuesday afternoon.
Top Urban Fishing Spots in Des Moines 5/18/2016 11:15:00 AM View Count 60662 Sixty percent of anglers travel no more than 20 miles to fish. For those near Iowa’s largest metro, hit these local picks. (Stay tuned for top spots in more cities in future issues.)
DNR Investigating Taylor County Manure Spill 5/17/2016 8:15:00 PM View Count 4255 LENOX – Tuesday afternoon the DNR received an anonymous complaint of an overflowing manure pit in Taylor County.
EPC Sets Title V Emission Fee at $67.50/ton for Fees Due July 1, 2016 5/17/2016 1:25:00 PM View Count 6800 On May 17, 2016, the Environmental Protection Commission reduced the Title V air emissions fee for calendar year 2015 from $70 per ton to $67.50 per ton. The reduction was made to adjust for a projected 3.8 percent increase in emissions from the March estimate and a 4.5 percent decrease in the program’s costs
Iowa Students Recognized for Iowa State-Fish Drawings 5/17/2016 12:22:00 PM View Count 4611 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources partnered with the Wildlife Forever® State-Fish Art® Contest to host an Iowa State-Fish Art Contest.
Loess Hills Wildlife Area and State Forest Becoming a Bird Conservation Area 5/17/2016 12:21:00 PM View Count 7291 CASTANA, Iowa – A public ceremony to dedicate the Loess Hills Wildlife Area, Loess Hills State Forest, Preparation Canyon State Park, and a 42 mile section of the Loess Hills (including the Loess Hills National Natural Landmark) as Iowa’s newest Bird Conservation Area (BCA) will take place on Friday, June 3 at 3 pm.
Spring Fishing in Full Swing Across Iowa 5/17/2016 12:20:00 PM View Count 4433 Crappies and bluegills are biting in small ponds and lakes across Iowa. Spring panfish fishing is a great opportunity to introduce beginners of all ages to fishing.
Anamosa's Machart Takes Home Top Prize in National Archery in the Schools Program Bullseye National Championship 5/17/2016 12:18:00 PM View Count 5695 Anamosa’s David Machart scored 299 out of 300 to win the high school division and first place overall in the bullseye competition at the National Archery in the Schools Program National Tournament last weekend in Louisville, Ky.
Meet Sparky, a Bison Lucky to Be Alive 5/17/2016 11:15:00 AM View Count 25239 In rare cases, an animal can survive a lightning strike, like a bison struck in 2013 at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City. This bison earned his new nickname “Sparky” the hard way.
DNR Investigating Fish Kill in McLoud Run in Cedar Rapids 5/16/2016 4:22:00 PM View Count 4351 CEDAR RAPIDS – DNR field staff were onsite in Cedar Rapids Saturday and again Monday trying to track down a fish kill that occurred on McLoud Run Friday night.
Sioux City Referral Delayed Until June Commission Meeting 5/16/2016 9:55:00 AM View Count 3778 DES MOINES – Consideration of a referral of Sioux City by the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission scheduled for May 17th will be postponed to the commission’s June 21st meeting as requested by the city.
Wastewater Discharge in Armstrong 5/12/2016 3:36:00 PM View Count 4387 ARMSTRONG – A power outage caused a pump to fail in the city of Armstrong in Emmet County early Thursday morning.
Bottled Water Advisory Issued in Bristow in Butler County 5/12/2016 12:46:00 PM View Count 3921 BRISTOW – The city of Bristow has issued a bottled water advisory to be in effect until the pump for the city’s main well is replaced next week or until test results show water is safe to drink.
Iowa Companies Team with Pollution Prevention Intern Program to Boost Profits, Improve Environmental Performance 5/12/2016 12:44:00 PM View Count 4152 DES MOINES – The Iowa DNR has selected 10 organizations to participate in its 2016 Pollution Prevention (P2) Intern Program. Upper-level college and university students work on-site at Iowa companies for 12- or 24-week paid internships to research solutions and implement pollution prevention strategies that will increase efficiency, reduce costs and help meet companies’ environmental goals.
Leaking Basin Discharges To Creek Near Carroll 5/11/2016 3:58:00 PM View Count 3894 CARROLL – Wednesday morning the owner of a cattle feedlot located about six miles southeast of Carroll called DNR to report a leak from a runoff holding basin.
The Return of Lake Darling 5/11/2016 1:40:00 PM View Count 15706 After a $12 million rehab of its lake, watershed and public facilities, Lake Darling State Park in southeast Iowa officially reopened Sept. 17, 2014. The 66-year-old park and lake are now among the state’s most picturesque recreation areas. Namesake “Ding” Darling must be smiling.