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Learn about the DNR's COVID-19 response and how the current health emergency is impacting DNR facilities, services and events.
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DNR traces Mason City spill to milk shake ingredient

DNR traces Mason City spill to milk shake ingredient

  • 4/14/2021 2:58:00 PM
  • View Count 316
MASON CITY—Following up on reports of discolored water in a tributary of Cheslea Creek, DNR staff traced milk-colored water to Martin-Brower, a McDonald’s distribution center in Mason City.
Urban Forestry awards recognize local dedication to trees and outreach

Urban Forestry awards recognize local dedication to trees and outreach

  • 4/13/2021 1:14:00 PM
  • View Count 440
DES MOINES, Iowa – Every year the Urban Forestry Awards luncheon recognizes cities, college campuses and utilities that demonstrate a variety of dedication to the importance of trees in their respective communities. Awards were presented virtually on April 8, on behalf of the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 
DNR enforcement actions

DNR enforcement actions

  • 4/8/2021 11:52:00 AM
  • View Count 653
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.
Air Quality permits under review

Air Quality permits under review

  • 4/8/2021 11:52:00 AM
  • View Count 312
DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and air quality. DNR’s permitting staff review each permit application to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality requirements.
Iowa’s top collegiate athletes in shooting to converge at championship competition

Iowa’s top collegiate athletes in shooting to converge at championship competition

  • 4/6/2021 12:38:00 PM
  • View Count 551
Over the next two weeks, more than 150 athletes from 15 Iowa colleges and universities will participate in the 2021 Iowa Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Collegiate Championships in Skeet, Sporting Clays and Trap. Many of these athletes have been shooting in the SCTP since middle school or high school and have been continued competing at the collegiate level.
Time to start planning to control plants in Iowa ponds

Time to start planning to control plants in Iowa ponds

  • 4/6/2021 12:37:00 PM
  • View Count 578
A healthy pond needs aquatic plants, but too many plants can limit the pond’s use and cause imbalances in the fish population. If you had problems using your pond last year because of aquatic plant growth, you could have similar problems this year.
Caves at Maquoketa Caves State Park open April 15: Tips to plan your visit

Caves at Maquoketa Caves State Park open April 15: Tips to plan your visit

  • 4/6/2021 12:36:00 PM
  • View Count 2753
Visitors to Maquoketa Caves State Park can fully explore the park’s caves starting April 15, 2021 after being closed for more than a year due to COVID and winter bat hibernation. Located in eastern Iowa’s Jackson County, Maquoketa Caves State Park is one of Iowa’s most popular outdoor destinations, with the largest cave system in the state, gorgeous scenery and unique geological formations drawing thousands of visitors each year.
Eager paddlers need to take extra precautions to stay safe

Eager paddlers need to take extra precautions to stay safe

  • 4/6/2021 12:34:00 PM
  • View Count 1174
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommends that paddlers wait for warmer weather to allow the water temperatures to rise slowly. It could be several weeks before water temperatures are ideal and safe as water and air temperatures continue to change.
Spirit Lake Hatchery filling with northern pike

Spirit Lake Hatchery filling with northern pike

  • 4/6/2021 12:33:00 PM
  • View Count 2044
SPIRIT LAKE - Crews with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources placed fyke nets in the outlets of the sloughs that flow into Big Spirit Lake on March 23 to start collecting northern pike. Northern pike spawn in sloughs and shallow vegetated areas around the Iowa Great Lakes prior to ice leaving the lakes.
Fish hatcheries busy netting walleye

Fish hatcheries busy netting walleye

  • 4/6/2021 12:31:00 PM
  • View Count 2291
MORAVIA – The late night, annual walleye collection began last week at Rathbun and Storm lakes and earlier this week at the Iowa Great Lakes. Crews with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Bureau will set gillnets at night looking for walleyes ready to spawn.
Check out updated Air Quality Records webpage

Check out updated Air Quality Records webpage

  • 4/6/2021 10:25:00 AM
  • View Count 312
Habits change. Historically, if you wanted public records you contacted the air quality records center and DNR staff found what you needed. Today most people discover they can readily find records they want online.
Renovation planned for Pickerel Lake

Renovation planned for Pickerel Lake

  • 4/2/2021 2:42:00 PM
  • View Count 566
Pickerel Lake, near Laurens on the Clay and Buena Vista county line, will undergo a water level management project to improve its water quality and provide quality habitat for fish and wildlife.
2021 Iowa Outdoors Spring Fishing Forecast

2021 Iowa Outdoors Spring Fishing Forecast

  • 4/1/2021 1:56:00 PM
  • View Count 2187
With hundreds of serene lakes, tranquil ponds and 71,000 miles of mellow waterways—we’ve got you covered with peaceful places to refresh and wet a line!
DNR enforcement actions

DNR enforcement actions

  • 4/1/2021 1:30:00 PM
  • View Count 392
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.
Intro to Turkey Hunting workshop set for April 10

Intro to Turkey Hunting workshop set for April 10

  • 3/30/2021 12:54:00 PM
  • View Count 824
DeWitt - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Woods + Waters Project are holding an Intro to Turkey Hunting Workshop, April 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Wapsi Valley Izaak Walton League, near DeWitt.
Final nine community trout ponds ready for anglers to catch trout

Final nine community trout ponds ready for anglers to catch trout

  • 3/30/2021 12:42:00 PM
  • View Count 3562
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released between 1,000 to 2,000 rainbow trout at the nine remaining community trout ponds as part of its cool weather trout program that brings trout to areas that cannot support them during the summer. 
Iowa DNR to begin annual spring burning

Iowa DNR to begin annual spring burning

  • 3/25/2021 8:33:00 AM
  • View Count 584
SWISHER - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Iowa River Wildlife Unit in Linn, Johnson, Benton, Iowa, Tama, Cedar and Mahaska counties. 
Iowa DNR to Conduct Prescribed Fires on State Managed Areas

Iowa DNR to Conduct Prescribed Fires on State Managed Areas

  • 3/25/2021 8:28:00 AM
  • View Count 467
SUMNER, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Cedar-Wapsi Wildlife Unit in Floyd, Chickasaw, Butler, Bremer and Buchanan counties.
She Goes Outdoors releases fishing box

She Goes Outdoors releases fishing box

  • 3/23/2021 1:35:00 PM
  • View Count 620
She Goes Outdoors has a new subscription box available focused on fishing. The subscription box is designed to develop and expand outdoor skills.
Spring is an excellent time for a boating education course

Spring is an excellent time for a boating education course

  • 3/23/2021 1:29:00 PM
  • View Count 740
It may not feel like boating season yet, but the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), along with boating safety advocates nationwide, are urging boaters to KeepYourEdge by enrolling in a boating education course this spring.
Four community trout ponds stocked last week

Four community trout ponds stocked last week

  • 3/23/2021 1:20:00 PM
  • View Count 4501
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released between 1,000 to 2,000 rainbow trout at four community trout ponds as part of its cool weather trout program that brings trout to areas that cannot support them during the summer. 
Air Quality permits under review

Air Quality permits under review

  • 3/18/2021 12:10:00 PM
  • View Count 261
DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and air quality. DNR’s permitting staff review each permit application to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality requirements. We encourage public comments on draft permits, providing help on how to make effective comments. Submit written comments to the assigned permit writer before 4:30 p.m. on the last day of the comment period. DNR considers public comments befor...
Viking Lake still recovering from 2019 drawdown

Viking Lake still recovering from 2019 drawdown

  • 3/16/2021 1:54:00 PM
  • View Count 513
The water level at Viking Lake was lowered eight feet during the summer of 2019 to improve the fish population. Now a year and a half later, the lake’s water level has yet to return to normal levels.
Trout stocking in northeast Iowa streams starts March 29

Trout stocking in northeast Iowa streams starts March 29

  • 3/16/2021 1:51:00 PM
  • View Count 6736
The popular trout stream stocking season starts on March 29. Find a list of stocked trout streams on the DNR trout stream map or the Iowa trout streams webpage. All trout stream stockings are weather dependent and will be unannounced due to COVID-19 precautions.
Ice-out channel catfish are biting

Ice-out channel catfish are biting

  • 3/16/2021 1:50:00 PM
  • View Count 2365
Channel catfish move close to shore and are eager to bite in many lakes and the large reservoirs across Iowa just after the ice is gone. The bite starts sooner in southern Iowa impoundments since they lose ice a week or two before northeast Iowa natural lakes.
Iowa DNR to begin annual spring burning

Iowa DNR to begin annual spring burning

  • 3/15/2021 2:36:00 PM
  • View Count 377
Lake View - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Black Hawk Wildlife Unit and waterfowl production areas managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Sac, Calhoun, Cherokee, Crawford and Pocahontas counties.
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