Section 401 Water Quality Certification

Pre-filing Meeting Request

DNR Chapter 61 rule requires a minimum of 30 days after submitting the Pre-Filing Meeting Request before submitting the certification request.

Send the pre-filing meeting request to Section401WQC@dnr.iowa.gov

Certification Request

Only submit the certification request when you are certain that the project will not change due to comments received during all required public notice periods.

• Section 401 Water Quality Pre-Filing Meeting and Certification Request Form and Instruction

Send the certification request to Section401WQC@dnr.iowa.gov

DNR 401 Public Notices

Public comments may be submitted via email to Section401WQC@dnr.iowa.gov or by mail to:

Iowa DNR
Attn: Section 401 Water Quality Certification
6200 Park Ave Ste. 200
Des Moines, IA 50321

Current Public Notifications:

Polk County Conservation - Easter Lake Shoreline Project 2025-0362
Notice Expiration Date: August 4, 2025
County: Polk

Iowa DNR - West Okoboji Lake Shoreline Project 2025-0552
Notice Expiration Date: August 8, 2025
County: Dickinson

Iowa DNR - Spirit Lake Shoreline Project 2025-0570
Notice Expiration Date: August 8, 2025
County: Dickinson

USACE - Regional Permit 40 2025-0302
Notice Expiration Date: August 17, 2025
County: Statewide

USACE - Regional Permit 41 2025-0192
Notice Expiration Date: August 17, 2025
County: Statewide

USACE - Regional Permit 48 2025-0193
Notice Expiration Date: August 17, 2025
County: Statewide

Iowa DNR - Spring Branch Creek 2025-0374
Notice Expiration Date: August 24, 2025
County: Delaware

Iowa DOT - HWY 13 Culvert Project 2025-0573
Notice Expiration Date: August 24, 2025
County: Clayton

Additional Resources

• Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 61 Water Quality Standards
• Permit and Environmental Review Management Tool (PERMT) Joint Application for Iowa DNR Flood Plain Management and Sovereign Lands/Environmental Review
• Antidegradation/Outstanding Iowa Waters and the Outstanding Iowa Waters Map
• Rock Island District Corps of Engineers - Nationwide Permits and Regional Permits
• Omaha District Corps of Engineers - Nationwide Permits and Regional Permits
• Corps of Engineers public notices
  • Regulatory public notices Rock Island District Corps of Engineers
  • Regulatory public notices Omaha District Corps of Engineers
• Iowa Department of Transportation 401 and 404 FAQs
• Natural Resources Conservation Service - Iowa

Iowa's River Restoration Toolbox

Iowa’s River Restoration Toolbox is a series of best management practices developed to assist designers in stream stabilization and restoration projects in Iowa with proven techniques with emphasis on incorporating natural materials, such as logs, stone, and live plantings. 

Among the dozens of techniques described in the Toolbox are longitudinal peaked stone toe protection, j-hook vanes, rock arch rapids, oxbows, riparian corridor restorations, and tree/shrub plantings. It delivers a consistent, relevant assessment method and reviewable design checklists to aid decision making among multidisciplinary teams (i.e. – restoration practitioner, engineer, project manager, funder, biologist, etc.). 

The toolbox also provides detailed drawings and specification requirements to make natural stabilization projects more biddable.

Contact Information

Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Attn: Section 401 Water Quality Certification
6200 Park Ave Ste. 200
Des Moines, IA 50321
Email: Section401WQC@dnr.iowa.gov

U.S. Department of the Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District
Clock Tower Building – PO BOX 2004
Rock Island, IL 61204-2004
Phone: 309-794-5057
Email: iowaregulatory@usace.army.mil

U.S. Department of the Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District
8901 South 154th Street
Omaha, NE 68138-3611
Phone: 402-896-0896
Email: NE404Reg@usace.army.mil