DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is accepting public and stakeholder comments regarding the proposed Section 401 Water Quality Certification of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Regional Permit 39.
Regional Permits are general permits authorizing certain activities under Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act, which involve discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.
Regional General Permit 39 (RP39) authorizes the discharge of dredged and/or fill material in waters of the U.S (WOTUS) in the State of Iowa to create/restore wetlands through the construction of earthen embankments and/or dams when funding or technical assistance is being provided through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) with Corps approval in support of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.
Applicants seeking authorization to discharge to waters of the United States in Iowa must also have a Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification from the DNR. With a few exceptions, projects permitted using a regional permit with DNR certification do not require DNR’s individual certification. Exceptions identified in the Iowa Antidegradation Implementation Procedure (2010) do require individual certification.
Written comments regarding the proposed certification and antidegradation analysis can be submitted until 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 21, 2026. Please send written comments 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, Iowa, 50321.
View the proposed 401 water quality certification, antidegradation analysis, and Regional Permit 39 under DNR 401 Public Notices at www.iowadnr.gov/waterqualitycertification..