 Round
Two – Recreational
Use Assessment and
Attainability
DNR
requested comments from the public on their recommendations to lower recreational
use protections on 119 stream segments from the current primary contact
recreational standard that protects for swimming, children’s play and
other full body contact recreational uses (A1 and A3) to a less
protective secondary contact recreational standard that only protects
for incidental contact with the water (A2).
Click
here for a map that shows the streams included in the second round of
stream assessments.
The map is color-coded to show the DNR recommendations.
The stream segments shown in red or blue will get the highest
recreational use protection (A1 or A3).
The streams shown in green are proposed to be downgraded to the
lower secondary contact level of protection (A2).
Find
the UAA streams recommended for downgrading listed by county here...
The public comment period has ended
and DNR currently is reviewing comments. A responsiveness summary
will be available in the next few months with DNR's final recommendations.
If you want to look at the actual UAA assessment data and rationale for
the DNR recommendations, that is available on the DNR website at http://programs.iowadnr.gov/uaa/search.aspx.
This is a searchable database where you can search by stream name
or permitted facility. If you
put the stream name in you will get all the streams with that name that
have UAAs. Sometimes there is more than one stream with the same
name, so you need to be sure to pick the right stream.
Additional information is
available on the DNR website at http://www.iowadnr.gov/water/uaa.html
.
Learn more about the Clean
Water Act
Stream
Uses Outreach Update
The
DNR released, and in late 2007 the Environmental Protection
Commission approved, action to downgrade 292
streams. This number represents approximately one third of the
anticipated re-designations.
At its April 16, 2008, meeting, the
Environmental Protection Commission approved the stream use designation
rules, with amendments affecting 18 stream segments. Under the
amendments, A1 primary contact recreational designation to protect
swimming and canoeing was retained for 8 stream segments and A3 primary
contact children's recreational use was designated for 8 stream
segments. See the list of streams included in that decision here...
Watch
our website for information about rulemaking for the remaining stream
redesignations.
Iowa's
Impaired Waters List
The Department of Natural Resources
released its preliminary 2006 impaired waters list -- the latest available
and the Environmental Protection Agency approved the list in July 2008. About 135
new waterbodies have been added to the list from 2004.
The total of 366 impaired waters reflects
an increase in water and biological monitoring, not necessarily an
increase in pollution. The list also includes 92 waters that remain
impaired, but have a water quality improvement plan written.
Read more here...
View
Iowa's Draft 2006 List of Impaired Waters
View
Iowa's Final 2004 List of Impaired Waters
Bypasses
Iowa's above-normal precipitation during 2007 and 2008 has resulted in
hundreds of bypasses providing excess rainwater or snow melt somewhere to
go and allowing sewage to bypass a treatment plant thus preventing sewage
from backing up into basements. Facilities are required to report bypasses
caused by mechanical failures to the DNR within 12 hours of onset or
discovery. Facilities do not have to immediately report bypasses from
precipitation events, but must include them in their monthly operating
report to the DNR.
DNR tracks bypasses. We do too.
Click here
to see the most current information about your city's bypass history this
year.
Manure Spills and Fish Kills
Find out where the latest
manure spill and/or fish kill occurred here...
Water Quality Standards
Update
Update: Read the final rule
for Protected Flow, General Use Classification Changes and the “Rebuttable
Presumption” Approach here...
Read the final rule for Water Quality Standards (Use Designation Changes
and Warm Water Protocol) here...
Read
about the Clean Water Act, Healthy Swimming,
Ecosystems and more here...
Fish
Advisories Posted
The Department of Natural Resources has
posted fish consumption advisories for nine sites. Find out where
they are here...
Iowans
for Clean Water
Clean water belongs to
you! Enforce clean water laws, protect aquatic life, hold polluters
accountable.
Learn
about Iowa problems and how you can help...
Floods
of 2008
The Iowa floods have devastated tens of
thousands of Iowans. Click here
for flood recovery resources, photographs and links to why we are
experiencing such severe storms.
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