Cold Water
Assessment Protocol Moving Forward
By
Steve Veysey, Iowa Chapter Conservation Chair
Iowa water quality standards (WQS) clearly define the
nature of cold water streams.
For more than a decade, Iowa Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) fisheries staff have been identifying trout
streams and potential trout streams using this definition.
The wastewater division of DNR has been responsible for
designating (or not) those streams as Class B (CW) for purposes
of calculating the pollution limits allowed in permits issued to
industrial and municipal dischargers.
Obviously, from the perspective of anglers, wildlife
enthusiasts, and those of us who simply enjoy a peaceful nature
walk, we would like to see rivers and streams designated to
protect for the highest level of aquatic life that is or
could be sustained. Just as obviously, dischargers (both municipal and
industrial) would like to see "receiving waters"
designated for lower levels of aquatic life protection,
since this allows them to discharge larger quantities of
pollutants. In
general, the dischargers usually get their wish.
This is unfortunate since our
uses of the water (swimmable, fishable, drinkable) are
protected by federal law, while their
use of the water (transport and assimilation of waste) is
specifically NOT protected.
Because of a recent controversy regarding the City of
Garnavillo's discharges into South Cedar Creek, a cold water
trout stream in Clayton County, DNR has been asked by the
legislature to create a written protocol for assessing streams
and determining which should be designated as "cold
water”. This is not necessarily a bad thing. We just need to
make sure the protocol does what it’s supposed to do—provide
regulatory protection for the cold water streams of Iowa!
DNR fisheries staff currently have a list of 20 to 30
additional streams they feel should be given Class B (CW)
protection as trout habitat, including the disputed section of
South Cedar Creek, but they are stymied until this protocol
process is approved.
DNR's draft document has a lot going for it, but there
are some potential problems. We need to be especially vigilant
about finding "loopholes" the wastewater discharge
industry has snuck into the protocol – and there seem to be a
few! To view the
complete protocol and for additional thoughts and comments,
please visit the HFFA website at www.hawkeyeflyfishing.com
.
Written comments should be submitted by May 28, 2004
to Adam Schnieders, Department of Natural Resources, Wallace
State Office Building, 502 East 9th Street, Des Moines, Iowa
50319– 0034, by fax (515) 281–8895 or by E–mail to adam.schnieders@dnr.state.ia.us
However, comments may also be made in person at the
presentation of the final rules during the regularly scheduled
June 21 or July 19 Environmental Protection Commission meetings
in Des Moines.
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