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There is 1 beach advisory for the week of 6/4

0 Beaches with an E. coli-related Advisory:

1 Beach with a Microcystin-related Advisory:

Lake Darling Beach (Brighton, Washington County, IA)*

*Data from the Iowa DNR State Park Beach Monitoring Program

Where’s the Beef? Near Outstanding Iowa Waters

For several months, IEC has been working to prevent water pollution from a new feedlot in Northeast Iowa. We have written blog posts, commented on official proceedings orally and in writing, and sought review by the Environmental Protection Commission. We partnered with Sierra Club and conservationists to keep pushing for answers. Why did we do all this? The answer comes down to where the beef will be.

Supreme Beef is in the watershed of Bloody Run Creek, a trout stream designated by the DNR as an Outstanding Iowa Water. It has a manure basin capable of holding 38 million gallons of animal waste. The manure will be land-applied as a fertilizer on nearby fields, which is the typical method of manure “disposal” across Iowa. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus will run off the fields to Bloody Run Creek and could cause algae blooms in the creek, destroy the aquatic ecosystem of this Outstanding Iowa Water, harm local businesses that rely on water-related recreation, and add to the state’s pollution load to the Mississippi River. 

While Supreme Beef presents a problem for Bloody Run Creek, it also exposes how poorly the state controls animal feeding operations. 

 

Nominate a Pro H2O Award Winner

Know a friend, family member, neighbor, community leader, colleague, or another Iowan who has made a positive impact on water quality and awareness? Nominate them for an award from IEC!

Consider the people in your sphere who deserve to be celebrated for their efforts at Pro H2O this September.

Nominations are due by June 21Submit your nomination(s) and share with your network!

Catch the Iowa Water Watch Beach 2021 Beach Preview on Demand Anytime

We previewed the summer with a webinar on May 26, featuring experts in clean water: Dr. Silvia Secchi with the University of Iowa, Dr. Mary Skopec with Iowa Lakeside Labs, and David Thoreson, explorer and Okoboji region resident.

You can view the webinar on demand to see trends and stats on beaches in Iowa, learn more about the threats to our waters, and hear ideas for improving water quality in our state.

 

Share Your Summer with IEC on Instagram

Follow us at @iowawaterwatch

Photo by @jack.klein.photography

Photo by @dzeneta_jusufovic

 

Get Our New Iowa Water Watch Sticker!

We want to share our new sticker with you! Check out Iowa Water Watch on Instagram and give us a follow. Tag us on your photos using @iowawaterwatch and the #iowawaterwatch hashtag.

If you tag us and share your Iowa water images with us, whether you're out having fun or spotting a problem, we will send you our new Iowa Water Watch sticker shown here. Decorate your water bottle, laptop, or kayak with it!

We may also feature your image in our Instagram section above with a link to your profile, so readers can check out your photography and give you a follow.

 

What's New in Iowa's Water News

Opinion: Will Iowa officials send nature’s protections down the river? (Des Moines Register)
DNR Director won't overturn Supreme Beef decision (The Gazette)
Lake Geode is full, but its beach remains closed (The Hawk Eye)
Tearing out these dams will open rivers up for recreation—and save lives (National Geographic)
Iowa park named a top 20 summertime lake town in the US (KHAK)
Recent rains haven’t ended drought concerns (Radio Iowa)

Upcoming Water Events

Fishing Derby - Shell Rock Rec & Wildlife Area, Butler Co. - June 4
Cops N' Bobbers Fishing Derby - Briggs Woods, Hamilton Co. - June 5
Critter Catch - Wickiup Hill Learning Center, Linn Co. - June 5
Annual BV County Conservation Fishing Derby - Sioux Rapids - June 5
Kids Fish Day - Warren Co. - June 5
Kid's Fishing Day - Willow Lake Rec Area , Harrison Co. - June 5
Free Fishing Clinic - Hurstville Interpretive Center, Jackson Co. - June 5
Weekend Fishing Clinic - Kennedy Mem. Park, Webster Co. - June 5
Waterbugs Wild Water Camp - McFarland Park, Story Co. - June 7
Nature Friends - Frog Hop - Jester Park Nature Center, Polk Co. - June 7
Tadpoles - Hillview Recreation Area, Plymouth Co. - June 8
Wild Kratts Day Camp: Build it Beaver! - Hartman Reserve Nature Center, Black Hawk Co. - June 8
Salamander Camp 1 - Pammel State Park, Madison Co. - June 8
Toddler Camp – FROGS - Paul Schoeman Mem. Nature Area, Butler Co. - June 8
Summer Skills: Canoeing Basics - Hickory Grove Park, Story Co. - June 9
Fish Sampling and Paddle Event - Cedar River, Mitchell CCB - July 10
IEC's Pro H2O - September 16

 

Iowa Environmental Council
505 Fifth Ave., Suite 850 
 Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2317
515-244-1194 | iecmail@iaenvironment.org

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