|  | | 15 Beaches with an E. coli Advisory:
Backbone Beach (Dundee, Delaware County, IA)*
Bobwhite Beach (Allerton, Wayne County, IA)*
Crandall's Beach (Big Spirit Lake, Spirit Lake, Dickinson County, IA)*
Emerson Bay Beach (West Okoboji Lake, Milford, Dickinson County, IA)*
Lake Darling Beach (Brighton, Washington County, IA)*
Lake Keomah Beach (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, IA)*
Lake Macbride (Solon, Johnson County, IA)*
Lake Manawa Beach (Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, IA)*
Lower Pine Lake Beach (Eldora, Hardin County, IA)*
Nine Eagles Beach (Davis City, Decatur County, IA)*
North Overlook Beach (Lake Red Rock, Pella, Marion County, IA)**
Sugar Bottom Beach (Coralville Lake, Coralville, Johnson County, IA)**
Sugar Bottom Campground Beach (Coralville Lake, Coralville, Johnson County, IA)**
Union Grove Beach (Gladbrook ,Tama County, IA)*
Whitebreast Beach (Lake Red Rock, Pella, Marion County, IA)** 2 Beaches with a Microcystin Advisory:
Brushy Creek Beach (Lehigh, Webster County, IA)*
Lake Darling Beach (Brighton, Washington County, IA)* 3 City and County Beaches exceed the state’s advisory threshold for E. coli.*
View the map on our website to see where they are. *Data from the Iowa DNR State Park Beach Monitoring Program
**Data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District |
| Get Inspired by the Voices of the Future of Agriculture & Conservation “My vision for the future of agriculture is one that pairs our deep need for climate justice with our complementary need for racial justice." - Aaryn Wilson, Next Gen Ag & Conservation Leader Do you sometimes feel discouraged about how mainstream agricultural systems pollute our Mississippi River? Are you seeking inspiring stories about on-the-ground changes from our future leaders? You don't have to be a farmer to draw inspiration from these stories! Twelve incredible mentees just completed the Mississippi River Network (MRN) and Green Lands Blue Waters 2022-2023 "Equipping Next Gen Ag & Conservation Leaders" Mentorship Program. The cohort consisted of recent graduates, current students, and early career young professionals of color interested in careers in agricultural conservation and committed to reaching underserved farmers. The mentee cohort connected with mentors, farmers, and trainers representing diverse ag communities across the Upper Midwest. Each of the twelve program participants were responsible for completing a unique communications project on a topic of their choice. MRN's latest blog is a collection of these projects, including infographics, podcasts, policy experiences, blogs, and much more. You can read more about the entire program here. Be sure to check out the projects and then consider how you can amplify this work, including sharing one of the stories with a farmer in your community, a student who cares about conservation issues, or a decision-maker involved in agricultural policy like the Farm Bill. |
| |  | |  | IEC submits comments to Iowa DNR on Supreme Beef NMP This week, IEC submitted comments for the disapproval of the Supreme Beef Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) to the Iowa DNR. The Supreme Beef NMP makes unfounded assumptions regarding manure nutrient content, proposes over-application of manure, miscalculates conservation practices, and will pose a threat to water quality in the region. Each of these deficiencies independently provides a basis for DNR to disapprove the application because it does not comply with the requirements of the Iowa Administrative Code. Read the full letter by IEC here. |
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 | A Changing Basin: take the survey on how extreme weather is affecting you Smoke-filled skies, extreme weather, and major flooding are just a few of the challenges the Mississippi River Basin has faced this summer. The Mississippi River Ag & Water Desk, a network of newsrooms across the region, is collecting survey data on how extreme weather is impacting people and industries in the Mississippi River basin this summer, and they want to hear from you! How are you dealing with floods and intense rainfall, extreme heat and humidity, wildfire smoke and other new hazards? How is your community responding? The story will be part of the new series, A Changing Basin. Take the survey here. |
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 | 12th Annual Pelican Festival at Hawkeye Wildlife Area You're invited to check out the 12th Annual Pelican Festival August 27th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hawkeye Wildlife Area near Swisher. Programs start at 12:30 p.m. and run every 30 minutes. Learn about the American white pelicans, bats, and bees and see a live peregrine falcon! Pelican viewing for visitors will be assisted by birding volunteers on site with binoculars and spotting scopes. Exhibitors from various outdoors associations, societies and clubs will be on hand with displays attendees can experience. The event is hosted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Audubon, Iowa City Bird Club, Cedar Rapids Audubon Society and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For more information, call or text 319-430-0315. |
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| |  | | | |  | | | Iowa Environmental Council
505 Fifth Ave., Suite 850
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2317
515-244-1194 | iecmail@iaenvironment.org |
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