DES MOINES — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wants to hear from Iowans as it conducts its every-three-years review of water quality standards. Iowans can attend one of three public meetings across the state and express their opinions on the state’s water quality goals.
The public meetings are as follows:
- Urbandale: Jan. 23, 4 p.m., Meeting Room B, Urbandale Public Library, 3520 86th St.
- Washington: Jan. 24, 4 p.m., Nicola-Stoufer Room, Washington Public Library, 115 W. Washington St.
- Harlan: Jan. 25, 4 p.m., Conference Room, Harlan Public Library, 718 Court St.
The meetings are part of a review process mandated by the federal Clean Water Act. The review offers the public a chance to give the DNR information to help it set goals for reducing pollution in Iowa’s streams and rivers.
According to the DNR’s June report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there were 750 bodies of water with 1,096 impairments on the 2016 list of impaired waters. The 2014 DNR report found 736 lakes, rivers and streams with 1,062 impairments.
The triennial review process is intended to ensure the state’s water quality standards are up-to-date, according to the DNR. The water quality standards are set forth under the rules of the Environmental Protection Commission in Chapter 61 of the Iowa Administrative Code.
After the public meetings, the DNR prioritizes issues identified in the comments and develops a proposed work plan to address those items. The DNR’s initial list of standards to prioritize and address in the coming three years include aluminum, metals and use attainability analyses (UAAs).
For more information on the state’s water quality standards and the triennial review process, visit the DNR’s water quality standards webpage.
The public can also submit written comments to to Matthew Dvorak of the Iowa DNR at 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319, or by email at matthew.dvorak@dnr.iowa.gov.
