Iowa's Water - Ambient Monitoring Program: IOWATER Makes a Splash, February 2001

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has produced an 4 page article about how to assess Iowa's streams and rivers. How to use ambient monitoring of streams and river in Iowa.

A Plan for Monitoring Iowa's Water, 2001

A report on Iowa Water Monitoring produced by Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Iowa's Hidden Water Resources, 2001

Water fact sheet for Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Geological Bureau.

Bacteria in Iowa's Water Resources, 2003

This fact sheet answers questions such as, is it safe to swim in the water and who is monitoring the beaches in Iowa

Water Level Changes in Iowa's Aquifers, 2008

This monthly report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is about the water quality management of Iowa's rivers, streams and lakes.

Groundwater Quality: Dakota Aquifer, 2008

This monthly report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is about the water quality management of Iowa's rivers, streams and lakes.

Water Level Changes in Iowa's Aquifers, 2008

This monthly report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is about the water quality management of Iowa's rivers, streams and lakes.

Remsen source water protection project : agreement no. 8025-015 between the Iowa Watershed Improvement Review Board and the City of Remsen final report.

This final report to the Iowa Watershed Improvement Review Board by the City of Remsen Utilities consists of accomplishments made by the Remsen Utilities as per this agreement. The City of Remsen Utilities did in fact purchase approximately 27 acres of land lying upstream of the city’s water well field. The land was purchased from Mr. Larry Rodesch and Mr. Rich Harpenau for the purpose of removing nitrates from Remsen’s water source and establishing native prairie grasses to assist in this removal.

Water planning law and government.

Water planning efforts typically identify problems and needs. But simply calling attention to issues is usually not enough to spur action; the end result of many well-intentioned planning efforts is a report that ends up gathering dust on a shelf. Vague recommendations like “Water conservation measures should be implemented” usually accomplish little by themselves as they don’t assign responsibility to anyone. Success is more likely when an implementation strategy — who can and should do what — is developed as part of the planning process. The more detailed and specific the implementation strategy, the greater the chance that something will actually be done. The question then becomes who has the legal authority or responsibility to do what? Are new laws and programs needed or can existing ones be used to implement the recommendations? ... This document is divided into four main parts. The first, “Carrots and Sticks” looks at two basic approaches — regulatory and non-regulatory — that can be, and are, used to carry out water policy. Both have advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered. The second, “The powers of federal, state and local governments…,” looks at the constitutional powers the federal government and state and local governments have to carry out water policy. An initial look at the U. S. Constitution might suggest the federal government’s regulatory authority over water is limited but, in fact, its powers are very substantial. States have considerable authority to do a number of things but have to be mindful of any federal efforts that might conflict with those state efforts. And local governments can only do those things the state constitution or state legislature says they can do and must conform to any requirements or limitations on those powers that are contained in the enabling acts. Parts three and four examine in more detail the main programs and agencies at the federal level as well as Iowa’s state and local levels and the roles they play in national and state water policy.

Report on Rest Area Water Systems for Interstate Highways, 1967

Introduction: As part of the roadside development along the Interstate Highway System, the Iowa State Highway Commission has constructed eight pair of rest area facilities. Furthermore, two pair are presently under construction with an additional two pair proposed for letting in 1967. An additional nine and one-half pairs of rest areas are in the planning phase, a grand total of 45 rest Brea buildings. The facilities existing were planned and designed in a relatively short period of time. The rest area facilities are unusual in terms of water use, water demand rates, and the fact that there are no applicable guidelines from previous installations. Such facilities are a pioneering effort to furnish a service -which the travelling public desires and will use. The acceptance and current use of the existing facilities shows that the rest areas do provide a service the public will use and appreciate. The Iowa State Highway Commission is to be congratulated for this· pioneering effort. However there are problems, as should be expected when design of a new type of facility has no past operating experience to use as a guide. Another factor which enters is that a rest area facility is quite different and rather unrelated to engineering in the highway field of practice. Basically, the problems encountered can be resolved into several areas, namely 1) maintenance problems in equipment due to 2) insufficient capacity of several other elements of the water systems, and 3) no provisions for water quality control. This study and report is supposed to essentially cover the review of the rest areas, either existing and under construction or letting. However, the approach used has been somewhat different. Several basic economically feasible water system schemes have been developed which are· adaptable to the different well capacities and different water qualities encountered. These basic designs are used as a guide in recommending modifications to the existing rest area water systems, anticipating that the basic designs will be used for future facilities. The magnitude of the problems involved is shown by the fact that the projected water use and demand variations of each rest area building is equivalent to the water supply for a community of about 100 people. The problems of proper operation and maintenance of an eventual thirty to forty-five such facilities are gigantic. For successful operation the rest area water systems must have a high degree of standardization and interchangeability of all elements of the water systems, even if it means a limited degree of over-design in some rest area facilities.

Management Strategy for Iowa’s Water Resources, December 2007

In Iowa, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)is responsible for regulating water allocation and use through the issuance of water use permits, but improvements are necessary in this process to assure sustainable supplies into the future. In recent years, there have not been resources dedicated at the state level to properly track and assess water quantity issues. Resources for water use and water quantity monitoring (groundwater level and surface gauges) have continued to decline and have resulted in data becoming outdated and in a format that is difficult to analyze in order to make good decisions.

Comprehensive Water Planning In Iowa: Past Efforts, February 2009, December 24, 2012

This document looks at some of Iowa’s more comprehensive, statewide water planning efforts that addressed all aspects of water or a major water issue such as water quality.

Iowa’s Water Planning History, 2009, December 26, 2012

Since 1978 when the Water Plan ’78 was published, there have been no truly comprehensive water planning efforts initiated. The ’85 Water Plan and the ’87 Groundwater Protection Strategy were significant efforts that resulted in real advancements in water resource protection but were not truly comprehensive in nature. Other efforts, such as the Section 208 (CWA) plans, the 2000 Nonpoint Source Management Plan, and various conservation and recreation planning efforts that involve various aspects of water have been completed but, like the ’85 Water Plan, were not comprehensive in nature.

Iowa’s Water Monitoring Plan, March 2000, January 23, 2013

Iowa is blessed with generally clean air, fertile soil, and abundant water resources. All are linked and each is vital to both our state’s economic vitality and our citizens' quality of life. Recent interest in water monitoring by citizens, the governor, and the state legislature has significantly increased financial resources directed at monitoring within the state. It also represents an opportunity to review our monitoring program and take a fresh look at why we monitor, what we monitor and how we monitor. A review of historical monitoring efforts for the state is provided in this plan.

Water Planning Law and Government, November 2008

Water planning efforts typically identify problems and needs. But simply calling attention to issues is usually not enough to spur action; the end result of many well-intentioned planning efforts is a report that ends up gathering dust on a shelf. Vague recommendations like “Water conservation measures should be implemented” usually accomplish little by themselves as they don’t assign responsibility to anyone. Success is more likely when an implementation strategy — who can and should do what — is developed as part of the planning process. The more detailed and specific the implementation strategy, the greater the chance that something will actually be done.