Groundwater Availability Modeling: Lower 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.

Groundwater Availability Modeling of the Lower Dakota Aquifer in Northwest Iowa, October 2008

The 2007 Iowa General Assembly, recognizing the increased demand for water to support the growth of industries and municipalities, approved funding for the first year of a multi-year evaluation and modeling of Iowa’s major aquifers by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The task of conducting this evaluation and modeling was assigned to the Iowa Geological and Water Survey (IGWS). The first aquifer to be studied was the Lower Dakota aquifer in a sixteen county area of northwest Iowa.

Iowa State Plan for Brain Injury 2013-2018

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) impacts the lives of thousands of Iowans each year. The effects of brain injury (often called the "silent epidemic" because resulting injury is often not visible to others) are cognitive, emotional, and social but may also result in physical disability. This state plan, created by the Governor's Advisory Council on Brain Injuries, is intended to provide guidance for brain injury services and prevention activities in Iowa. This is the fourth Iowa State Plan for Brain Injury. In addition to a statewide needs assessment, development of this plan included recommendations made by the Mental Health and Disability Services Redesign Brain Injury Work-group. For the first time in the history of TBI surveillance in Iowa, the numbers and rates of TBI deaths are decreasing, however hospitalizations and emergency department visits resulting from TBI are steadily increasing. This trend is likely due to the decrease in motor vehicle accidents and improved hospitalization protocols. Looking to the future, the Advisory Council on Brain Injuries identified goals in each of four focus areas. These focus areas are: #1 Individual and family access; dedicated to the enhancement of the lives of individuals with brain injuries and their families. #2 Service and support availability; #3 Service system enhancements; continued funding growth and public awareness campaigns that draw attention to the impact of brain injury. #4 Brain injury prevention; working to prevent and reduce three of the most common causes of brain injury are falls, no helmet use, and motor vehicle crashes.

A Comparative Study: Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals under the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act & An Overview of Assistance Animal Laws of Select States, April 18, 2010

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA) prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability and govern the use of service or emotional support animals in places where pets may not be permitted. However, courts have been struggling with how to define and treat animals that qualify for protection under each law. This has created confusion as to what rights and duties are owed disabled persons and the animals that live with or accompany them. This essay attempts to clarify these two federal laws with regard to service or emotional support animals and the differing parties‘ rights and interests. It also includes an overview of select state laws that govern assistance animals of all types and our recommendations for enhancing the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

Water resource availability : executive summary, 1978

The information presented in this summary document has been based on the comprehensive, "Task Force Report on Water Resource Availability", prepared by the Iowa Geological Survey and filed with the Iowa Natural Resources Council. The reader should refer to the task force document for more detailed information.