Iowa's frog and toad survey, 1995-2003.

This survey began in response to widespread interest of declines in amphibians. More recently, a comprehensive statewide planning group discovered 44% of Iowa’s herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles) to be of special concern. In response to these concerns, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Diversity Program (WDP) initiated an auditory survey for calling anurans to determine geographic distributions within the state. This survey has established itself as an extensive, long term monitoring program. This 2005 report is the second edition since the first report of this survey was shared in 1998 by then program biologist Lisa Hemesath. The goals of the survey are to: (1) determine the distributions of Iowa’s anuran species, (2) determine population trends for each species, and (3) promote education about aquatic life by using volunteers to conduct the survey. In addition to Iowa, volunteer-based auditory surveys for frogs and toads are currently being used in the Midwest by Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, and Illinois.

Biological Sampling and Physical Habitat Assessment Standard Operating Procedure for Iowa Wadeable Streams and Rivers, July 24, 2015

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources uses benthic macroinvertebrate and fish sampling data to assess stream biological condition and the support status of designated aquatic life uses (Wilton 2004; IDNR 2013). Stream physical habitat data assist with the interpretation of biological sampling results by quantifying important physical characteristics that influence a stream’s ability to support a healthy aquatic community (Heitke et al., 2006; Rowe et al. 2009; Sindt et al., 2012). This document describes aquatic community sampling and physical habitat assessment procedures currently followed in the Iowa stream biological assessment program. Standardized biological sampling and physical habitat assessment procedures were first established following a pilot sampling study in 1994 (IDNR 1994a, 1994b). The procedure documents were last updated in 2001 (IDNR 2001a; 2001b). The biological sampling and physical habitat assessment procedures described below are evaluated on a continual basis. Revision of this working document will occur periodically to reflect additional changes.

Development of a Database for Drilled Shaft Foundation Testing (DSHAFT), June 2012

Drilled shafts have been used in the US for more than 100 years in bridges and buildings as a deep foundation alternative. For many of these applications, the drilled shafts were designed using the Working Stress Design (WSD) approach. Even though WSD has been used successfully in the past, a move toward Load Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) for foundation applications began when the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a policy memorandum on June 28, 2000.The policy memorandum requires all new bridges initiated after October 1, 2007, to be designed according to the LRFD approach. This ensures compatibility between the superstructure and substructure designs, and provides a means of consistently incorporating sources of uncertainty into each load and resistance component. Regionally-calibrated LRFD resistance factors are permitted by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to improve the economy and competitiveness of drilled shafts. To achieve this goal, a database for Drilled SHAft Foundation Testing (DSHAFT) has been developed. DSHAFT is aimed at assimilating high quality drilled shaft test data from Iowa and the surrounding regions, and identifying the need for further tests in suitable soil profiles. This report introduces DSHAFT and demonstrates its features and capabilities, such as an easy-to-use storage and sharing tool for providing access to key information (e.g., soil classification details and cross-hole sonic logging reports). DSHAFT embodies a model for effective, regional LRFD calibration procedures consistent with PIle LOad Test (PILOT) database, which contains driven pile load tests accumulated from the state of Iowa. PILOT is now available for broader use at the project website: http://srg.cce.iastate.edu/lrfd/. DSHAFT, available in electronic form at http://srg.cce.iastate.edu/dshaft/, is currently comprised of 32 separate load tests provided by Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska state departments of transportation and/or department of roads. In addition to serving as a manual for DSHAFT and providing a summary of the available data, this report provides a preliminary analysis of the load test data from Iowa, and will open up opportunities for others to share their data through this quality–assured process, thereby providing a platform to improve LRFD approach to drilled shafts, especially in the Midwest region.

07032-012 Lake MacBride Watershed Final Report

Lake Macbride is considered to be one of the top four lakes for fishing in the state of Iowa. It is widely used by the public and contributes significant economic benefits to the county. Lake Macbride is situated in the North Corridor which is one of the fastest growing areas in the state. The lake has a surface area of 940 acres and drains 16,205 acres. Lake Macbride is on the Iowa 303(d) list for excessive sediments and nutrients. In 2001, Lake Macbride State Park received over 2.5 million dollars from the Marine Fuel Tax and Fish and Wildlife Trust to install 2 silt basins and stabilize over 12 miles of shoreline in the lake. Also in 2001, the Johnson County SWCD received a WSPF allocation from DSC to address agriculture and urban runoff issues in the watershed. Section 319 funding was received in 2002 to continue watershed efforts to the present. A watershed assessment was completed in 2003 to guide watershed activities. In 2005, a TMDL was completed for the lake. Since 2001, over $645,000 dollars has been spent by landowners and funding partners to install conservation practices in the watershed. Watershed efforts have resulted in the reduction of over 4200 tons of soils from being delivered into Lake Macbride. Nutrient reductions have also occurred from the development of nutrient management plans on 2000 acres. The District is in the process of wrapping up watershed efforts on private land. A series of 13 structures is planned to be installed in the State Park over the next several years. One of the last remaining items that still needs addressed is 1,400 feet of eroding shoreline adjacent to Lake Macbride along Cottage Reserve Road. The road is under the jurisdiction of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. Both the Board of Supervisors and the IDNR are willing to contribute substantial dollars to address the 250 tons of soil that are being directly delivered to Lake Macbride each year.