Fecal Source Tracking in Iowa, 2004

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

Bacteria Source Tracking in Lake Darling Watershed, 2005

Monitoring of Iowa's surface waters during the past five years has demonstrated the regular occurrence of fecel bacteria in surface water resources.

2007 Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Selected Iowa Source Categories

The Department’s 2007 Greenhouse Gas Inventory is a refinement of previous statewide inventories. It is a bottom-up inventory of two sectors – fossil fuel combustion at federally-recognized major sources of air pollution and fossil fuel combustion and ethanol fermentation at dry mill ethanol plants. This is the first bottomup greenhouse gas inventory conducted for Iowa and the first bottom-up greenhouse gas inventory of ethanol plants in the nation that the Department is aware of. In a bottom-up inventory, facility-specific activity data is used to calculate emissions. In a top-down inventory, aggregate activity data is used to calculate emissions. For example, this bottom-up inventory calculates greenhouse gas emissions from the fossil fuel combustion at each individual facility instead of using the total amount of fossil fuel combusted state-wide, which would be a top-down inventory method. The advantage to a bottom-up inventory is that the calculations are more accurate than a top-down inventory. However, because the two methods differ, the results from a bottom-up inventory are not directly comparable to a top-down inventory.

GIS - Based Decision and Outreach Tools for Aggregate Source Management, September 2008

This research project combined various datasets, existing and created for this project, into an Interactive Mapping Service (IMS) for use by Iowa DOT personnel, county planning and zoning departments and the public in order to make more informed decisions regarding aggregate sources and future access to them. Iowa DOT Technical Advisory Committee meetings were held, along with public forum presentations, in order to understand better the social, ecological and economic limitations to extracting aggregate. The information needed by potential users was conveyed and integrated into a single informational source, the Aggregate Planning IMS.

Automatic Tracer-Dilution Method Used for Stage-Discharge Ratings and Streamflow Hydrographs on Small Iowa Streams, HR-285, 1990

An automatic system was designed to concurrently measure stage and discharge for the purpose of developing stage-discharge ratings and high flow hydrographs on small streams. Stage, or gage height, is recorded by an analog-to-digital recorder and discharge is determined by the constant-rate tracer-dilution method. The system measures flow above a base stage set by the user. To test the effectiveness of the system and its components, eight systems, with a variety of equipment, were installed at crest-stage gaging stations across Iowa. A fluorescent dye, rhodamine-WT, was used as the tracer. Tracer-dilution discharge measurements were made during 14 flow periods at six stations from 1986 through 1988 water years. Ratings were developed at three stations with the aid of these measurements. A loop rating was identified at one station during rapidly-changing flow conditions. Incomplete mixing and dye loss to sediment apparently were problems at some stations. Stage hydrographs were recorded for 38 flows at seven stations. Limited data on background fluorescence during high flows were also obtained.

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.

Iowa Source Water Protection: Workbook, November, 18, 2014

There are a few basic fundamentals you need before starting a source water protection project. These include information on your community’s wells (or intakes), aquifer, source water area, and potential contaminants. All of these essential items should be included in your community’s source water information, you may find this information in the workbook and guidebook.

Iowa Source Water Protection: Guidebook, November, 18, 2014

There are a few basic fundamentals you need before starting a source water protection project. These include information on your community’s wells (or intakes), aquifer, source water area, and potential contaminants. All of these essential items should be included in your community’s source water information, you may find this information in the workbook and guidebook.

08025-015 Remsen Source Water Protection Final Report

The City of Remsen is proactively addressing an increase of nitrates in their public water supply before it becomes a financial catastrophe for them. An intensive assessment was conducted by the Iowa DNR Source Water Protection program as one of four pilot projects in the state. This assessment far surpassed standard desktop assessments and gathered monitoring information in-the-field led by a local watershed group. This was incorporated into a computer modeling program to help the local watershed group discuss alternatives. This comprehensive approach clearly identified the source of nitrate infiltration as a cropland area adjacent to the City well field. Many options were evaluated but only one option provided an economical, viable and secure answer to the water supply needs of Remsen for generations to come. The watershed planning group chose to seek the purchase of this critical area of cropland and convert it to a deep rooted mixture of native grasses. This WIRB funding is intended to be used to acquire a small area totaling 21.1 acres. It represents about 22% of the total local project effort. This will be added to the existing City well field of 40.2 acres and another piece of adjacent property, 35.34 acres, that the City recently acquired as part of an overall aggressive program to protect the community water supply. The City has a signed purchase agreement for 14.4 acres of the 21.1 and a strong verbal commitment to obtain the remaining 5.7 acres. This project has been very active for almost 2 years and is ready to implement immediately upon funding notification. The establishment of native grasses, funded by the local chapter of Pheasants Forever, will take approximately the next three years of operation & maintenance.