(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Environmental Protection Commission voted today (Tuesday) to continue a program with the state Ag Department to improve the watershed runoff into the Iowa Great Lakes. The D-N-R’s Ginger Murphy says the project has several benefits. “Water quality in the Iowa Great Lakes drives the economy, recreation, and quality of life in the region and also impacts source water for local communities,” Murphy says.

Information from 2019 shows an economic impact from travel to the region at nearly 378 million dollars. Murphy says those numbers are likely higher as travel has picked up since the pandemic. She says the plan seeks to improve the water quality. “The current watershed management plan for Iowa Great Lakes is focused on reducing turbidity driven by sediment and algal growth by reducing the phosphorus entering the lakes,” she says. The plan has a limit of up to 129-thousand-500 dollars using an E-P-A grant.

“Practices supported by the watershed management plan and this funding include in-field and edge-of-field best management practices on ag land. Wetland and shallow lake restoration on public and private lands. Shoreline stabilization on the lakes and urban stormwater best management practices,” Murphy says. The plan was first implemented in 2018. “Total sediment reduced during this time period is six-thouse-944 tons per year over all the practices that have been installed,” Murphy says. “Total phosphorus reduction has been 15-thousand-746 pounds per year, and that’s based on those practices staying in place and ongoing. And we calculate that using a model that we use across all of our watershed projects for all installed practices.”

Murphy says one success in the project is Lower Lake Gar, which met water clarity goals. “And that resulted in the 2024 delisting from the impaired waters list off lower Gar Lake. Lower Gar is kind of the end of the chain of lakes…it has its own watershed, but it also captures everything flowing through the bigger lakes that are to the north. And so this was great news and important milestone,” Murphy says.

Murphy says they still feel that phosphorus will continue to be the primary pollutant of concern in the Great Lakes and they want to continue seeing progress.

(Onawa, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reports, “Due to safety concerns created from dead or dying cottonwood trees, the Lewis and Clark State Park campground is closed until further notice. The DNR will remove hazardous trees while the campground is closed.” The DNR said also, the park currently remains open for day-use activities such as picnicking and walking trails; however, the park will close once tree removal begins to ensure safety of visitors.

Campers with reservations have been contacted and issued refunds. Please visit the DNR’s Iowa State Park and Forest web page to find alternative campgrounds in the region, and for links to latest park closures and alerts.

For more information, contact the Park Office at: Lewis_and_Clark@dnr.iowa.gov

(An Iowa Capital Dispatch report) – Summit Carbon Solutions, the company proposing to build more than 1,000 miles of carbon sequestration pipeline through Iowa, announced Monday a community and landownership partnership program and updated commitments. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, the partnership focuses on safety precautions, operational transparency and increased benefits to landowners and counties where the pipeline route is slated to be built.  The letters were sent to county supervisors and county emergency managers Monday, but a Summit representative said they should be sent to all Iowa landowners over the next week and a half.

Summit’s new CEO Joe Griffin, said in the letter, “These commitments are more than words on paper—they are a promise to operate safely, openly, and in a way that brings meaningful benefits to the people and places that make this project possible.” The letter outlines seven commitments to landowners and counties, as well as an explanation of how the project adheres to and “often exceeds” federal pipeline safety standards set by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, or PHMSA. As part of its approach to safety, Summit said it would: establish a constantly staffed control room, maintain an emergency manual, coordinate emergency response plans with local crews, ensure the proper tools and equipment are ready when needed, provide CO2 specific training for responders, ensure immediate notification in the event of an incident and offer a public awareness program at least annually.

Landowners opposed to the pipeline have noted safety as a primary concern, especially when noting the outcomes of a CO2 pipeline rupture in Satartia, Mississippi several years ago. The Mississippi incident left impacted residents stranded as the excess carbon dioxide in the air immobilized vehicles.  Additionally, Summit said it would offer annual grants to communities so they can purchase safety and response equipment, and operate a real-time notification system. “We’re fully committed to making this project work the right way going forward,” the letter said. “We also realize our significant investment will only be successful if it’s built on genuine partnership, and we know that success depends on working side-by-side with communities and landowners along our route.” Emergency response and communication were also part of the seven commitments Summit listed as part of the community partnership program.

In a bullet labeled “Emergency Response and Preparedness” Summit said it would offer an initial donation of $50,000 to each county emergency management team where the pipeline crosses, plus an additional $1,000 for each mile of pipeline in the county. These funds, which the letter said will be available at least 180 days prior to the start of operations, will help facilitate the training, equipment and notification systems noted previously. The second commitment point in the letter concerns public awareness and communications. Here Summit commits to maintaining an updated project website prior to construction and to providing public awareness updates at least annually during construction and operation of the pipeline.

Summit directed a number of commitments at landowners, who should receive the letters in the mail. Some landowners have voiced concerns, and sued, over the surveying process required for Summit to plan its route and assess a property through which the pipeline would travel. In the letter, Summit said it would give landowners at least 72 hours notice, unless there is a different statutory regulation, and offer landowners a one-time $500 payment for project surveys. Summit also committed to “avoid the use of eminent domain except as a last resort.” This follows commitments to negotiate in good faith, and to engage in discussions “aimed at reaching mutual agreement.” Summit also sent landowners a hotline number they can call in the event they encounter “individuals who do not represent this project with honesty and integrity.”

Landowners can also choose between fair market compensation as either a lump sum, or annual payment, or they can choose a payment option “linked to all financial distributions to Summit’s current owners.” Regardless of which reimbursement option they choose, landowners with a voluntary easement will receive an annual stakeholder payment at a rate of at least $0.25 per foot of pipeline on their property. The rate will increase as Summit acquires higher percentages of voluntary easements along the project footprint in the state. If 100% of voluntary easements are reached, the stakeholder payment rate will be $0.50 per foot per year.

Finally, Summit said it was committed to water stewardship and transparency throughout the project. The letter was signed by leadership from more than a dozen partnering ethanol plants.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – This week at Produce in the Park (Thurs. 9/18), in Atlantic, organizer’s say they’ve got their best band of the season, and the Pork Producers are selling “chops for cops” pork chops on a stick as a fundraiser for Atlantic Police Department.  The Prairie Gators band will perform, thanks to event special summer music sponsor, Rolling Hills Bank. Get ready for zydeco, bluegrass, old-time country, & gospel.

This week’s visiting food truck at Produce in the Park is Tikka Talk – featuring Indian favorites like butter chicken, lamb tikka masala, samosas, naan, and more. In addition, the Cass County Pork Producers will be grilling chops for “Chops for Cops” porkchop on a stick. There’s fun for all ages:  Art in the Park, Coloring for Kids, Guest Chef. Vendors will have available lots of fresh produce, local pork, chicken, and eggs, baked goods and breads, honey, flowers, arts and crafts, soaps, and more. And, local community organizations, including Cass Health, Healthy Cass County, Cass County Tourism, and more will have information booths or tents set-up.

Produce in the park takes place from 4:30-until 6:30 PM, Thursday, at the Atlantic City Park, 10 W 7th St., in Atlantic. There is no charge to attend. The event is made possible thanks to September Sponsors: Rush CPA, Gregg Young Chevrolet of Atlantic, City of Atlantic, 1st Whitney Bank, Cass Health, Cass County Tourism, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, and Nishna Valley Family YMCA.

Event Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/share/19iwbcL4C9/

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s electricity needs are expected to rise by 30 to 60 percent in the next 20 years, and a new report finds the state might be able to meet the demand and achieve 100-percent carbon-free electricity with renewable energy. Steve Guyer, senior energy policy counsel for the Iowa Environmental Council, says the Trump administration has severely shortened the timeline for wind and solar tax credits. Construction on large-scale projects needs to start before July to qualify.

Guyer says the operating costs for wind and solar are cheaper than coal and natural gas, even without subsidies, but tariffs on steel and other materials are already impacting prices. He says renewable energy from wind and solar rose to 67 percent last year in Iowa, but import taxes on materials, including a 50-percent tariff on steel, could dampen future growth.

According to the Iowa Environmental Council’s latest “Condition of the State” report, the projected boost in demand for power in Iowa is due in part to the needs of computer data centers or server farms.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Natural Resource Commission discussed the possibility of increasing hunting, fishing and trapping fees by 5% at their monthly meeting.

Commissioners and those who spoke on the issue Thursday say the increase could help the DNR do more to conserve and restore wildlife habitat. Commissioner K.R. Buck says the issue has generated a lot of support. “We have lit a fire underneath the sportsmen. I will guarantee you that besides the CO2 pipeline, I’ve been contacted more in the last two weeks about this, and they’re all in favor,” he says.

Buck says supporters don’t think it will be enough. “They’re all afraid that 5% isn’t going to get us where we need to be,” Buck says.
State law caps annual license fee increases at 5%.

State lawmakers and the governor would need to sign off before a license fee increase went into effect.

Cass County: Corn $3.76 Beans $9.53
Adair County: Corn $3.73 Beans $9.56
Adams County: Corn $3.73 Beans $9.52
Audubon County: Corn $3.75 Beans $9.55
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $3.79 Beans $9.53
Guthrie County: Corn $3.78 Beans $9.57
Montgomery County: Corn $3.78 Beans $9.55
Shelby County: Corn $3.79 Beans $9.53

Oats: $2.72 (same in all counties)

(Prices are per bushel; information is from the area Farm Service Agency [FSA] offices)