(Des Moines, IA)  – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says the recent blast of arctic air is growing ice on lakes and ponds across the northern two-thirds of Iowa. Outdoor ice enthusiasts are ready to get out ice fishing, snowmobiling, ice skating or fat-tire bike riding. The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of clear ice for fishing and at least five to seven inches for snowmobiles and ATVs.  Larger off-road utility vehicles should wait for seven or more inches of clear ice.

Ice forms at different rates on each body of water depending upon the size and water depth. Once frozen, conditions change constantly and ice thickness can vary across the lake. Rocks, trees, docks or other things that poke through the ice will conduct heat and make the ice around it less stable. Trust your instincts – if the ice does not look right, don’t go out.

A blanket of snow on top of an ice-covered lake insulates the ice, slowing the growth of ice and hiding potential hazards or weak spots. River ice is 15 percent weaker than lake ice. Ice with a bluish color is safer than clear ice.  Avoid slushy or honey-combed and stay away from dark spots on the ice.  Don’t walk into areas where the snow cover looks discolored.

Safety Tips on the Ice

• No ice is 100 percent safe.
• New ice is usually stronger than old ice.
• Don’t go out alone – if the worst should happen, someone will be there to call for help or to help rescue.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you will return.
• Check ice thickness as you go out – there could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice recently formed.
• Avoid off-colored snow or ice. It is usually a sign of weakness.
• The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process.
• Bring along these basic items to help keep you safe: hand warmers, ice cleats to help prevent falls, ice picks (wear around your neck) to help you crawl out of the water if you fall in, a spud bar, a life jacket, a floating safety rope, a whistle to call for help, a basic first aid kit and extra dry clothes including a pair of gloves.
• Use extreme caution when snowmobiling on ice. Snowmobiles can be difficult to steer and take a long time to stop with limited traction on ice. Slow down and avoid heavy braking.

(Des Moines, IA) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources have announced several new changes to the State’s parks system effective in 2026, designed to improve visitor experiences.  Among them:

1. Beginning in 2026, most campsites in the Iowa state park system will be reservable through the DNR’s Online Reservation System. The switch will complete a process that started in 2021, and means:

• Reservations can be made online or by phone using a credit card.
• Availability is known immediately and can be made the same day.
• If a cancellation occurs, the site is available for reservation within minutes.
• An increase in convenience and reduction in uncertainty for campers who previously may have traveled to a campground not knowing if sites were open.
• More site availability in every campground .
• Customers can change a reservation until 10 pm on the day of arrival – some limitations apply. Additionally, campers can change a reservation to a different park allowing for more flexibility.
• Ability for staff to spend more time caring for the park, programming and natural resource upkeep, instead of handling cash or check-ins at the campground.

A kiosk in each campground will provide online reservation information for those who come to the park looking for a site. Campers will no longer need to complete paper registration forms or pay with cash; all reservations will be through the Online Reservation System or by calling (877) 427-2757.

2.First Day Hikes: Kick off the New Year by joining a First Day Hike in an Iowa State Park. More than 40 parks are hosting either a guided group hike or suggesting a self-guided hike. Hikers can expect to be surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature in winter, and experience spectacular views, beautiful settings and the cultural treasures offered by Iowa’s state parks. Find a complete list on the First Day Hike page.

3. Iowa state parks have been renovating several campgrounds and facilities to modernize and improve visitor experiences. Be sure to check out the Park Alerts and Closures page when planning your trip in case the construction projects impact a park you plan to visit in 2026. In our area:

• Lewis and Clark  State Park – the entire park is currently closed to visitors for hazardous tree removal, with completion in the summer of 2026.
• Waubonsie State Park – the campground will re-open May 15, 2026 after completion of a waterline project. The cabins will be closed through 2026 for waterline upgrades to those facilities.

3. New rates for 2026:

In 2026, campsite rates will increase slightly by $1 to $3, depending on site type and campground location. Additionally, rates will increase by $4 or $5, depending on the campground, during the three major summer holiday weekends of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Off-season rates are not changing (October 16 – April 30). Rates will be updated on the reservation site in early 2026.

State park donation opportunities:

Park visitors can donate online in a variety of ways to support Iowa state parks. All donations go toward operational needs of state parks and forests. Campers, cabin renters and day-use facility renters can donate when making a reservation by rounding up, and anyone visiting the DNR Online Reservation Site can donate by clicking on Make a Donation. Supporters also can donate through the general DNR Donation page.

(Radio Iowa) – A key member of the Iowa House backs a bill to prohibit lawsuits accusing pesticide companies of failing to warn the product could cause cancer, as long as the product’s label meets federal guidelines. The bill does not name glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup — but House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican who farms near Wilton, suggests Bayer’s factory in Muscatine that makes Roundup could close if Iowa lawmakers don’t take action.

“I can tell you what will happen if we don’t get this bill done. What will happen is we’ll be buying glyphosate from China. We just got done seeing what China can do if they choose to squeeze us — whether it’s soybeans, whether it’s (computer) chips — China can put its grip around our throat and particularly around our farmers’ throats,” Kaufmann said during an interview with Radio Iowa. About 70 percent of the glyphosate sold in the North America is made at the Bayer plant in Muscatine.

“Do you want an Iowa company with all of the Iowa guardrails, with all of the Iowa accountability…making a product our farmers have to have,” Kaufmann asks, “or do you trust China?” Kaufmann says while Bayer’s Muscatine plant is just outside of his House district, he represents many of the 400 people who work there. “It’s 15 miles from me,” Kaufmann said. “It’s five miles from my district.”

The Iowa Senate narrowly approved this bill this past May, but it did not come up for a vote in the House. Kaufmann isn’t guaranteeing a vote in the House next year. Kaufmann says he’ll talk with House Republicans to see if there are the 51 votes necessary to pass the bill in 2026 — and he knows there are some House Republicans who are strongly against it. “Some of my closest friends are not for that bill in my (House Republican) caucus and their views are based on real stories and heart-tug stories,” Kaufmann said, “and their views are very, very valid.”

Opponents of the bill say it prioritizes profits over the health and lives of Iowans who’ve been affected by RoundUp and some accuse the company of covering up information about the product’s harmful effects. Tens of thousands of lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. with claims that the weedkiller causes cancer. Bayer has spent over 10 BILLION dollars on litigation and jury awards to plaintiffs. New laws in North Dakota and Georgia give Bayer new liability protection from lawsuits over product labeling and Iowa’s governor has signaled she would support of a similar law here.