(Spirit Lake)– The head of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources was in the Iowa Great Lakes over the weekend.
Sustainable funding for the DNR was just one of many topics Rich Leopold highlighted during his visit. He expects a formal proposal to be announced within the next year.
Leopold says the DNR is also constantly monitoring the presence and spread of invasive species. Zebra mussels are as close to the Iowa Great Lakes as Clear Lake.
Leopold was also asked about plans to improve impaired waterways, known as TMDL’s. At the moment, other than making recommendations, Leopold says there’s little the DNR can do to actually regulate them. But he says standards for certain contaminants such as nutrients are on the way.
Leopold also talked about local control over the placement of large feedlots. He says he’s been meeting with numerous agricultural organizations, farmers, Ag Secretary Bill Northey and those in the scientific community. Leopold says his goal is to come up with a recommendation on odor standards to be presented to the Governor within a year.
Leopold spoke Saturday at the first annual meeting of the Inner Lakes Protective Association, which consists of representatives of the various lake protective associations from throughout Dickinson county.
