29 Apr 2013

Gov. Branstad requests Presidential Disaster Declaration for public assistance for five Iowa counties

By Randy Stalsberg

(DES MOINES) - Today, Gov. Terry E. Branstad signed a letter to be delivered to President Obama requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration for five Iowa counties. The five counties in the request are Dickinson, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola and Sioux.

The Governor is making the request for Public Assistance Program funding in response to severe weather between April 9 and 11, 2013. The severe weather produced damaging winds, heavy rains, thunderstorms, freezing rain, ice and snow that caused damage to utility lines, poles, trees and vegetation.

A joint federal, state and local preliminary damage assessment of the five counties found the severe weather caused an estimated $6 million of damage that could be eligible under the Public Assistance Program. Public Assistance funds may be used to rebuild damaged infrastructure that may include roads, bridges, culverts and other public facilities, or to cover costs of emergency work during and debris removal after storms.

The Governor's letter to President Obama, including the damage estimates, is available at www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov.

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29 Apr 2013

Members of Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee release Asian carp in North America distribution maps

By Sarah Gross
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) today, April 26, released "Asian Carp Distribution in North America," which displays current data on the presence of bighead carp and silver carp at all life stages, as well as black carp and grass carp occurrences, in the Mississippi River, Ohio River and Great Lakes. The maps can be found at: http://www.asiancarp.us/problem.htm.

"The intent of this succinct, graphical documentation of locations of Asian carp individual captures, as well as areas with established populations, is to be a 'living resource' for ACRCC partners, decision makers and the public to access specific, timely information," said USACE Fish Biologist and eDNA Program Manager Kelly Baerwaldt.

Data were compiled through responses to an Asian Carp Questionnaire that was distributed to biologists at federal, state, academic, private-consulting and non-governmental organizations; the ACRCC Mon! itoring and Response Work Group, which include data since 2009 in detail for the Chicago Area Waterway System and a majority of the Illinois Waterway; and the USGS's Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database.

"The ACRCC continues to take the threat of Asian carp as very real and to conduct intensive monitoring to help determine the threat of this invasive fish," said Baerwaldt.

Zero Asian carp were captured or observed above the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal electric barriers in the last two years after hundreds of interagency monitoring trips, including 192 hours of electrofishing and nearly 82 miles of traditional netting, which resulted in the capture of nearly 100,000 fish of other species.

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29 Apr 2013

The GREAT MARCH FOR CLIMATE ACTION

By Ed Fallon
-- stepping forward for our Planet, our Future --


Dear Friends,

Setting up a 3,000 mile march involves a lot more than drawing a bright-colored line across a map of the US. We are fortune to have Courtney Kain on board to coordinate this mammoth task. Courtney's background includes a four-year stint with the Army National Guard, managing logistics for several thousand troops at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa.

"We'd go on training marches through a variety of terrains, often for a week or two, camping in a lot of different places under some pretty adverse circumstances," said Courtney. "There was a lot of integration between planning the route and planning our equipment needs. Of course, we carried 60-pound packs on our backs and had our guns. Honestly, I'm looking forward to not having to deal with hauling either of those on the Climate March!"

Like any big event, much of Courtney's work with the National Guard involved tedious behind-the-scenes labor. "Often, we'd be out on the base at o'dark thirty, sometimes in sub-zero weather, doing vehicle maintenance and what not. We not only had to issue equipment but keep tabs on it as well. Marching boots were probably the most important piece of equipment. I remember a lovely set of massive blisters during my early days with the Guard."

Courtney appreciates all the folks in communities across the country who are stepping forward to help with on-the-ground challenges in setting up the route. "We can do a lot from our headquarters here in Des Moines, especially with the help of the Internet," said Courtney. "But there's no way we can figure out all the details without our supporters' eyes and ears helping to identify the best routes and campsites in communities we'll march through."

Our plan is to release the full description of the March route sometime next month. In the meantime, we need your help, not just working with Courtney on setting up the route, but helping pay for all the costs involved. To that end . . .

If you haven't already, please become a March Starter. Donate between 1 cent and 33-1/3 cents per mile - between $30 and $1,000 - to help Courtney finish this task at a pace that would impress the US Army. Click here for details, and thanks to all who have stepped forward so far.
25 Apr 2013

American Lung Association State of the Air Report Released

By Micki Sandquist

The American Lung Association's annual "State of the Air 2013" report finds that air quality nationwide continues the long-term trend to much healthier air. The strongest progress came in lower levels of year-round particle pollution across much of the nation.

"State of the Air 2013" is the Lung Association's 14th annual, national air quality "report card." It uses the most recent air pollution data, compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the two most widespread types of pollution - ozone (smog) and particle pollution (PM 2.5, also known as soot). The report grades counties and ranks cities and counties based on their scores for ozone, year-round particle pollution and short-term particle pollution levels.

Visit the State of the Air Iowa Report to see how your community ranks and to learn how to protect yourself and your family from air pollution.
25 Apr 2013

Living Lands & Waters Summer schedule

By Natalie Linville-Mass

Living Lands & Waters has been cleaning up the Mississippi for over 15 years and this year we're expanding our cleanup effort to include sites from LaCrosse through North of St. Louis. We need your help to get the word out to recruit volunteers for our upcoming events in your area. With your help we can keep our Mississippi and its tributaries clean. The following list gives you a timeline of when and where our Barge and our clean-up and educational efforts will be taking place near you.

                                                          April 29th through 30th in Cave in Rock, IL

·         May 3rd through 7th, Paducah, KY

·         May 11th Red-Wing Lacrosse

·         May 17th through June 1st in St. Louis, MO

·         June 4th through the 8th in Herculaneum, MO

·         June 11th through the 15th in St. Genevieve, MO

·         June 21st through the 22nd in Chester, IL

·         June 26th through the 29th in Cape Girardeau MO

·         June 22nd through the 23rd in Clarksville, MO

·         October 28th and 29th in Grafton, IL

·         October 31st through November 2nd in Alton, IL

·         November 7th and 8th in St. Louis MO

·         November 11th in Bloomsdale, MO

23 Apr 2013

Simon: Flood dangers not over yet

By Kara Beach

CARBONDALE - April 23, 2013. As chair of an Illinois River conservation council, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon encouraged residents along the Illinois River to remain vigilant and take precautions as flood waters continue to rise over the coming days.

"While the northern portion of the Illinois River starts to recede, areas downstream of La Salle-Peru have not yet crested and could see the river raise another four to seven feet in the coming days," said Simon, who chairs the Illinois River Coordinating Council. "I will continue to work with state, local and disaster relief officials to provide aid to these vulnerable communities."

At present, the Illinois River is projected to crest at 29.4 feet early Wednesday morning in Peoria, about a half-inch higher than the previous record. Flood stage for the Illinois River in Peoria is 18 feet. Farther downstream, the river is projected to crest at 29.5 feet in Beardstown on Thursday morning, where the flood stage is at 14 feet.

As flood waters continue to rise, Simon reminded families to exercise caution and avoid driving through flood waters. Residents can monitor flood levels, find updates on road conditions and search for nearby shelters at www.ready.illinois.gov. To donate to the recovery effort or learn about volunteer opportunities, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

"With more rain coming down last night and today, flooding throughout central and southern Illinois will get worse before it gets better," Simon said.

Governor Quinn has declared 44 counties as state disaster areas. Counties included in the state disaster declaration are Adams, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, Douglas, DuPage, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Scott, Stark, Tazewell, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago and Woodford.

Lt. Governor Simon and the Illinois River Coordinating Council work with state and federal agencies and local communities to raise awareness of and address watershed issues along the Illinois River. The Council assisted volunteer efforts and agency responses to the 2011 Mississippi River flood in Southern Illinois.

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23 Apr 2013

Loebsack Welcomes Gov. Branstad's Disaster Declaration

By Rick Martin

Total of 8 counties affected by strong storms and flooding now available for state assistance

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after Governor Branstad issued a disaster declaration for three additional counties in Eastern Iowa.  People who qualify in Iowa, Lee and Muscatine Counties are now able to apply for state grants to help with home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing.  Last week, disaster declarations were made for Cedar, Johnson, Mahaska, Scott and Washington Counties.

"I am pleased with the Governor's actions to make assistance available to folks in Eastern Iowa who have seen the brunt of the damage from the recent storms and flooding," said Loebsack.  "Over the weekend, I toured some of the affected areas and saw firsthand the damage that occurred.  I will continue to fight to ensure those with significant property damage get the help they need."

For more information, Iowans should visit www.dhs.iowa.gov and click on the Disaster Assistance link.

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23 Apr 2013

Governor Quinn Requests FEMA Help with Flood Damage Assessments

By Leslie Wertheimer

Documentation Will Support Request for Federal Assistance

MEREDOSIA - Governor Pat Quinn today asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist with damage assessments in several Illinois counties devastated by flooding and severe storms. The assessments, which will begin on April 29, will provide the documentation necessary to support a request for federal assistance.

"We have seen some of the worst flooding damage to neighborhoods and homes across our state in Illinois history," Governor Quinn said. "The state will continue to take every step to secure assistance from the federal government that will help our communities recover."

Since Thursday, Governor Quinn has surveyed damage on the ground and from the air and met with local officials in some of the hardest hit communities, including Elmhurst, Des Plaines, River Forest, Bellwood, Riverside, Moline, Quincy, Bartonville, North Aurora, Marseilles, Ottawa, North Utica and Morris.

Personnel from FEMA, IEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and local emergency management agencies will begin assessing damage to homes and businesses in Cook, DuPage and Lake Counties on April 29. The teams will move to other affected counties as floodwaters recede so they are able to accurately assess the damage. Governor Quinn has declared a total of 44 counties state disaster areas.

Counties included in the state disaster declaration are Adams, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, Douglas, DuPage, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Scott, Stark, Tazewell, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago and Woodford.

The state disaster declaration makes available a wide variety of state resources that can help affected communities respond and recover from flooding. It came after assessments by emergency officials and the governor, and begins the process of securing federal relief.

As of today, the state has fulfilled more than 80 requests for assistance from counties including:

Department of Transportation

  • More than 240 IDOT personnel and 153 trucks and equipment have been deployed to deliver sandbags, plastic, pumps, hoses, trucks and drivers to communities.
  • Conducting flyovers of flooded areas for situational awareness.
  • Providing guidance to communities on pumping equipment needs.

Department of Corrections

  • Inmate crews are assisting with sandbagging efforts in several communities.
  • Over 660 inmates have worked around the clock to fill more than 80,000 sandbags since Friday.

Department of Natural Resources

  • DNR boats and conservation police officers have assisted with home and medical evacuations, transportation, river rescues, missing person searches and other flood-related responses.

Illinois Emergency Management Agency

  • Provided 40 StarCom radios to the Algonquin Police Department for emergency communications.
  • Deployed liaison teams to Quincy and Milan to coordinate response efforts along the Mississippi River.
  • Coordinating requests for assistance from affected counties with state resources.

Illinois National Guard

  • UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and two crew members assisted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with overflight of the Des Plaines and Little Calumet Rivers to survey integrity of flood control systems and infrastructure.

Illinois State Police

  • Continue to assist motorists and local public safety agencies with flood-related issues.

Department of Public Health

  • Provided information on tetanus shots to local public health departments, hospitals and medical offices.
  • Monitoring situations at nursing homes and long-term care facilities affected by flooding.

Department of Central Management Services

  • Procured work gloves for inmate crews assisting with sandbagging.

Governor Quinn activated the State Incident Response Center on Thursday to coordinate the deployment of state personnel and assets to assist local governments in the affected areas. The state's flood response is coordinated by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

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23 Apr 2013

Living Lands & Waters Giving Away 500,000th Tree

By Natalie Linville-Mass

Davenport, IA/April 22, 2013 - Chad Pregracke's Quad Cities-based environmental group is half-way to its goal of distributing one million trees as part of their MillionTrees Project.  In the spirit of Earth Day (today), Living Lands & Waters will be presenting the 500,000th tree to Bowlesburg Elementary School in Silvis Illinois at 1:30p on Monday April 22nd.

Following the presentation, several Bowlesburg students and Living Lands & Waters staff will plant a total of four trees on Bowlesburg School property.  As the recipient of the 500,000th tree, Bowlesburg will also be presented with a $500 gift card to go towards the purchase of environmentally-themed books for their library.

Living Lands & Waters, an East Moline, Illinois non-profit organization has been distributing trees throughout April to individuals, families, schools, park districts, businesses and organizations throughout 10 states.  The goal of the MillionTrees Project is to grow and plant 1 MILLION trees.

Trees provide shelter and nut-bearing hardwoods are a viable food source for wildlife and migratory birds.  Slow-growing hardwoods like oaks have a harder time re-establishing themselves without help, and are often crowded out by faster growing species, like cottonwoods, willow and silver maples. Re-establishing hardwoods helps increase biodiversity, reduce erosion and run-off and improve water and air quality.

More information on the MillionTrees Project can be found at www.livinglandsandwaters.org/get-involved/million-trees

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22 Apr 2013

CONSERVATION COUNTS ON EARTH DAY AND EVERY DAY FOR IOWA FARMERS

By Laurie Johns

Virtual Tours Show Progress of Iowa Farmers

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - April 19, 2013 - Iowans can see how today's farmers are always seeking new ways to protect the land and water, while providing a wide array of food choices for consumers, by taking virtual farm tours.  Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) is launching 'Conservation Counts' (www.iowafarmbureau.com/conservationcounts), an online resource where consumers can see how farmers use conservation practices on their farm and the progress that statewide voluntary measures have brought in the last 30 years.  The Conservation Counts website goes live April 22nd, the 43rd observance of national Earth Day.

"Conservation methods are different on every farm because the terrain is different, the soils are different and the crops we grow are diverse.  So when it comes to conservation, forcing a one-size-fits-all approach would be a detriment to the progress we need to make in protecting the land and water," said IFBF President Craig Hill.

"Today's responsible farmers are always looking for new ways to help them not only maintain but improve the integrity of their land and watersheds.  Some farmers plant trees (http://www.supportfarmers.com/Programs/gfpp/case-studies ) through the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmer's Green Farmstead Partner Program; many more farmers plant grassy buffer strips to protect streams; some use no-till methods or cover crops, or terraces to hold nutrients and reduce erosion.  On my farm, I use precision agriculture where I spoon feed plants nutrients/fertilizer at the right time, right place and right amount so they get only what they need which is better for the plant and the environment. And, there are also innovations in seeds and equipment which help today's farmers use less fertilizer," said Hill.  "Progress and new ideas are what it takes to meet our nation's food needs, while protecting the land.  One in six jobs in this state are tied to agriculture.  By 2050, it's estimated the global population will be over 9 billion, which requires 100 percent more food than we're growing today.  The Nutrient Reduction Strategy (http://www.nut\rientstrategy.iastate.edu/ ) shows farmers all the options they can use on their farms to get us there."

Voluntary conservation measures have brought progress.  In the last 30 years, soil erosion in the U.S. has been reduced by 43 percent, according to the USDA's National Resources Inventory report.  Iowa's erosion rate was down 33 percent, thanks to a combination of practices being put in place, such as buffer strips, terraces, no-till, cover crops, restoring wetlands, installing bio-filters and grassy waterways in fields.  Today's responsible farmers continue to search for new ways to protect the land and watershed; seven major conservation practices used on Iowa farms are estimated to remove as much as 28 percent of the nitrate, 38 percent of the total nitrogen, and up to 58 percent of the phosphorus that otherwise would be present, according to the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development's Conservation Practices in Iowa: Historical Investments, Water Quality and Gaps.

"Farming is never a one-year proposition. It's something we do over time and we are continually learning.  It's never static; you always want to be getting as much information as you can, and then putting it to work on your farm," said Ankeny farmer, Mark Kenney, who uses no-till, has restored grasslands on his farm and this year is taking more land out of production to plant new grassy buffer strips to reduce erosion on his Nevada-area farmland.

Learn more about how today's responsible farmers embrace new conservation methods by checking out 'Conservation Counts' at www.iowafarmbureau.com/conservationcounts or follow them on Facebook at IowaFarmBureau or Twitter at (#ConservationCounts13).

-30-

About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to helping farm families prosper and improve their quality of life.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve economic growth, educational improvement, and environmental quality in their communities.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online media center at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

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