Six bodies of water in Winneshiek County named 'Outstanding Iowa Waters'
Six bodies of water in Winneshiek County have been designated as "Outstanding Iowa Waters (OIW)" by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and will received the appropriate protection to keep them that way.
According to a news release from Marian Riggs Gelb, executive director of the Iowa Environmental Council, 34 water bodies throughout the state have received the OIW designation.
The list includes Twin Creek, located just west of Decorah, North Bear Creek, South Pine Creek, Smith Creek (aka Trout River), South Canoe Creek and Cold Water Creek. "More often than not, when the topic of water quality in Iowa comes up, it is in a negative context," wrote Riggs Gelb. "It may be a surprise to many that Iowa still has a few lakes and streams with exceptional water quality. Sadly, because of land use and management decisions, some of these remaining lakes and streams are beginning to show declining trends. To help stop this decline, the Iowa DNR believes 34 water bodies deserve the OIW designation." The waters included underwent a rigorous review by staff and were determined to have exceptional water quality and ecological significance and to be important recreational resources for the state, according to Riggs Gelb. The DNR also conducted analysis of the cost and benefits of the extra protections to be afforded these waters. The DNR concluded that, "The ability to afford a level of protection that recognizes and attempts to preserve Iowa's truly remarkable surface water resources is needed and long overdue ... the Outstanding Iowa Waters category in this rule proposal presents a unique opportunity to afford a level of protection commensurate with the caliber of waters listed in this proposal." The OIW designations are part of new rules approved in December, called antidegradation rules. These rules are required by the Clean Water Act and are designed to keep clean water clean. The rules and the OIW list were developed by the DNR through an extensive two-year-long process that included more than 20 formal and informal public meetings to gather input from Iowans. There is only one step left for these new protective rules to become final. On Feb. 8, the antidegradation rules will be considered by the Legislature's administrative rules review committee. "All Iowans can help protect these few remaining gems by writing their legislators and asking them to encourage and support final approval of the new rules," stated Riggs Gelb.
For a complete list of the 34 OIW bodies of water go to www.iowadnr.gov/water/standards/antideg_maps.html
