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''Ill, .J bun.,nlhl) \\:•ll"'t s1 ~)4 ~ .old,, ~a~ , lrar '' ( """·~ '"'' s,.lt OOl~ Lnderll Of~~ ~ofl91, 1~: ,~ l>lsis C( Q.1 belit,,l.':a ~~. ~8 llld.,e t rm~Orlhci IIlii! ' OC'T 0 9 1992 STAlE L .RARY (,;. !Q'.NA CONTENTS E2st 12 ~ ~ c ·,.: DES MOINES, IOWA 5v3l9 Iowa CONSERVATIONIST September/October 1992 Volume 51 , Number 7 STAFF Ros_\ Harn\on Bureau Chocf Jullt Spark\ ld11or Tammra II.. Pa•hcck \bnJ~ong F.doltlr Kalhr) n ~lan g l , ·\"o·.lanl Ed11or LO\t t ll Wa\hburn Wnlcr/Pholograrhcr Larr) Pool Graphoc 'In"' Ken Formanek Pholo,•rarhcr 1'/ATLRAL R~. SOLRU l0\1\11 SION Barbara ' chon ChJif'J" r .on Ru•h•cn \ 1arian KoefTtr \'occ-Ch 'II'J'C'N>n Brlk~uc \ l ark Doll Sec Cllf\ Co nc•l Blufh 1.\tf\.1 \ t a r ion J Panerwn Ctdar Raprd' Oougla\ R. Smallt) De MoiRf\ Richard (. YounR. \\a• ·rloo page 16 page 25 EN\'1 ROM! E"T AL PROTECTIO"' CO\t\11 10" Rrchard Ha rl\uck Chaorpcr-on. De' Moone' FEATURES Clark A Yeager Voce ChJorpcf'on Onum"'a " anc} let \ . '>oebenmann SccrciJI), CcdJr Rapod' 4 1992 HUNTING FORECAST by Terry Little Verlon 8nt1 fl)!on William lhm Crc,lon Rotanne King Mondamon 12 WHEN EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN by Brian J. Tormey Charlon e \1ohr Fldrod~c Margart t M. Prahl S o ou~ (II} Gary C. Priebe Alr.ona 16 THEY'RE NOT JUST FOR ROMANTIC EVENINGS ANYMORE DIRECTOR by Randy Martin Larr) J. Wllw n DEPUTY DIREC I OR Don Pa ulin 18 1992 lOW A RECORD DEER RACKS DI VI ION ADMIN! I RATORS 21 Stan 1\uhn \dmon"''"'"' Sc"''"' ARE TURKEYS GOBBLING UP LANDOWNERS' PROFITS? Larr) Bean Entr~t> •nd Geolopoc.ll Rc,ourcl"'. by Steve Gabrey, Paul Yohs and DeWaine Jackson Allan Sloke\ En•oronmcnl;~l Pro1ec11on Allen Farris Fi'h and Woldhle \\ illiam Farris Fore''' and Forc'll) \tichatl tarn er P.or~' R«n:Jioon md Pre""" 25 THE MISSOURI RIVER by J. Edward Brown Tereu D. Ha) 'Wa,lc Mana~cmcn1 A\\1\lancc PECIAL PHO'\E NU MBERS 51 BANKING ON Q UALITY STREAMS by Kimberly K. Coulter Dt-.R Cenlr•l Olloce. 151512lll 514~ Emcrpenc) Spoil Re,pon-c, !515t21\1-ll694 Telecommunoc.II!On' Devote for 1hc Deaf, 55 SHEEDER PRAIRIE: A "PEOPLE PASTURE" by John Pearson 1515) 242-59'>7 Tum-ln-Po.1chc" I rtP1. !HOOt 532-2020 Wa\le Reducloon and RcC}thng. 111001 '67-1025 58 PIKES PEAK STATE PARK by Angela Corio /mw Colllr/1'111111111\l (ISSN 0021-0471) "publl\hed bomon1hi)' b)' 1he iowa Dcpanmcnl of Nalural Rc,ource\. Wallace Sidle Office Buoldong. De' MoonC\, Iowa 50' 19- 63 1993 IOWA STAMP DESIGNS 0034. Second cia" p SeplembcriOclobcr 1992 • lo"'a Con~"auonl\1 3 Article by Terry Little Photos by Roger A. Hill 4 Iowa Con,crvauoni'l • Scplember/Oclobcr 1992 s I sit in my office everything fo r several days. Clear Lake watching it ram for froze over on the earliest date since the what seems like the 1940s. The rest of the state had to 40th consecutive day, suffer through only cold, windy, wet I real ize that the fore weather that made each hunt an endur cast I am about to ance trial, rather than the enjoyable write has less chance of being accurate outing it was supposed to be. Even than last year's. Surely you remember hardy Minnesota and Wisconsin hunters the 199 1 hunting season? The one that were seen driving back north, with was supposed to be the best in a several inches of snow and ice covering decade, but turned out in some respects their vehicles and dog trailers, before to be nearly the worst? their vacations were over. Long ago we gave up hold ing November, the critical month for weather forecaster and economists duck, pheasant and archery deer responsible for their predictions, hunting, was over before the weather because the events they foretell are relented. M igrating fl ocks of waterfowl beset by factors beyond their control. jened through the state on gale force As I write this, constant mid-summer winds days before the start of the major rains and a new magazi ne deadline that part of the duck season. Early season falls due before this year's major cover for pheasants, partridge and quail wildlife surveys are even started, was ravaged by ice and snow before present obstacles to accurate predicting hunters got a serious start. By mid as formidable as the uncertain path of November birds were pushed into the the jetstream or the price of gold on the larger, difficult-to-approach fl ocks world market. If another prediction typical of late-season hunting. Many goes wrong, perhaps wildlife biologists bow hunters gave up in frustration after will sink to the same level of esteem as nearly being blown out of tree stands those other uncertain oracles -- to be during the critical peak of the rut. The listened to, but not believed. early freeze stopped vi rtually all What happened in 1991? Early trapping activity on marshe and on waterfowl seasons started off in prom land, and raccoon hunting was brought ising fashion. Wetlands were in to a standsti ll as animals denned up excellent condition, record numbers of early to ride out the storms. Many Canada geese (mostly locally produced hunters of all types gave up thei r long Giants) built up in northern Iowa, and awaited hunting seasons after a early duck migrations arrived on disastrous trip or two early in the year. schedule. The weather through mid Then fortune reversed itself and the October was mild and early-season weather in December and January waterfowling was the best in several turned out to be the mildest in recent years. years. Hunters' spirits improved, if not Beginning with the opening week their successes. end of the pheasant season, however, Some pheasants and quail failed to the weather turned as nasty and as in survive the early, bad weather in hospitable as fa ll in the Midwest can isolated parts of western and northern get. Rain, snow, ice, wind or all of Iowa. Losses, however, were neither them together bombarded Iowa for four severe nor widespread. Survivors consecutive weekends. Northwest scattered fa r and wide in search of food Iowa was hit by a foot or more of snow after the weather let up and remained in on Halloween that piled into two- to large flocks in light cover. These large three-foot drifts in all available cover. groups were nearly unapproachable by Southwest Iowa suffered through an 1ce hunters or their bird dogs. storm that put six inches of ice on I recall hunting one farm after a Sep~ 6 lo-.a Con\Cnatoonl\1 • September/October l'l'l2 November man :y mar'ihes and reser wasn't the sole factor mvolved m all VOirs thawed agam and were acces cases, however. Deer regulations were sible to hunters. Most migrating designed to reduce the take of does in ducks were permanently through Iowa all of central and northern Iowa to and baskmg in warmer temperatures stabilize or increase deer numbers. in the South. Few large concentra And fall wild turkey seasons were tions of v.aterfowl developed any curtailed for the second year because where, but there were enough late of poor hatches over most of the state migrators at 'ie\ era I locations along the past four years. All things consid the Miss1s.,1pp1 R1ver and the reser ered, 1991 was not as bad a year as voirs m central and southern Iowa to our memones m1ght suggest. How prov1de consbtentl) good-to-excellent ever, the question v. Ill forever remain: hunung late m November What would 1991 ha,·e been like had The result of these unusual the ~1- eather been reasonabl\ coopera weather conditions v.a., that the til'e? harvest of most wildlife spec1es were down from 1990 (see table below). 1992: A Better Year Ahead? Only waterfowl hunters had an overall There IS every indiCation that better season, as predicted. Weather 1992 will be better than 1991 , maybe HUNTING SEASONS A'F A GLANCE 1990 1991 Species Harvest Harvest Cbanp White-tailed deer Archery 10,146 8,807 -13 Deer Muzzleloader 8,703 5,886 -32 1991 : Harvest down 15 percent due Shotgun 70,153 68,942 -13 to poor hunting weather and license rosj restrictions designed to protect does. Wild Turkey ~t ed Spring Season 8,191 7,968 -3 Outlook: Good season, similar or 13!! Fall Season 4,588 1,386 -70 better than 1991 . Deer herds mostly stable with similar season format. Upland Game Ring-necked pheasant 1.4 million 1.1 million -19 Bobwhite quail 321,500 231,800 -28 Gray partridge 148,000 45,500 -69 Ruffed grouse 9,300 5,700 -39 ~ Gray/fox squmel 466,100 407,200 -13 Cottontail rabbit 609,800 437,000 -28 e Furbearers Raccoon 103,468 106,000 +2 Fox (red and gray) 14,400 14,380 -- Coyote 5,068 4,500 -II Muskrat 70,133 106,000 +51 Waterfowl tiOO Ducks 105,800 156,200 +48 Geese 29,700 40,100 +35 even the banner year we were expect Geese mg last year. After the November 1991: All-time record torm were over, winter weather Canada goose harvest remained mild right through to spring of 31 ,000 due to and virtually assured good survival of successful restoration gamebirds. Deer herds remain in program. good-to-excellent condition all over Outlook: Excellent lowa. The same regulations that season. Record reduced last year's take of does will production of Giant a ure that more fawns will be born Canadas in Iowa, plus thi spring. Wetlands are slowly re good numbers of covering from drought in the prairie migrating geese in of Canada and the U.S. As a result, spite of poor breedmg populations of ducks and production in the wetland-based furbearers are continu Arctic. mg thetr slow rebound from the low level they experienced in the mid- Ducks 1980 . Most goose populations came 1991 : Harvest of through the fall and winter at near 156,000 best in five record levels. years. April was cool and wet in Iowa, but the precipitation we received was Outlook: Good scattered and in small amounts in hunting under most places. This allowed replenish restricted season format. Breeding ment of wetlands and an early green populations up 10 nat up, but shouldn't have bothered percent and expected hoi nesting birds of most species. Wet e fall flight up 11 percent lands were full , but relatively linle ~" (similar or higher than floodtng occurred to impact nests of -; last year). Iowa pro Canada gee e. The critical mid-May ~ wetlands in excellent pn through June period could hardly shape. .3 on! have been more ideal for most the resident wi ldlife. This is the critical season when ground-nesting birds are _ , - ,- r- 212 2255 1131 366 767 - tha itting on nests and hatching downy 177 - ._ 589 ..... me young. Wet, cold weather during this - ...... ,..._ i L ) 707 626 397 940 ...., ...... ,..---;_ has time can wreak havoc with the 117 ..... Fis production of young pheasants, quail, - -- 101 - 36 tw wi ld turkeys and other ground-nesting !;;;;o;- ..._ ,...... qui birds. Weather was dry but not hot, ------674 120 283 -42 and nesting success must have been JCN• I ~ high. Cool spring weather retarded 297 377 - the development of hay fields and ~ ~-~n~~~~..;...,-loN~ .. .~.~ -~~N~~~~~~~•;u-t-~-1~c-~~- ~ delayed mowing somewhat, which was another positive sign. Late June 1- -dl ~------"1111"'46.....;.~.. 300~ --:--!!- - 1.!. ·~ ) r:,J/ hay mowing, and the USDA's decision to open some CRP fields to ~ l I I =~'_,. 1 haymg and grazing in July, came ~~e; ~f) ~ ~a~~[L b§ ~= - -~ after the normal peak of the pheasant hatch m early June. While not benefi ~ lo';Va ljrair: e Pc tho.e R~c ~ in !98~ ctal, thts mowtng could have been rna lac dtsastrous had it occurred a month Total Acres= 10,560 Total Cost = $8,801,853 Ian earlter. ------~ 8 lo"'J Con...:I"JIIon"t • September/O September.Oclober 1992 • lo"a Con>erHI&on"l 9 recj The per'>t'>tent and v. tdespread cu ram~ m Jul) present the onl) cloud on Gt an otherv. t'>e ... unny outlook. for upland btrd production. For rhetr ftr..,t llrr! four to stx week.., young birds are an d su ceptible to hypothermia if they arc exposed to soakmg and chilling ram'>. ~~ B) the ttme the} are full} feathered ne the) are able to \\ tth..,tand normal fa! ramfall and sur\ 1\ e better. Jul} ram'> the were most!) ltght v.-~th fev. mteme 60 storms over large areas. Phea~ant and turkey nests normally hatch by mtd dur June and probably suffered little til th.t effect from this type of rain. Quail vid nesting usuall} peah.s later in the thn summer. and chtch.s from late June or llOI Jul} nests. or m the small area \\here thl he a\} rams occurred. rna} have ICC suffered some losses. B) the ume pol thts arttcle ts pnnted. the DNR 's anc August roadstde surveys will have Furbearers . been run and a better handle will be 1991 : Lowest take of most furbearers in 20 years due to poor pelt prices and 10 had on thts problem. For now there i-. poor weather. ha no rea on to expect that productton ha suffered exten..,tvel). Outlook: Continued poor fur prices and low interest. Excellent numbers of flo most species available for the recreational trapper or hunter. The '>lluatton for waterfov. I ,.., n mo tl} postttve and a better year than last i expected. Water condtttons Wild Turkeys improved on the praines of Canada 1991 : Hunters took 1,386 birds, down 70 and the U.S. last year and breeding b} percent due to limits populations of ducks responded with Cu on licenses following Ol a 10 percent mcrease to the highest poor production. level smce 1986. The result ts a fall de1 flight that wtll be about 11 percent Outlook: Licenses a abo\e last year's. This small mcrease restricted to just dif may not be espectally noticeable to 1,530 in northeast sea many hunters. but It marks the fifth Iowa. Excellent sur year of a slow but steady recovery of hunting for those las duck populations from the low levels lucky enough to draw scz of the early 1980s. Considering all a license. COJ species. duck breeding populations bu are JUSt etght percent beiO\\ the no average for the 1955-91 period. ad, Popular spectes hke mallards (dov. n slo 17 percent) and pmtails (dov. n 54 Io, percent) are still substantially below to average levels. Blue-winged teal are but at or above average levels. on, Canada goo'>e hunting rna} be tra our faste~t growmg hunting sport at CO( thts ttme - last fall hunters took a an 10 Jo.,a <.on"'" :~n"l • Septcmbe< O..to 1992 record 22.000 geese m splle of a season a bow or firearm . Weather permitting. curtailed by weather. Production of another excellent season ts expected in Giant Canada geese 1n Iowa hit an all 1992. time record or 16,000 goslings this year The outlook for furbearers basi and the pro~pech for continued im cally remains unchanged from the past provement are excellent. Local Giant four years. Low pelt prices and excel flocks help stop m1grating geese that lent habitat in CRP fields have com nest m the Canad1an Arctic and several bined to allow populations of most goose re-.torauon :)ttes are developing furbearers to reach levels not seen in fall flocks of Canadas that number in Iowa in three decades. Lack of the thou.,anc.J... l ast fall more than interest in fu r harvesting (the return 60,000 Canadas could be found in Iowa from the ale of pelts IS not worth the durmg the peak of mtgrauon. Geese effort expended to the economically that ~ta)' O\ er at these new sues pro motivated fur harvester) means little VIded extended gunnmg for hunters hunting or trappmg pressure has been throughout the fall Although produc applied to furbearer populauons. tiOn of Arctic. nestmg geese was poor Raccoons, foxes. coyotes and skunks this year bec.au~e of heav} snows and are abundant m rural and urban areas ice on the breedmg grounds, breeding and far exceed the abtlity of the populations were at near-record levels recreationally motivated fur harvester Rabbits/Squirrels to control their numbers. Replenished and a good fall fltght 1s expected. 1991 : Poor hunting conditions in At th1s writing, Iowa's wetlands are wetlands, following two years of November reduced take of squirrels in excellent shape. Mid-summer rains normal rainfall, have even started 13 percent and rabbits 28 percent. and have kept water at desired levels, but muskrat numbers well on the road to have not been great enough to cause recovery. Trappers and hunters Outlook: Good-to-excellent hunting should have a field day if conditions for hunters interested in pursuing ot floodmg m the major Corps of Engi neers' flood control reservoirs. If these permit. these and other small game animals. cond!lton., persist. excellent waterfowl Small game -- rabbits. squirrels, ing should be avatlable again this year. woodcock. ruffed grou e, snipe, rs rails -- remain under-appreciated and too\ Whlle-tatled deer are least affected under-utilized resources. Rabbus and wn iJ by weather of all our restdent wildlife. limls Curtathng the doe harvest across most squirrels have lost their place a 1992 Iowa Hunting and highly prized game animals in the oWl : of the state la'it year should pay divi Trapping Regulations dends m terms of more deer available in minds of most hunters. Although ,. The 1992 Iowa Hunting and a very short time. Lack. of snow made it populations of both are excellent Trapping Regulatwns brochure and difficult to conduct tmportant post wherever appropriate habitat exists, ses card will be available from license st season aenal deer counts, but other fewer hunters are interested in their vendors in mid-September. ast surveys suggest the deer herd is about at pursuit as more attractive hunting t last year's level statewide. This year's opportunities have developed. Be se season is designed to continue the cause of the general lack of interest in 0 dra' conservative approach started last year, all of these "minor" game animals, building deer herds across much of the excellent hunting opportunities exist northern half of the state and placing for those still interested or youngsters additional hunting pressure on stable to just developing an interest in hunting. slowly mcreasing herds in southern Overall, the forecast for the 1992 Iowa. Hunters in all zones can take up hunting season is excellent. Unless, of to two deer, both of which could be course, nature decides not to be kind bucks. tf one was taken with a bow and a gam. one wtth a firearm. Hunters willing to travel to the southern two tiers of Terry Liule is the wildlife research counttes m Zones 4, 5 and 6 could take supervisor for the deparrmenr's an additional antlerless deer with either "i'ildlife bureau 111 Des Moines. Seprember/Oclober 1992 • lo".a Con-.r-allotml 11 zons other po~ of enact Ren leg1~l Natu the C • de,e1 reC\C from thiS I rec\• ~ perce pape1 Janu1 o, you've sorted your bottles, mental Protection Agency has devel •\ear newspapers, cans and plastic by Brian J. Tormey oped guidelines for setting up buyrng llJ92 containers for either curbside programs aimed at products made with attair ptck-up or delivery to a drop recycled matenals. To date. the EPA IOJ\Q ._off bin m your commumty. (If more than an expensive means for has 1ssued purchasing critena for Iicari you aren't doing this, you should be! ) landfilhng separated trash. It is Simpl y a cement and concrete products contain coate The satisfaction you feel is justified, but matter of supply-and-demand economi cs. ing fly ash (the air-borne residue from pape don 't get carried away in self-adulation The suppi}-Side of the equation reiie'> the burnmg of coal at power plants). because the task of properl y recyclmg upon a dependable collection system for retread tires, re-refined oil, bUlldmg fin an these materials is only one-third of the the di scarded materials we generate a<, insulauon and paper products. These demt way done. con umers. But as consumers, we can guidelines apply to federal agencies econ The three arrows comprismg the fa act as a catalyst to expand the demand and contractors usmg appropnated C}cl~ miliar recycling symbol represent for products denved from recovered federal funds. The EPA ha also The speci fi e interrelated steps that must be materials. Practicing demand-side waste established a procurement hotlme - Dhi taken on the road to a successful management is simpl y done through our (703) 941-4452 -- tO answer questions ass1~ recycling program. It involves more buying practices. whereby we send and provide information to government throL than s1mply separating and collectmg signals to manufacturers about the types agenc1e . manufacturers. vendors and pro ~ materials -- recyclmg occurs when the of products we are wiiimg to purchase. the general public. The U.S. Congress I 1981 collected materials are sold to manufac By support1ng markets for recyclables, created a national market for recycled DNB turers for either reuse or reprocessing we help to nurture economically feasible scrap tires recently when it reauthor 1mpt into another usable product. Then it is alternatives tO landfiliing these matenals. ized the U.S. urface transportauon bill loan returned to the marketplace to be pur Though the power w1elded by and included a provi IOn that mandate ~ Io" a chased by government, business and the consumers cannot be underestimated, states use at least five percent rubber m tn th consumer. To be transformed from a aggressive governmental purchasing asphalt pavement by 1994. I 0 percent discard to a resource. the matenal must programs that cover a w1de range of by 1995. 15 percent by 1996 and 20 for n be able to be pushed completely through recycled products have also played a percent b) 1997. state the loop. major role 111 establishing markets. According to the magazme Bw Often Thus, the impetus for a successful Because federal, state and local govern cycle in its "State of Garbage in Amer no u recycling program is developing ments make up 20 percent of the nation's ica" survey, by the end of 1990. 37 " rec1 • markets to provide recyclables w1th an Gross NatiOnal Product. the) can set an states had some form of purcha mg So"' economically viable "second life." example for mdustry by usmg their policy targeting recyclables. Earl) leg 1ng r Until such arrangements exist, material buying power to spur recycling markets. islation focused exclusively on paper age r collection efforts will result in nothing At the federal level, the Envi ron- products, but recent trends show hori- prod 12 In"• Con~l'\at•onl\t e Srptember O<:tober I9'1~ zons have been broadened to include cule. Or, if the manufacturer does discard. By separating out this material other products such as plastics. com claim a certain percentage of recycled for collection and reuse, we remove it post. waste oil and tires. Iowa was one material used in a product, the source from the waste stream and place it into of the states at the forefront with its of the recla1med material is not oft en the recycling loop. Therefore, it is enactment of the Waste Reduction and identi fied m terms of pre-consumer or preferable to purchase products made Recyclmg Act in 1989 In pan. th1s post-consumer content. Pre-consumer from post-consumer material whenever leg1slatton mandated the Department of matenal IS the '"aste produced m the possible. Natural Resources, in cooperation with production process which can be easily The term "recyclable" can be the Department of General Services. recla1med and reused at the production equally confusing to consumers. For develop a program to promote buying site. While reusing pre-consumer example, many items found in the recycled products or products made materi al does reduce the waste being waste stream can be theoretically from recovered materials. Related to generated at a particular source, it does recycled. But if a secondary user of a this legtslatlon was a requ1rement that not enhance the recycling process material does not ex ist in your vicinity recycled products make up at least 50 because the material never enters the or the process for re-manufacturing a percent of the printmg and wntmg general waste stream. Pos1-consumer new product from the material is not paper purchased by state agenc1es by matenal does enter the waste stream. It economically feasible, the material will January I, 1992. and 90 percent by the consists of the 1tems we. the consumer. end up in a landfill. year 2000. The state has surpassed the 1992 goal, led by the DNR which attained 90 percent in 1989. In fact, the Iowa Conservatwmst was the first pub licatiOn m the country to be pnnted on coated enamel. or glossy. recycled fri1.: paper. :SJ. Iowa also used creati vely designed og financial mcent1ves to heighten the tN demand for throwaways and even the es economic playing field between re cycled products and virgin products. The Waste Management Assistance Div1s1on of rhe DNR provtdes finan cial nor ass1stance for many such prOJeCts through the Landfill Alternatives Grant nr.J and program. whtch was established in the 1987 Groundwater Protection Act. The gJt' DNR is currently formulating rules to cied implement a low-i nterest or no-interest lor· nb loan program designed to help fund Iowa business and mdustry endeavors 1dJtel m these areas. r:r However, one marketing problem rce' for recyclables yet to be addressed by QO RecycliNG state and federal governments is the Recycling occurs when the collected often inconsistent labeling. There are litr materials are sold to manufacturers for no uniform standards for defining either reuse or reprocessing into ~rner "recycled" and "recyclable" materials. another usable product. Then it is 37 Some products are marketed as contain returned to the marketpl ace to be ing recycled material, yet the percent age of the recycled content m the purchased by government. business and the consumer. To be transformed from product may actually be qutte minus- a discard to a resource. the material must be able to be pushed completely through the loop. form of outdoor furniture. landscape When you think of buying a HoME~GROWN MARkErs: timber and building material. These paperproduct with a recycled content. BuyiNG REcyclEd iN IowA lumber-like products are resistant to the the usual things that come to mind moisture and insects which plague are printing and writing paper. news the ~ natural wood. thus making them very papers and magazines. But two Iowa The list of products that are pro mate~ durable. For example. Iowa Plastics. businesses that have received grant viding a second life for discards mto Inc .. of Sioux Center manufactures ..rx 8' include many innovative ideas. The monies provide other avenues for fon Landfill Alternatives Grant program. plastic wallboard from post-consumer recycling post-consumer paper. The administered by the Waste Manage plastics for agricultural purposes. such as Mason City Recycling Center livestock buildings and confinements. ment Assistance Division of the processes collected paper for manu look The water-resistant nature of the wall facturing cellulose insulation and DNR. provides Iowa entrepreneurs aga1~ with the financial assistance to board allows for easy clean-up. A animal bedding. In Tama. Packaging launch unique business ventures in former grantee. Environmental Rec} Corporation of America's paperboard the recycling market arena. cling Co. Inc .. of Massena. not only mill recycles more than 41.000 tons Plastics. particularly soda collects and processes post-consumer of wastepaper each year to produce bottles (PET plastic). and milk jugs plastic. but markets a variety of end box board. The 100-percent-recycled and detergent bottles (HDPE products from tOO-percent-recycled paperboard is purchased by several plastic). are quite versatile when it material. These not only include plastic nationally known companies for a comes to reprocessing into new lumber formed in various dimensions variety of packaging and marketing products. This has been demon and colors that can be used to make uses including cereal and cake-mix strated by several businesses benches and picnic tables. but also tool boxes. and clothing tags. awarded grants. NCS Plastics. in boxes. tool rack hangers and utility trays. As a consumer or purchaser for a Cedar Rapids. processes recyclable A project of another grantee. Recycling business. always consider the availa plastic for resale to a variety of Services Associates in Jefferson. bility of recycled products made in manufacturers. One market uses a combines recycled plastic and tires to Iowa. The distance from the discard fiber produced from PET plastic manufacture landscape timbers. fence source to the processor is an impor soda bottles to make a durable yam posts and dock construction material. tant factor in market development. which is tufted. dyed and woven into Secondary uses for discarded tires The transportation costs that are a variety of home carpet styles. The include the traditional retreaded tire. tacked onto a collected material can carpet is competitively priced with incineration for power production. road affect its demand to the point your those produced from virgin material, construction and playground equipment. separated recyclables may end up but the added advantage of this But creativity can lend itself to more going to a landfill. Please support carpet is it doesn't absorb moisture original uses. as demonstrated by the establishment and growth of local and is naturally stain resistant. After Recycling Services Associates. and as markets for recyclables. For more all, have you ever seen grape soda shown by Mar-Rob Enterprises. This information on these businesses and leave its mark in a plastic bottle? Webster County business is using grant others within Iowa that market Discarded HDPE plastic milk funds to expand an existing operation recycled products. call 1-800-DNR- jugs and detergent bottles can that manufactures com husking rollers 1025. reappear around your home in the from waste tires. --BJT In an attempt to standardite the product can be labeled as being made clable; and. providing consumers some vaned, and often confltcting, defini from recycled material; having the label mformation as to the product's recycla uons currently being used by md1vidual on the product state the recycling rate, blllty locally, such as, "This bottle 1s re states and manufacturers, the EPA is based on a percentage of the population, cyclable at facilities accepting PET examining ~everal opt1ons. These for the material: having the product meet plastic." mclude requmng a certain percentage a m1mmum nauonal recyclmg rate For no"". a simple gUJdehne to of post-consumer content before a before being advertised as being recy- follow when "buying recycled" 1s that 1f 14 lo" a Con ... The first step In recycling. ... Processing plastic containers to be reused in other products. MARkET DEVElopMENT The impetus for a successful recycling sollll ... program is developing markets to provide Tool box made of recycled materials. c)cla recyclables with an economically viable . i~ rt· • "second life." Until such arrangements ~T exist, material collection efforts will result in nothing more than an expensive means to for landfilling separated trash. ireplaces. m general. are ineffi place's efficiency, fan-ass1sted fireplace Cient home heaung system . By grates that circulate air around the des1gn. the fireplace loses most bummg wood and then blow the heat out of Its heat and some of your mto the room are available. A more home· s heat - up the chimney as effic1ent. albeH more expenstve. opuon s It bums. Large amounts of a1r to m tall a fi replace 111 ert. The fireplace are reqUired to prov1de complete msert is bas1cally a wood-bummg stoH combustion and the fireplace draws th1s designed to fit mto a standard masonf} air, which i usually wann room air. up fireplace. Fireplace in erts can reach effl the chimney along with the hi-products c1encies of more than 50 percent, wh1le of combusuon. Older model often retammg some of the fireplace charm. draw m even more cold atr through If you're planmng a new home. be cracks to replace the warm room a1r selecll\e \\lth the fireplace. A k form they end up the ch1mney. And when effictency ratmg. The mo t Important there 1 n 't a fire gomg. wann room a1r consideration 1 elecung a fireplace that ts still gomg up the ch1mney. 24 hours allows for outside combustion air. Ne\\ d a day. home , if built right, are quite tight and Do we have to give up our fire the fireplace is not likely to function places? Not necessanly. There are properly without an adequate supply ot several thmgs that can be done to combu tion air. 1m prove your fireplace· effictency. To pro' tde any amount of heat for Fir t, make sure the damper fits ughtly your home. the fireplace should have an \\hen n's closed. Always keep the a1r Circulation ystem. Th1s usually damper closed when there isn't a fire mean the fireplace ha a second steel going. An effecuve way to stop a1r shell that allows for a1r to c1rculate from going up your chimney when the around the firebox where a fan can then fireplace is not m use is to install a top blow the heat out 1nto the room. sealing damper that can be opened and If you're look.mg for a sy tern to heat closed by pullmg a cable that run the entire house. there are some fireplace down the ch1mney. A maJor dra\\ back that can be set up to operate hk.e a central to the top '>ealmg damper 1s that 1t heatmg ystem, "1th ducts extendmg could freeze down when the fireplace IS from the fireplace to other parts of the needed most. hou e. These ystems can provide a larg~ They're The next step is to install tight portion of a home's heatmg req uirement~. sealing glass doors over the front of the Finally, when building a new house fireplace. The doors should be kept make the hou e as energy efficient as closed at all umes mcluding when the possible and then siLe the fireplace o th~t Not It fire is bummg. Most doors have an doesn't overheat the house. Unle s adjustable mr mlet gnll along the you're really into chopp•ng wood. It tak.e' bottom and top to allow control of the a lot fewer tree to heat an energy Just For amount of a1r that gets to the fire. effictent hou e than a house fu ll of hob To further reduce the amount of Fireplace are aesthetically pleasmg. wann room air the fireplace consumes. They're romantic. And if managed Romantic install an insulated duct to bring in properly. fireplaces can supply a poruon outside combustion air. The duct can of your home's heating requ1rement . often be connected to the ash p1t of an Evenings older masonry fireplace which will Reprint from the loll'a Ener!(y Bullerm. allow the combust1on a1r to come up December 1991. through the ash dump. This takes a Anymore little work, but 11 will keep the fireplace Randy Martin was a program planne1 from sucking your warm room air up with the department's energy hureau. He the chimney. is currently wirh the U .S. Department of by Randy Martin To further increase an older fire- Energy in Denver, Colorado 16 le>\\a C •m«er>aiiOnl\1 • Septembc: Iober 1~1 firep he :heal 110Ie . 0p01 · ftrep 1g SUI 1asonr reach tii!U :harm >me, re kfo; JOIU:: J!ace lr. ~ ght z: CUC" ippl) 1eat f ha1e tall) dSleei late cant~ •m to ftre}' e actl ndir; of~ :de a '\\ ~ ent a.1 ace 1e ;nl~ )d. it lli f) ~of n · pie~ 1ged a port rnent' Built /a,:nt reau rcn:tr.f EER This is a li~ t of deer rach <,cored between October 1991 and July 1992. New en tri e~ into the All-Time Top 10 Rack5 are designated by an a~ t ensk (*). See page 46 for the All-Time Top 10 Racks. Todd Stanger Da,enpon :\lu,catme 1991 16:?·518 SHOTGUN TYPICAL Paul Sundholm Ohn Cl . , ""r ltJC.),! 18 Ju~..t ((l!;,~ r'\.,! I Hlla"'l • Stpitn\ll' Tom Si!l Tracy Marion 1991 154-4/8 Scon Perry Albia Appanoo'e 1991 173-3/8 Joe Fannon Edgewood Clayton 1989 154-4/8 Gene Moorman Centerville Appanoose 1991 173 Jason Sanden; Houghton Lee 1991 154-4/8 John Probasco Moulton Appanoose 1990 171-7/8 Willard D. Allison Otlumwa Appanoose 1990 154-3/8 Terry Boess Hawkeye Fayene 1991 171-7/8 Paul Rogen; Ollford Madison 1989 154-1/8 Weston Laing Chariton Lucas 1991 171-2/8 Alan Kohlers Washington Henry 1988 153-718 Ronr,ie McHaugh Magnolia Harrison 1987 170-218 Brad Van Baale Monroe Jasper 1977 153-5/11 David J. Schultz Sac City Sac 1988 170-1/8 Paul Rasmussen Rowley Warren 1991 153·2/8 Bill Joines Larabee Cherokee 1991 153-118 Paul Wilson Gilmore City Taylor 1991 152-718 MUZZLELOADER TYPICAL John Chipp o,ceola Clarke 1988 152·7/8 (Minimum Qualifying Score·· 150 points) Rod Shelgren Gilmore City Taylor 1991 152-7/11 Tony Hofbauer Ames Guthrie 1991 152-6/8 COUNTY TOTAL Jim Hikms Denison Harrison 1989 152-5/8 NAME CITY TAKEN YEAR SCORE Jeff Halferty Osceola Wayne 1990 152-4/8 Ron Scadden Osceola Decatur 1991 161-7/8 Dave Drake Bayard Guthne 1991 152·3/8 Doug Murray Mbsouri Valley Harri~on 1991 160-2/8 Steve Howard Lbbon Davis 1982 152-1/8 Richard Beeson Ottumwa Wapello 1991 159-6/8 Robert Livingston Gunenberg Clayton 1990 152 Fred Allen Winterset Madison 1991 153-6/8 Ron Hanus Coralville Howard 1991 151-718 Gary Bowen Cedar Rapids Johnson 1988 152-1/8 William J. ClurJ.. Davenport Appanoose 1991 151-6/8 Kevin Marks Tama Adams 1992 151-4/8 Logan Van Klootwyk Knoxville Marion 1991 151-6/8 Steve Smith Urbandale 1989 151-4/8 Roger Campbell Victor Iowa 1990 151-6/8 Dalla.' Dave House West Union Fayette 1991 150·6/8 Don Jarrard Charles City Floyd 1990 151-4/8 Butch Caytor Chariton Lucas 1992 150-3/8 Troy Scogland Bettendorf Muscatine 1990 151-4/8 Matt Edwards Pella Marion 1991 151-3/8 I~: . Mike Schmitz Greeley Clayton 1991 151-1/8 I•' Roben Clinton Guttenburg Clayton 1991 151 MUZZLELOADER NONTYPICAL 10: Merle Pope Newton Monroe 1989 151 (Minimum Qualifying Score •• 170 points) Jamie Schmidt E~se" Montgomery 1991 151 Michael Brenden Whiting Monona 1991 150-718 COUNTY TOTAL • James C. Ronan Lone Tree Louisa 1991 150· 7/8 NAME CITY TAKEN YEAR SCORE Tom Birkenstock Burlington Des Moines 1991 150·718 •Dean Beyer Osage Mitchell 1991 200-5/8 Jeff Conger Agency Monroe 1991 150-6/11 •steve Mundell Ottumwa Monroe 1991 196 Jaime Shelton Cedar Rapids Johnson 1990 150·6/8 • James P. Parker Clarinda Taylor 1991 182-1/8 • Rob Ridnour Glenwood Mills 1991 150-5/8 Roger Clark Panora Guthrie 175 ~~: Steve Meyer West Union Fayette 1985 150-5/8 Kirk Mabeus Sioux City Monona 1991 174-3/8 1<1 Daniel Wenger Wayland Washington 1991 150-5/8 If Andy Zinger Blue Gr.tss Muscatine 1989 150-S/8 If Kenneth Marshall Cincinnati Appanoose 1991 150-4/8 BOW TYPICAL II' Mark Fite Des Moine~ Guthrie 1990 150-3/8 !Minimum Qualifying Score-· 135 points) It- Jeff Telleen Monroe Lucas 1989 150·3/8 II Bob Go lick Exline Appanoose 1990 150·2/8 COUNTY TOTAL It,; James D. Allen Winterset Madison 1981 150-2/8 NAME CITY TAKEN YEAR SCORE \ Gary Hanchett Deep River Keokuk 1986 150-2/8 *John Kite Farmington Lee 1990 182·6/8 Jim McKenna Salix Woodbury 1981 150-1/8 "' • Jeff L. Weigert New London Henry 1991 180-4/8 Dan Johmon Independence Buchanan 1990 150-1/8 Jeffrey A. Getz Peoria Davi\ 1991 176·4/8 Charles Wilson Curli,Je Warren 1976 150 Dean Chandler Chariton Luca~ 1991 175-5/8 Jim Morgan Ottum\\a Wapello 1991 150 Ed Willroth Vail Crawford 1991 173-6/8 " Ted Smith Oskaloosa Mahaska 1991 173-1/8 tl Terry Travi\ Thurman Fremont 1991 172 ' SHOTGUNNONTYnCAL Chuck Harris Mason City Cerro Gordo 1991 170-4/8 If ,.. !Minimum Qualifying Score·· 170 points) Clarence Mincks Cresco Howard 1991 170-3/8 .,. Julian Toney Lamoni Decatur 1982 170-3/8 . COUNTY TOTAL Steve Kesl Elberon Tam a 1990 <" 168-5/8 ,. NAME CITY TAKEN YEAR SCORE Chad Rucker New Market Taylor 1991 IM-3/8 Dav1d Freihage Logan Monona 1991 224-1/8 Tom Go"man Cresco Winne~hiek 1990 167-4/8 ... Larry Walker Ma,on City Cerro Gordo ;\' 1991 218-4/8 Joe Dowell Des Moines Guthrie 1991 164-2/11 Dean Grimm Van Wert Decatur 1988 214-6/8 Ron Bryan Richland wa,hington 1991 164-1/8 \t J1m Spelman Cedar Rapids Harrison 1991 209·5/8 Trenton Woods Pulaski Van Buren 1991 163-6/8 1>' Mitch Ho,ler Des Moines Lucas 1991 208 Dennis Sicverding Bellevue Jackson 1991 163-2/8 I~ William f. Bimeamun Chariton Lucas 1991 205·6/8 Gary Cobb Osceola Clarke 1988 163 ll' Rick L.cw1s Murray Union 1991 198-7/8 Wally Boekhout Spirit Lake Dickinson 1977 163 lSI:' Arlo Ketehcn Clinton Clinton 1985 196-7/8 Steve Brown Centerville Appanoose 1991 162-7/8 w Ja,on Storm Ch.:~riton Luca.5 1991 189-4/8 Greg Summers Lehigh Webster 1991 162-6/8 Mike Miller Sioux City Monona 1991 187 Jerry Daniels Moulton Appanoose 1991 161-5/8 ,'""... David Goodman Malvern Milb 1991 185-718 Dwight T. Robuck Knoxville Marion 1991 161 ~~ Carl Perkins Lamoni Wayne 1991 183-3/8 James Asher Pulaski Van Buren 1991 160-6/8 ~~ Roben Zcnk Dennison Crawford 1990 183·218 Warren Woods Waterloo Allamakee 1991 160-5/8 '~' Joseph M. Ruby Mt. Pleasant Henry 1991 183-1/8 Ed Abbott Centerville Appanoose 1991 160·4/8 I' Chad Hendrick,on Hornick Woodbury 1991 181-4/8 Jim Parks Spencer Clay 1990 160-3/8 li Dale Prottsman New London Henry 1970 181-318 Wayne M, Lau Colesburg Clayton 1989 160-1/8 II:. Don Stohr Hazelton Fayette 1987 180 Ken Blezek Glenwood Mills 1991 160·1/8 15' Steve DeBruan Praine City 1990 178-7/8 Rebecca Gwaltney Blakesburg Wapello 1991 159-7/8 IIi Stanley Wood Waterloo Blackhawk 1990 177-318 Kirk Christopher Decorah Winneshiek 1991 158-5!8 II' Steve Hemmingstad Sioux City Monona 1991 177-2/8 Tom Laudon Council Bluffs Pottawattamie 158-3/8 ·II Larry Hillson Brighton Jeffer;on 1991 177-1/8 Virgil Marlette Waverly Bremer 1991 158 u. Thomas Pins New Vienna Allamakee 199! 176 Chris Davie' Brighton Washington 1991 157-5/8 u. John D. Her;hberger Kalona Van Buren 1991 175·5/8 Larry James West Council Bluffs Pottawattamie !991 157-3/8 I ~- Lee Allen Troester Garnavillo Clayton 1974 175-2/8 Jamie Hawk Donnell5on Lee 1991 156·3/8 1\1-' Mark Kinneer Burlington Des Moines 1991 173-5/8 Owen Sandbuhe Rock Valley SIOUX 1991 156·3/8 15!' Scplcm(M,r/Oclo(M,r 1992 • to" a Con-.ervuuoni'1 19 Cash N. Howe Kingsley Plymouth 1974 146-218 Scon Geno Amana Iowa 1991 145-7/!! Ca~h N Ho~e Kmgl~e:r Plymouth 1991 145-618 Phil Imboden Earlham Dallas 1990 145-618 Brian Burke Waukon Allamakee 1991 145-318 Charhe Feller P Du Chten, WI Clayton 1981 145-218 Gene Miller Onumwa Wappcllo 1991 144-5/8 Mark E. Raney Car.on Ponawauamte 1991 144-418 Julian Toney Lamoni Decatur 1987 144-3/8 Ron Peter..en Tipton Cedar 1991 144-118 Ttm Macal Denver Allamakec 1990 144-1/8 Scott Creger Winterset Maddt\On 1991 143-4/8 Thomas Dvorak Cedar Rapid\ Iowa 1991 143-2/8 Lanny Caliguiri Des Moines Warren 1985 143-2/8 Robert Klein Duncombe Web~ter 1990 143-1/8 Duane R. Miller Onawa Monona 1991 143 Jeff Sindt Davenport Louba 1991 142-5/8 Jeff Moorhouse Sahx Woodbury 1989 142-4/8 Elmer Cooper Maple10n Monroe 1991 142-3/8 B iII Melchert Monucello Jones 1991 141-518 Kevm Kudart Monte7uma Powe~h•cl.. 1991 141-218 Jeffrey J. Tobm Worthington Delaware 1991 141-2/l\ Myron K. Phelps Elkader Clayton 1987 141-2/8 Cod} Hawkins Cedar Raptd~ Allamakee 1991 141-1/8 Ed Ulicki Leh1gh Webster 1991 141 John Hambleton Guthrie Center Guthrie 1990 141 George A. Pani~ Audubon Guthrie 1991 141 Greg Schmitz Burlington De~ Moine' 1991 140-4/8 Jo,eph R. Ander..on 'lor-.- all.. Warren 1991 140-218 Chn' Pendroy Monroe Marion 1991 140-1/11 Greg Hacker T1ffin Johmon 1991 139-4/8 Ru'' Osbahr Council Bluff~ M•lb 1991 139-2/lS Dan Nebon Ada1r Adair 1986 139-1/8 Dan Damjanovic Waterloo Floyd 1991 139-1/8 Robert Klein Duncombe Web,tcr 1988 139 :I: Randy Schavo Fonda Calhoun 1991 139 < .,... Billy Custer Soldier Monona 199 1 138-6/8 1992 138-5/8 ~ Dave Rodman Sioux City Woodbury 0:: Duane R. Miller Onawa Monona 1988 138-3/8 Bruce Elrod Ankeny Luca~ 1991 138-1/8 Brent Graber Kalona Washington 1991 137-718 Des Momcs 1991 I 'i4 6/8 Damel W. Wegener Ne" London John Hambleton Guthrie Center Guthne 1974 137-318 Cre,ton Warren 1991 I S4-4/8 Mark Sedlmayr Kent McMillen Urbandale Madi~on 1991 137-2/8 Davi~ 1970 154-4/8 Ronald L. Simmon' Ottumwa Jason J. Dannenberg Siou' C1ry Plymouth 1991 137 Logan Ham>on 1991 I 54 118 Gerald D. Diekman Jerry Purvb Monroe Monroe 1991 137 Winter,et Madi5on 1991 153-5/8 Fred Allen Paul Bazyn Ell..ader Clayton 1989 136-7/!! Dubuque 1991 I 53-418 Scott Scale' Dubuque M1ke Ford Hasting' M•ll\ 1991 136-3/8 \1u\caunc Van Buren 19Cll I 51-3/8 Craig Cri't T•m Michehl F1. Dodge Webster 1991 136-3/8- Deep R1ver lo"'a 1986 153 Ray Carter D1ck Dey West De~ Mome., Warren 1991 136-2.18 De~ Momc' 1991 15:!-7/8 Barry 0. Collett Sr. Burlington Man Koemgham W11liam\burg Iowa 1983 136-ll8 Plymouth 1991 152-7/8 Tom L•lly Sioux City M1kc Strader Durango Dubuque 1991 136-1!!! Dubuque 1989 152-4/8 Randy !'.hiler Dubuque Riel.. E. Bauer Bancroft Kos..,uth 1991 136-1 '8 Jacl..,on 1991 152 3/8 Leonard Ditch Maquoketa Aaron Lmcoln Dubuque Jack\on 1991 136-1/8 Wmne..,hu:l.. 1991 152-2/8 Ron HolthJus 0..-ian George A. Pani' Audubon Guthrie 1990 136 Winne,hicl.. 1991 152 2/8 David G. Baumh:r Calmar D;lVld Falke Winterset Madl\on 1991 135-4/8 Davi' 1991 152 Anthony Cantrell Dral..csv1lle Dave House West Union Clermont 1991 135-3/8 Fremont 1991 152 Dougla' Ph1llip~ Riverton Randy Frazier Dunlap Monona 1991 135 Lee 1991 151-5/8 Larry Galhart Dubuque Jim Baker Des Moines Warren 1991 135 rim Vonder... itt Calmar Winnesh1ck 1991 151-2/8 Joe M.tyhcw Eddyville Wapello 1991 150-6/8 1991 150-6/8 Dave D1cl 20 luw"' t.t'n"~'t'\ atti'IH t 0 ~ q ;:r:b..:r I ) q(J ~ \ f you were given three similar sized circles cut out of colored Are Turkeys paper, one labeled wild turkeys, one landowners, and one hunters, and Gobbling Up were asked to fit them together to "model" the interrelationship be Landowners~ tween these three groups, how would you place them in logical order? Does it seem obvious that the turkey and Profits? landowner circles would overlap Article by almost 100 percent, while the hunter Steve Gabrey, Paul Vohs and DeWaine Jackson circle would be stuck on one side Photos by Roger A. Hill Scptember/O..tober I'I'll • ,.,.... c""'"""ll b:.l\• t.Jm hfe ac landowners Ho the see( ha} \\OJ pot! e\t funf Fed Se~ and DN darr wild turkeys loo fro ... thr Because only a small percentage of wildlife habitat is in actL public ownership, turkeys rely on private landowners for \ their necessities. Resource-conscious individuals \() understand the importance these landowners have played FA in the reintroduction and spread of the wild turkey in Iowa. hunters ar) tek cou with a 10 to 15 percent overlap? Wild depredation in Iowa, and in other mid Iowa's woodland . bee turkeys sometimes spend their entire western states. Unfortunately, many of Look at some of the obviou tur~ life on private landowners' property the complaints come several months benefit from havmg wild turkey are) and occasionally landowners are hosts after the actual damage ha occurred. living freely again in our tate. Turkey 337 to turkey hunters. Resource-conscious so the extent cannot be accurately as hunters m Iowa spend more than $3.5 individuals understand the special sessed, nor can the guilt or innocence million annually on their sport. This re~~ opportunity provided by landowners of the turkeys be proven. includes license fees, guns, gas, thet regarding the reintroduction and spread Because 98 percent of Iowa is lodging, food and more. Consequent!)'. the1 of wild turkeys, and are grateful for privately owned, turkeys (and the rest many local merchants benefit, as does cro1 thetr graciou~ acceptance. of Iowa's wildlife) are dependent upon the state in general, through taxes on tioq Not so well-known by most of us, these landowners for the vast maJonty these products and servtces. Thts does sun however, is the perception of many of their habitat. I f wildlife interests not include money spent by non-con da~ Iowa farmers that wild turkey~ are wtsh to mamtain high wild turkey sumptive users, uch a btrdwatchers. and responsible for signtficant crop loss densities on these pnvate lands, they AI o, turkeys trapped in Iowa have fai'IJ each year. According to Iowa Depart must be aware of the concerns of the been traded to other states in exchange agd ment of Natura1 Re ources' btologist~. landowner . The e concerns could. at for wildltfe specte that have disap the1 there have been an mcreasing number the least, mfluence future management peared from Iowa. In past years, l o~a of informal complaints of turkey crop decisions regarding wild turkeys in has received ruffed grouse, sharptailed 22 Iowa Conservaucmat • September/October 1992 grouse, prame chtckens and nver five percent reported losses of more to light. Newly planted com and oat otter . as well as near!) S2 million to than $500. A stmllar survey m south fields were observed from blinds m the bu} public turke) habttat (and m western Wisconsin found that half of springs 1989 and 1990. Researchers tum. habttat for other forest wtld the respondents reported no losses to v. ere able to observe the wildlife life). turkeys, whtle three percent suffered species that used the fields and what On the negattve ~ide. turkeys are esttmated crop losses greater than each species did to the crops. Turkeys accused of a vanery of crop damage. $500. were seen in the fields, as well as Holes m newly planted fields (where All respondents in Iowa were white-tailed deer and gray squirrels. the seed used to be), dug-up seeds/ asked how they felt about the current Researchers were able to determine seedlings, flartened paths in oat and numbers of turkeys -- 32 percent said that gray squirrels were responsible for hay fields, and ears of corn on the there were too many, 62 percent said many small holes and uprooted plants, ground or on the stalk but missing there was about the right number, and while deer browsed on the tops of kernels. have been reported as the six percent said there were not enough. seedlings. More than 95 percent of the wor!, of hungry turkey~. However, Results of mall surveys in both seedlings damaged by deer survived. most of the evtdence against turkeys Iowa and Wisconsm suggest that Turkeys, which were present in the is ctrcumstanual -- based on the although many fanners percetve fie lds for as long as an hour at a time, appearance of track'~. or turkeys turkeys as a threat to crops and have were never seen to damage any plant . themselves. m the fields. suffered losses. severe economtc loss to The crop seedlings held little mterest Sull. DNR b10logtsts felt the an mdtvtdual fanner ts rare. for the turkeys. Instead, the) were potential for senous problems FIELD STUDY most likel} earching for in ect . existed. Wtth the support and The field studtes m northeastern Wild tur!,eys are also accu ed of fundmg of the Nauonal Wild Turkey Iowa brought some surpmmg evtdence knocking down, or ''tunneling," Federation, the ISU Extension mature oat and hay Servtce, the Iowa Cooperative Fish fields. However, wind, and Wildlife Research Unit, and the rain and runoff may be DNR, a two-year study of turkey the culprits in many damage began in 1989. This study cases. In fact, turkeys looked at the problem in two ways: may be an advantage in from the landowners' perspective some crop fields. A through a questionnaire, and from study in southwestern actual crop loss estimates. Wi consin found that A SURVEY OF dige rive tracts of fi ve NORTHEASTERN IOWA to eight-week-old poults FARMERS collected in oat and hay j A surve} v. as mailed in Febru a. fields contained 87 aJ) 1990 to 475 fanners m Wmnesh percent ammal matter tek, Fa)ette, Cia) ton and Allamakee (mostly grasshoppers), counties. This area was chosen and very mall amounts because of the htgh density of wild of vegetati ve material. turkeys m a mtxed agnculture/forest Adult hen turkey area. Responses were recetved from digestive tracts con 337 landowners. tained higher amounts of prke) More than 80 percent of the 337 oats and fewer insects, )3.5 respondents reported turkeys on but the potential benefits 'his their land. Of those with turkeys on of turkeys as insect their land, 65 percent reported some eaters are clear. Jentl). crop loss to turkeys. Corn was men Turkey damage to does tioned by 88 percent of those who mature corn in the fall on suffered damage. Oats and hay doe~ damage were listed by 42 percent ·on·• and 24 percent, respectively. Some 1ers fanners reported that turkeys dam ~ e • aged more than one crop type on Turkeys seem to be receiving the blame for oallge thetr property. crop damage caused by tp- Fift)-tv.o percent of the 337 less-visible wildlife fOIIl respondents reported no dollar losses such as squirrels and tailed due to wild turkey damage. Onl) deer. .... Although turkeys do eat grain, nearly all they eat is already on the ground. The amount of standing crops they damage is small when compared to that lost to inefficient machinery. also appears minimal In northeastern weathered. indicating it was waste grain While wild turkeys in Iowa are Iowa, research showed that turkeys found on the ground. Earlier stud1 e~ m apparently not the '·bad guy .. the) may have been re~ponsib l e for Iowa and Wisconsin showed that are reported to be, we want to offer damaging up to an average of one turkeys may select other habitat types assistance to landowners involved in percent of all ear~ 0\er the t'AO-)ear O\ er com fields. and prefer waste com an apparent turkey depredation. period. Th1s figure represent~ only the over standing when both are available. Contact your local DNR conservation number of ears damaged, not the It is easy to see how turkeys have officer, wi ldlife management biologist amount of damage to each ear. The developed the1r bad reputation. Tur or request Iowa State Univer ity Ex entire ear 1s seldom damaged, and as keys are large. travel in fl ocks. and are tension Serv1ce publication Pm- 1302f. much a~ two-thirds of the onginal active during the day. A farmer Managing Iowa Wildlife: Wild Tur kernels may still be harve~table. Also, working in his fi elds is likely to ob erve keys. from your county extension turkey damage 1~ not easily d!s turkeys there at <;orne rime of the year. agent This publication provide cemable from other b1rd damage, so However, turkeys seem to be rece1ving information on identi fying wildlife actual turkey damage is likely a the blame for crop damage caused by damage and some sugge tions for re fraction of the one percent. Th1s is less-visible wildlife such as squirrel ducing it much less than the five to e1ght and deer. espec~a ll y in the spring after percent lost to machmery during planting. During the summer, turkeys Steve Gabrey is a graduate student at harvest. may actually help farmers by reduci ng Iowa State University. Crop'> (storage pouches m the insect populauons on crops. In the fall. esoph agu~) of wild turkeys shot by however. turkeys are at least partial I y Paul Vohs is the leader of the loll'a hunters in fall 1989 m southwestern guilty. They do eat com. though nearly Cooperati1•e Fish and Wildlife Re W 1sconsm con tamed a 'A 1de \a net\ of all of It IS grain already on the ground. search Unit at Iowa State Universlfy plant and animal matter. Although- The amount of standing com they com was the single most important damage is small compared to the DeWaine Jackson is a forest wildlife uem. more than 90 percent of the com amount lost by ineffi cient machinery research biologist for the department eaten b) turke) s \\as either dirt) or har\est. m Boone 2. "\ ~...... _ ~lth-arJI.H'.t: or om 1( H () ~(JQ on the number of g!ft subscriptions vou =Q. =h>. 00= Orae t ~~ February I ult ~" ~q --our November/December 1~92 i5sue --a $3 value at no extra charge ~ ... =-a And, we will also send a personalized gift card, from you, to each gift ~ s· rectpient. c: =en n = G1ve the gift that keeps on giving-- all year. But, hurry .. . and duck the ~ c lr ~ ~ h1ghe~ subscription rates going into effect soon! • Additional calendars may be purchased for $3 each.. Holiday Gift Order Form Please mclude payment with order. Additional gift orders may be enclosed on a separale sheet. FIRST GIFT': Name ------ Add~ s ------ City&SWe ~p~ ------ 0 One-Year Subscription ($6) 0New 0 Renewal SECOND GIFT: Name ------ Add~s ------ City & StAte ------Zip Code ------0 One-Year Subscription ($6) 0 New O Renewal 1lflRD GIFT': Name ------ Add~ s ______ City & Stale ------Zip Code------0 One-Year Subscription ($6) 0 New 0 Renewal FOURTII GIFT: .... Name ______Although turkeys do eat grain, nearly all they eat is Address ------already on the ground. The amount of standing crops City & Stale ------Ztp Code ------they damage is small when 0 One-Year Subscription ($6) 0 New 0 Renewal compared to that lost to inefficient machinery. GlFTFROM: Please be sure to fill in tlus portion. also appears minimal In northeastern we at ' Iowa, research showed that turk.e) s foun My Name may have been responsible for Iowa My Address damaging up to an average of one turkE percent of all ears over the two-year over City & State ------~pCode ------period. Thts fig ure represent~ only the over My Telephone Nwnber ------ number of ears damaged, not the Enter my own subscription to the Iowa Conservat1ontst. amount of damage to each ear. The deve (If possible, please mclude your matling label.) entire ear t ~ seldom damaged, and as keys much as two-thirds of the original activ 0 One-Year Subscription ($6) 0 New 0 Renewal kernels may still be harvestable. Al so. wor~ O Please send me 1993 Iowa ConservaiiOmst Calendar(s) at $3 each. (November/December 1992 issue) turkey damage is not easily dt ~ turk ~ cemable from other btrd damage. so How Please make checks payable to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. actual turkey damage is likely a the t Please alJow e1ght weeks for subscriptions to begm and to receive calendars. fraction of the one percent. Thts is les - Quanuues are limited Offer exp1res December 31 , 1992. much less than the ftve to etght and deer. espectall y in the spring after percent lost to machtnery dunng plan ting. During the summer, turkeys Steve Gabrey is a graduate studelll at harvest. may actually help farmers by reducing Iowa State University. Crops (storage pouches tn the insect populattons on crops In the fall. esophagus) of wild turkeys shot by however. turkeys are at least parttally Paul Vohs is the leader of the Iowa hunters in fall 1989 tn southwestern guilty. They do eat com. though nearly Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Re Wt sconsm contained a v.. ide \ianetv of all of tt JS grain already on the ground. search Unit at Iowa State Unil·erslfv plant and ammal matter. Although- The amount of tanding com they com was the single most im portant damage is small compared to the DeWaine Jackson is a forest wildlife Hem. more than 90 percent of the com amount lost by tnefficient machinery research biologist f or the department eaten b) turke)s v.as etther dtrt) or han est. 111 Boone 24 l o"'~ Consen 1110n"l • \ept - - - at ( rJ he early history of the Missouri basin was one Jf t N GA VINS POIHT NAVIGATION • For nearly 150 years, the Mi souri River has been a prominent, commerc ial highway. In the early years, passengers, furs and bare-bone essential suppltes were the cargo. The early ve els faced a treacherous and changing channel. Flooding and drought ruled the use of the n ver. Today, commercial cargo carried on MISSOURI RIVER BASIN the river is typically about two million tons Missouri River Basin A or more. About 30 percent is fann prod ~--- The ucts -- fertilizer and other mputs upstream Missouri River in V and grain going downstream. Another 45 to 50 percent is chemicals and petroleum products. A minimum depth of nine feet in the channel is generally maintained by hether you vie\\ the M1ssouri as the "Big Muddy. as an mac well-timed releases from upstream reser engineered drainage d1tch. or m some other fash1on, It 1~ nat, voirs. ltkely that your \ 1s1on 1s resrncted to your spec1hc inter Fr Since nearly the tum of the century, the Corps of Engineers has been at work to ests in the river and the parts of It }OU ha\e seen But the an tailor the Missouri to the needs of commer very scope of the Missouri. winding more than 2. 3 15 miles from its source m cial navigation, confining and deepening the v. estern reaches of \llontana. to Its JUnctiOn with the \lflssiSStpp1 m St qu the channel. The Corps' efforts furthered development and economic expansion and Louis. makes most of our v1ews short s1ghted. Draming one s1xth of the land agJ1 was supported by Congress. area of the lower 48 states, and a portion of Canada. the uses of the nver are col Those who oppose navigation on the as varied. and at times conflicting. as the nver Jt'ielf. from source to mouth. Missouri note that it has not lived up to lo~j Corps predictions. The swift current and The Missoun's colorful history g1ves us a better vantage to view the full fall narrow channel limit navigators to small picture of whar the m ·er IS today. Better ms1ght can be gained b) a more tows of three to six barges above Kansas detailed look at the pnmary uses of the nver and how the U.S. Arm) Corps of tart City and require substantial power to make Engineers manage'> the river '>ystem it upstream, as we ll as retain control going Pll~ downstream. There are no locks and gently ~ev flowing lakes, such as the dozen along the 1 HISTORY • When Lew1s and Clark returned in 1806 from thetr explora Mississippi on Iowa's eastern border. 186· Those supporting navigation on the tion of much of the \11ssoun R1ver basm the value of the temtor)' first became Missouri nc:e that the pnce of rail trans- apparent. The) noted the abundance of fur-bearing animals. and the ready- erne 26 Iowa Con~"'auom>l • September/October 1992 ~...... ~...... '\·"·~ ' . ··. ~~~:.;·· /f . . .. . ': . ~ ~ . • - . a .··:·• ·~ ..- ._ ..- ..__"'·I • - "• • . ~~-~~-~- :...-.~ ...... - " on ,f exploration and exploitation. portation is kept at a reduced level, due to 1890 1976 competition with river traffic. There is a llowr Clly major capitol investment by companies along the river to operate tenninals such as the Big Soo in Sioux City. Studies by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and elsewhere show a clear price advan IOWA tage for fanners along the river due to rate competition. During the current drought in the basin, navigation has suffered substantial losses, with a reduction of 42 percent as NEBRASKA noted in a federal srudy. The Corps has IOWA shortened the season for full-service navi N gation by up to five weeks, primarily in NEBRASKA the fall. Minimum flows have also been 1 reduced by 6,000 cubic feet per second, Woocflury Co. requiring barges to carry lighter loads. Mono111 Co When downstream flows are reduced, navigation on the Mississippi River is also ... impacted. During the later parts of the The above illustrations show the dramatic change in the Missouri River summer, the Missouri may contribute up in Woodbury County from 1890 to 1976. to 60 percent to the flow of the. Missis sippi River at St. Louis. Shipping on the Mississippi can be crippled if the Missouri made transportation network the nver provided to help d1stnbute the furs to the flow is reduced. Because shipments along as 3.! nation and the world. In the decades before the1r trek. England. Spam and Iowa on the Mississippi were 42 million D, ll ' France were all in competition with the United States for control of the terrltor} and the identification of trade routes. Keelboats were the first heavy-duty boats to pl} the river Fur traders were ltCe qUick to follow Lewis and Clark up river to establish temtone!, and trade in St agreements with native trappers. St. Louis or St. Charles. \lllssoun. were te land common starting points. It was tough work that requ1red hearty souls to push ·er are loads of I 0 tons of cargo by long pole agamst a relentless current. Sand bars, 10UII\. fallen trees and ho..,ttle encounters were regular fare. he full The early history of the Missouri basin was one of exploration and exploi amore tation. The rush to extract Rocky Mountain gold resulted in steamboat traffic orp' of pushmg as far north as Ft. Benton. Montana. During htgh water. as many as seven small stemwheelers a day reached the docks at tht'> bustlmg port in the ... Barge traffic is very dependent on 1860s adequate tlows in the Missouri River. During drought, when flows are kept to As commercial traffic on the Mtssouri evolved. in about 1819. steamboats a minimum, barge traffic and loads are entered the ~vltssouri but could not travel far up the mer because of treacher- greatly reduced. ' . • ...... " . ~. ' ~ . ~ . -· . ,...... - .. '"T"-: .-•.•. ~ . ' ... ,.,. ' '• . ~, • . . . - . . -~ ~ . t(tol' · l": __.,..,., • • • ' ~ • - ~' • ..: •• • • • - • • • • " ~4 • • :· • ~ • .: •• • : !- .•. : ~ ;.. • ---- i - • ~ • •• . • • . J(.. • ... • ~I' ...... - -~ j._... ~Jt··· "--~--~ September/October 1992 • Iowa Come,..,altonost 27 arly work improved conditions for transportation Nith me~ other t~e I pi}J arne ~ t o n ~ m 1991, the economic 1m pact on Iowa is substantial. rep!~ and POWER PR ODUCTION • Just a J..:n people can't li ve for long without water, a becru thriving indu stnal/technological-based society has a continual need fo r power. The Mis ouri River IS the key to much of the mlgr, power that Iowan use. Hydropower COITII production was an important element in the \h~ S' design of the system of reservoirs. Every drop of water fl owing into the upper end of .. !Je,ic the river serves to generate power every Steamboats combined with the Missouri River to open the West. On hand time 1t moves from a reservOir to the next were ample supplies of resources to fuel development, and western Iowa ri ver reach. While it is more than an became the doorway to it al l. incidental result, the amount of power produced is a function of the releases to ou~ curves. sand bars and shallow channels The adventurous might get as far path, serve other uses. as present-da} Council Bluffs \nearly tra\ eler descnbed the river a., a spiral At times, such as a hot day in summer, staircase, wmding Its way down from the mountams m Fort Benton Montana. l'ligh peak power demands may result in higher 3,300 feet above sea level, to the mouth at St Louis at 400 feet ele\ at1on. the,e relea es to serve peaking demands of hydropower cu to mers. Hydropower is very In the 1860s... mall stem \\heelers. called moun tam boats. which operated lbe effective for this purpose because it can be With three-foot draft or less. were able to navigate the upper nver. During their 115 c turned on very quickly. This allows other peak operation in the 1850s and 60s. the mountam boat busmess was htghly those plants such as the nuclear plants down compellllve. Stoux Cit}' became a prommcnt stoppmg pomt b} the 1850s. The stream to maintain a constant level of pro fnen duction. event-of-the-year was the arnval of the '>Cason's fir.,t steamboat. because it ~Wast Distribution of the power by the heralded the connecuon of the tcmtory w1th the rest of the world after month" Western Area Power Administration of cold and isolation WJth names hke Spread Eagle. Em1hc ExpansiOn. Hon and (WAPA) requires contractual commitments. duras. Peona Ctt}. Omaha and the Amazon. the boats reflected the colorful lh)l In times of drought, the commitments can't li be met with hydropower, and power must be nature of the era. II or purchased to make up the difference. T he steamboat caused one of the first large-scale changes to the landscape In ten Purchased power is expensive and hydro along the river Even the smallest boats consumed 20 to 40 cords of v. ood a \\ rldl power IS cheap. Lower fl ows translate mto day and needed to stop twice dmly to take on fuel. As traffic mcreased. lots less generation, so drought cuts power. fede[ Lower water levels behi nd the dams al o with I 0,000 cords of wood or more for sale might be seen. The tree harvest 19~c reduce power produced. Currently annual created bare land to develop m the expat.dmg towns along the nver. ~hss . . ' i--. g ' • ~ tion 'vithout significantly reworking the nature of the river. The penod around 1859 marked the beginning of rail service crossing the hydropower generation is only about 70 river. For several years, nver commerce and the railroad complemented each percent of what is was before the onset of the drought. other, but competition for the almighty dollar soon forced changes. In 1890, There is a lot of power produced along the last steamboat left Ft. Benton marking the end of the steamboat's role in sup the open river as well. Both fossil fuel and plymg the new terntory. Diesel power replaced steam, and the vessels evolved nuclear power generators are located on the eventually to today's barge tows, carrying bulk commod1t1es of mdustry and river and rely on the water for cooling. ln total, Iowa power companies rely on cooling agnculture. water from the Missouri Ri ver to generate As the terntory matured in the late 1800s, the wheeler-dealers were about 2,700 megawatts or about 38 percent replaced by leg10ns of settlers ~ ho "1ewed the tern tory as a vast reservOir of of the state's generating capacity As is dis land for livestock. and crop production. On hand were ample supplies of cussed elsewhere in this article. the ability to generate this power is a function of water. lumber. coal and other natural resources to fuel de\elopment, and western Iowa Winter interruptions for lack of flow or ice became the doorway to it all. jams can force shutdowns. Summer heating The growth in commerce due to settlement and support for western can reduce condensor efficiency and the migration pro" 1ded the need for supplies and stagmg areas to base for river thermal discharge can stress fi sh trying to survive in an already hostile environment. commumtles. Before the nver was tamed by the marvels of cngmeenng, the Disruption of power for lack of water Missouri occup1ed a broad flood plain that remains today as the wide, flat land can be critical to Iowa. In either winter or beside the channel. Dunng low flows in these early years, the water course was summer, these events could occur when there is a peak demand for energy. Whi le 1and a series of bra1ded smews. merging and splitting between sandbars and islands. Iowa hydropower can rise to meet peak demand In the spnng, the meltmg snowpack on the eastern side of the Rockies surged quickly, its overall capability is diminished downstream to scour the channel and devastate everythmg and anyone m its by the period of drought that we have path. experienced. In addition, Iowa power !S far Often. ~hen spring and summer flood water receded, the nver channel companies would find themselve trying to purchase power when it was being bought by might be miles from where 1t ~as before. Early nverboats had to contend with these changes in the channel and artfully pick the path that led safely upstream. The steamboat. Bertrand. encased in mud in 1865 untli 1ts salvage m 1969, with its cargo full} intact. prO\ 1des tesumony to the hazards that dogged the lives of the those who traveled the M1ssoun. As more and more people lost family and ::chh . fnend'> m dramatic floodmg. and as millions of dollars in mvestments were washed away. a powerful need was developing to bring the river under control. use il CongressiOnal action began m 1912 to pay for construction of wing dams onths and other '>tructures to better control the channel for commercial navigation. Hon Th1s early work 1mproved conditions for transportation without completely re Jortul workmg the nature of the river. These changes began to Impact on other river 0 0 interests but the pressure for development far outweighed concern for fis h and ..c Q.. wildlife. \s fmancJal mterests m the river grew, so d1d the mvolvement by the z~ 0 federal go\ ernment. Followmg the drought of the 1930s and the floods of the 1940s. Irrigation and flood control became as important as nav1gauon m the .. The Garrison Dam Powerhouse in North MJ..,soun basin. To address these emergmg nver Issues, two competmg plans Dakota. • "- . • . . •• ,.. • • .....- S!'·· .. • . •. .• • •.• ~-· •..• ~ •. ,· r•·· , ..- .. ., ~~-. ··."'1:'" ~...... ,~~ · "'~ _ ,· .... -.... •. ·"": c-~ ... ··" r.:t " , •.:_: · ~ · . ~· .' .. ·\ . ~, ...... ,~""'~: -:r ·~I( "f . ' ...... •"- ' ., .• . • . • • . If~·· ••• ·"· . . "''·:· . •""!·.. #i: • I·~ ..., •• ·, ..,, ' ' • • ~ ":' • • . . '•'- : .~... ~· . • "' ' • • ,• .•.:' .. •. .. .~.:J · __ . · ,._,_,.+_ . · .· ... t'>L·~·-•·'· . ..c:~.£_._ ... ., . .. . i)a;;)...,,c~ ····"' . · ·-'n. ':IJ ~ -~· September/O.tober 1992 • lo"~ Con'e,..,JIIOnl\1 29 he Pick -Sloan Plan offered a blueprint altering th~ r I I I ---- others as well as W APA to meet their own I : c. shortages -- a situation whtch could lead to power shortage. ..., WATER SUPPLY • Flows tn the "'c Ci," Mt souri erve the needs of many river c w.... communities. Stoux City and Council c 'I' - Bluffs, for example, rely on adequate river e- n v0 -.._ .:- flows to provide the water on whtch their ,.. ..,. ;', E - ' continued prosperity depends. Sioux City < :: : (I') take at least half of its water from shallow ..J wells along the ri ver. It has no direct tntake in the river channel, but it still relies on ... adequate flows. There ts a direct link The drought of the 1930s focused through the water table and groundwater early interest in irrigation from the Missouri. :l 'c recharge. &. 4 c Reduced flows of the Missouri in ....w A .... 0 / fie recent summers have resulted in declining Pick (right) and Sloan were the e- o dl levels of the e wells, requiring higher architects of the Missouri River v pumping costs and a concern for adequate Basin. I f volumes. These costs are estimated to be < $200,000 per year. This drop in well levels, at in addition to hopes for future expansion, caused Sioux City to expend $3.5 million to were de\ t'>ed. both of them counting on the construction of large reservotrS o m construct improvements to their system the Mtssoun. mostly m the Dakotas and Montana. which will allow it to maintain an adequate The Corps of Engmcers. headed b} MaJOr General Lev.t-. A Pick. devel water supply. This also yields an added $50,000 per year treatment cost because of oped the flood control plan. The Bureau of Reclamation, under Wtlliam Glenn reduced water quality. Sloan. took on the tmgatton plan Congress forced the blendmg of the t\\ o Counc il Bluffs constructed a we11 as an approache., with the resultmg Pick-Sloan Plan offering a blueprint that would emergency alternative to its direct intake t.. from the river. The well cost the city about alter the fundamental nature of the nver to 'ief\ e soctet} ., tmmedtate purpose-. $ 100,000, again paid for by the water users. Six large reservoirs \\ere constructed on the mam stem of the nver to control Other ciues on the lower river have had to spnng floodmg and to store thts \\-ater unttl It \\-as needed later tor other uses. spend millions to alter their intake struc tures to handle lower winter fl ows. Three of these resen otrs are the largest Corps of Eng meers projects in the In th.,; sometimes fierce competition nation -- Ft. Peck tn Montana, Garmon tn North Dakota and Oahe. primaril) ,.---~ •" .. -~.-·- ' • ·..-').-)• ' •. ~0 ··-••...• ' .. .,.... .• • • '- ""·-'rl .,';1'f"'···,.., .. • ~---. ..~-.....,-· .....' ""' ~-• , • ~'-~·-, ' ,.. • l " ; ·- • ' • ,.· , :., -. :;..,. t.'.'., . ••• r··--·;: . .. ·."to • ·o~or ··~· , •.,. . ,., -~ ,,..~ J.M<' ·U 1' ".'• .., • 'fr."· • .. . _,. ,~.. .. ~, ... .,:...... ;,.··· ,·""·. , - . ,,. • .: ·:·. , • . ·• ~- • .., .., ·.·-. ~·· ...... · ..,•n .., ....;j:: •• ,. •...,it:: t~) . • "~' '·.,;. ·;: '' • . ; • .. . ' • • r • 1: \ ·' . -~ '• ~,--; • _.,,_ r :.,.~ ; . '<' 1'>•v' """"'' ~~ '""'lf".:J ~ \<".Jo, ,"-{_' ·~'·- ''~ ~ ,' o • • _.,.·,,, -- ,• • • ....__. ·.~~--··...... _~ _'_...,~.._,\,'~a-~~!-;~,--- 30 lo"'J Con~el'\'au on• st • September/0..1ober 1992 • the fundamental nature of the river . between water users, public water supply A• tributary to the Missouri in does not require summer flows that even Sioux City, the Floyd River in approach those for other purposes. In 1892 runs through Sioux City's , winter, however, the Corps does have to u businesses and homes, waiting c control the Missouri River system to assure 0 for the Missouri to go down so it ~ minimum flows for water supply service. In , can, too. ' "" .;. ._o, extremely cold periods, the Corps may c: g have to release 12,000 to 15,000 cubic feet '(j · ~ per second (cfs) to prevent ice from 0 v blocking the flow of water to the supply •=~ u intakes. Releases above 9,000 cfs in the i ~ ) Cil winter take away from stored water that would otherwise have been available to support summer recreation in the upstream • -.. reservoirs, or navigation downstream . ! In addition to municipal water supply, i power production requires water to con ~ , •~ dense steam after it passes through the ) ""c :. 0 • 5 ~ turbines. These plants were built to rely on .> .. about the same minimum flows as cities, . ~~ .' ~ < .J) c" ~ 0 but they need higher flows in summer to ~ ; • '(j ~ ~ deal with water quality problems . z3 u0 Water supplies are affected by another -~ ;: ~ aspect of the channelized river. In a process :: "'~ , II' known as stream bed degradation, the bottom of the river is scoured by the swift ! ,& i c A Missouri River dike broke 10 miles north of Hamburg on April 20, 1952, moving current. As this occurs, the level of -... flooding half the town and making the valley look like the channel of old the stream bed goes down -- six to l 0 feet r during high water. in the Sioux City area, for example. This tl loss of river level, as well as the low flows > •E due to drought, severely hinders water < tn South Dakota. To illustrate the relative si1e of these reservoirs, Ft. Peck has intake systems. The Port Neal power ~ - a total storage capaClt} of 19.6 mllhon acre feet v..tth an annual storage ot 18.7 station had to modify its intake several milhon acre feet. In companson. all four Corps reservoirs in Iowa -- Rathbun, years ago at a cost of millions of dollars. :-. oif\ on Red Rock. Saylorvllle. Coralville-- with 3 2 mllhon acre feet at flood capacity, • have a total storage capacuy of about l 0 percent of Fort Peck WATER QUA LITY • When Marquette . de1e1 first encountered the confluence of the Mis Stored floodwater then became available to serve the needs in the summer rn Glenn souri and Mississippi rivers in June 1673, he and fall for navigation, public water supply and yet another developmg nvcr was amazed by the boiling, muddy torrent of 110 the 1 the Missouri. The Missouri has never been a use -- recreation for the area from S1oux City to St Lou1s. For years. Montana at "ould pristine stream. and the Dakotas focused on benefits from tmgauon. It wasn't unttl very re urpose· Along with its natural trait to be muddy, cent!)' . however. that recreation mterests m the upper ba<>tn. which developed the water quality of the Missouri has also been oconuo l as a result of these large resen 01rs. were clatmed as an tmportant economic greatly influenced by civilization. Cities along ber u·e· 1t became concentrated sources of waste from mterest by these states. 'ts in dl( both residential and commercial activities. It is the tension created by competitive uses of water that yields a legacy Tributaries carrying runoff from agricultural ~rirnanl) Stpltmbtr/O land add their doses of sediment, farm E chemical and livestock wastes. ~ Q. In Iowa, concern for water poll ution c5 began with the pa sage of the 1923 Stream and Lake Pollution Law. This act and others that followed were based on a ------~1 1 view that it was wrong for a river to run red. In the earl y years of Iowa's livestock processing indu try, large amounts of blood and body parts were dtrectly flushed into waters of the state, creating 'Ke 1 fish kills and putrid conditions. But, it tim c: 0 1 was not until 1951 that Iowa included tts ;;; wa ~ als border nvers under laws to protect them ~ from such discharges. c: anc This new law caused Sioux City and I ~ pia E.., Council Bluffs to plan for new water E ..t: treatment works, but they were slow in Q. c5 turning plans into actual projects. Federal c: ' "0 interest began stirring the pot for im ~ proved pollution control on border ri vers, L------~ ~ and so did the state, resulting in the 1965 Iowa Water Pollution Control Act In .. 1972 the federal government increased its Indian Cave Bend in Missouri, top, in 1935 with new wing dams in place. grant program to cities, giving them 75 Bottom, 12 years later, as planned silt has filled in behind the wing dams, percent of the costs for water treatment narrowing the channel. works, and Iowa gave an additional five cor percent. This generous financial assis of controversy and litigatiO n over nghts to use water from the Missouri. tance led to a spirit of cooperation with ~to river cities and elsewhere, leading to a La\\ SUits have become mcreasmgl} common as states. ctttes. ' anous mdus construction boom that lasted through the tnes and others attempt to en') ure thetr best mterests are not compromt sed b) 1980s. me Today, although less government as the action of the federal government or another state. The ex tent to which the b sistance is available, most of the tradi Mts!'.oun's \\aters can be controlled ensures that confltcts among all the tional pollutants like solids and organic interests m the basm are likely to contmue for some time. One thmg seems material that depletes oxygen in the water are treated adequately. Unfortunately, certam· The nver has been changed so dramatically -- much more than the we have be~un to recogntze the harm that people \\ ho rely on tt -- that tt cannot revert to tts fo rmer condHton. 32 Iowa Con,crvallOni SI • Scplember/Cktober 1992 - ~ •r . r - . . J • • ' ~' • • • ' . ! . - ... - . . . -- _.... that lt cannot revert to its former condition. J F M A M J J A s 0 N D traces of metals, pesticides and other syn thetic organic compounds can cause the envi ronment. The Missouri is no exception. Of particular concern might be a condition during low fl ow where runoff from a tributary highly contaminated by non-point sources could impact the fishery. A recent study by Morningside College of bioaccumulation of metals included assessment of water samptes as well as fi sh and other organisms. The results were encouraging in that levels of lead and zinc were lower than samples taken in 1984-85. While levels of other metals were identified AVERAGE POWER GENERATION as potential areas for further assessment, none appear to represent a clear threat to aquatic li fe. Sioux City remains concerned about what A revised standards, such as more restrictive Key features of the Missouri River system's annual operation, show the ammonia limits adopted in recent years, will timing of major flows into upstream reservoirs, and the competition for have on their cost of treatment. water after it has been released. Water released for navigation purposes There are several power plants, both coal also yields water for electrical power generation, water supply, recreation fi red and nuclear, which take water from the and fish and wildlife. Peak electrical demands for heating and cooling river to condense steam and then return the place additional strains on the system. heated water. In the summer, the river water is already warm. The added heat can violate water quality standards if flows are not high enough to assimilate it. The result is fish THE MISSOURI RIVER-- HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS AND WHO stressed by the high temperature and low WORKS IT • A simplistic '-'lew ofho~ the Corps ofEngmeer~ operates the oxygen levels. This problem alone requires flows nearly equal to those for navigation. Missouri R1ver S)Stem 1s that lb six upstream reservo1rs retam flood waters m the spring. to make sustained and controlled releases when the water is needed. place. FISH AND WILDLIFE -- LOSSES ARE 1 In reality, operation of the system is far more complicated. ON THE MEND • It takes just a quick ~dams , Weather. system des1gn and maximiZing benefits through support for glance at the Missouri River through most of competi tive uses for water are factors that govern how the Corps manages the its stretch in Iowa and Missouri to recognize the amazing lack of fish and wildlife re storage and release of the ltfeblood of the basm. ssoun. sources. Biologists view the river as a fast Most of the water that is stored in the upstream reservoirs comes from snow fl owing drainage ditch, devoid of most of indui· melt and spring rains from March through June It 1s during th1s season that the the habitat in the channel and along its ed b) banks that once made the river a fi sh and basin is at tts greatest nsk of flooding. wildlife paradise. 1ch the The rate at which water 1s released from the reservoirs 1s based on several In one of the world's great examples of au the criteria -- the conditions downstream and demands for flows for navigation. engineering and public works construction, ,eerns the Corps of Engineers has basically elimi public dnnkmg water supply. downstream power generation and reservoir an the nated flooding in downstream states, except 1 hydropower. fish and wildli fe. recreatton and other uses. The Corps momtors from tributary flows, and have provided a ~ . - . . ~- . . -~ ,·· ·... ·. .. ;-·-- . -~-::-u • . ... •. . . ' • • ~.~ _. ';1"1...,_;· ··~ .• •: • ••• ;:- ;· ~- -~ ..... ~ ~ ...... •.• - ' . ._ . . . .. J ,._ ""'" . .·· __ .. . . . -~----·-·--. ··•·J•;'- .. _.~:__.·... September/October 1992 • lo"'a Conservaltontsl 33 emands for water govern how the Corps manages the s nav1gatton channel which more dependably upport barge traffic from St. L OUIS to S1oux City. They have done thi w1th large upstream reservoir that hold back the flood waters. and by building hundreds of wmg dams and revetments that force the current into a narrow channel. Horseshoe curves were eliminated by new channels cunmg miles off the river's path. The nine-foot channel was completed in 1980 at a cost of more than $400 million, but the economic cost did not include the loss of much of the fish and wildlife habitat that once was part of the Missouri . Instead --.. of a broad and braided stream flowing gently 4 through a channel with numerous islands, lmagi sandbars and brushpiles, occasionally culling bigp! seco off oxbows that became nurseries for game 1 times fish, waterfowl and furbearers. the M1 - relea1 souri's course is now straight and narrow. requ11 with gentle curves, fast and uncluttered. stora1 While there were many who lauded the as Pl protection from floods and provision of a de millio pendable navigation channel, there were oth ers who fought hard to stop the relentless de •nflo struction of fish and wildlife habitat. stora, Recognition of their work came with passage of the 1958 Fish and Wildlife Act. D This act required that damage to habitat releas caused by major federal projects be compen le\ el. sated for or mitigated by restoration or replacement of the affected areas. Any fed S} sten eral construction project that was less than amou1 60 percent completed at the ttme the act ~ re5e !J became effective would qualify. Fortu ;;;~ ~ Iappe( nately. the M1ssouri River bank stab1hzauon ~ =0 :... and nav1gauon project fit this rule. c '-' 199~ In 1980, the U.S. Fish and W1ldlife ~ ~ 34 lowJ Con,crvJIIe>n"t • September/October 1992 age~ he storage and release of the lifeblood of the basin. Service determined that about l 00,000 acres Missouri River System Storage Zones of aquatic and 374,000 acres of terrestrial habitat had been lost along the river in Storage Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. An In MAF example of the major losses in Iowa are the 73.7 oxbow lakes, such as Snyder, Winnebago, Exclusive Flood Control - 6% Tieville and Louisville bends. An oxbow is 69.0 created when an old portion of the channel Annual Flood Control & Multiple Use - 16% is cut off from the main channel and water 57 4 is trapped there, virtually makmg a lake free of the river current, although it may be con nected to the riv. er at its outlet. Three factors Carryover Multiple Use - 53% have caused these waters to be converted to dry land. First, when the upstream flood waters reach the reservoirs, silt settles out in the quiet waters. When water is released from 18.2 these reservoirs, it begins its rapid flow again, but now it is not carrying silt. As a result, the discharged water has the capacity to pick up new particles as it cascades down 0 the channel and it scours out the bed of the river like a garden hose held on a mud pile . ... With 40 years of reservoir releases, the Imagine all of the water stored in all six reservoirs as existing in just one Missouri bed has been gouged deeper and big pool. The upper storage level is strictly to retain high flood waters. The deeper. It has now degraded six to I 0 feet second level is used to support sustained releases during non-flooding times for navigation, fish and wildlife, and other purposes. Water is not at Sioux City. released from the carryover multiple-use storage unless drought conditions As the river level has dropped. so has require it. The intention is to never release water from the permanent pool the water table in the fl oodplain, and there storage. Release from the permanent pool is limited to critical needs, such fore, the support for oxbow lakes. Snyder as public water supply. The storage capacity above is expressed in Lake has been restored by the diversion of million acre feet. cooling water from the Port Neal power plant at Sioux City, but the other oxbows inflow from tributan es to the Mtssouri, and several times annually check have not been as fortunate. Louisville storage levels to dectde whether they can fully support down~trcam uses. Bend, near Onawa, for example, which was largely open water when it was first cut off During normal or wet years, after the maJor threat of flooding passes. from the main channel has been reduced to releases are made to reduce the reservoir storage to the carryover multtplc use a few acres of open water. level. Usually these re leases meet the needs of the lower river and prepares the Siltation of the oxbows has been another factor in the loss of water area system to recetve the next spring's bount). Carryover multiple-usc storage within the oxbows. Floodwaters slow down amounts to about half of the total storage m the system. Carryover storage is as they spread over the area and deposi t reserved to get the system through penods of drought, so in most )Cars. it is not their sediment load. Foot by foot, the sediment layer rises to choke out remaining tapped W tth the contmued drought from the late 1980s through the early depressions that could hold water as the 1990s. the Corps has been releasing water from within the carryO\ er storage. flood recedes. usually. tf enough water ts released to meet target flows from Sioux Cit) Finally, the drought in the basm September/O.:tober 1992 • lo"'a Con~el'\'aCoon"t 35 n early 1993 an environmental impact statementwilJ requ1res lower relea es. In the degraded channel these releases yield an even lower level. A a result, water drams from wet land and oxbows through porou ands and gravels to the lower channel. In 1986, Congress pas ed the Water Re~ources Development Act that author lied the Corp to spend $51 .9 millton for projects that would restore or replace lost habitat in the four downstream states. In 1993, Louisville Bend will become the rirst site in Iowa where habitat will be restored. A project in Mi ssouri is already underway. Although these projects may A seem mall compared to what was lost, Commercial catfishing harvest is gone ·· they do provide very high qualt ty hab1tat. another victim of the loss of habitat. With Other mitigation projects are planned, time, sport fishing may improve. such as creating new channels to connect cutoffs wtth a new water supply, pumptng on down the river to sene navigation, the flO\\ is adequate to ~erve other dov,:n water to maintain oxbow lake levels and ..,tream need.., a.., \\ell. dredgtng areas to improve over-wintering of fish . Levees and water control struc In \\inter the Corps relea-,e ... JW,t enough water to meet v.:ater ~upply need~ tures can divert river flows that carry high To do ~o rcqu1re~ cloo;e contact \\ tth citie~ and power compante:-.. a close eye 0 sediment loads while allowing areas on the weather. and the right tn'>ttnch for \\hen to increa..,e releases to a\Oid servtng as fi sh nurseries to connect with the nver when water quality i better. icing. If a cold '>pelt comes up. tt could take :-.everal days for added water to Over the next I0 years, more projects reach the ke} spot tn the nver Miscalculation could lead to emergency water IS pr should begin to change the look of several rattontng, loss of power plant capacity and public criticism Hydropower areas along the river in Iowa. Most will ~}~t e generatton ts reduced because of the ltm w1nter releases. but the Corps be on state-owned land. In some cases, tal~ land will have to be purchased, but willing generates added power by movtng water from the upper re..,ervo1rs mto Lake An} sellers will be the only source. Oahe REC REATION • Recreation can be a Recently. endangered specie!-. have become a controlling factor. The least serious business. As it relates to making tern and p1ping plover nest cJo..,e to the water\ edge. Once the nest 1s federal policy on the Missouri Ri ver, the establi!-.hed. it would be \\ashed a\\ pursuits. That translates into millions of dollars in touri sm. The downstream basin states, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri , do not have the large reservoirs. However, the higher popu lations of these states result in river-based recreation interests far exceeding what I would be expected, considering the quality of the resource. From Sioux City to St. Louis many smaller parks, oxbow lakes and wooded areas .can be found that are associ ated with the river, as well as in-channel boating, fi shing and other water sports. In channel recreation opportunities are limited by the rapid current, narrow channel, and the . . lowering of the channel water level from streambed degradation. As referenced earlier, lowering the water level in the channel has also resulted in lower water levels in nearby lakes and wetlands. Boating on the lower river to fi sh or recreate is still big business. Cimmarina Harbor in Sioux City is home for scores of large boats from cabin cruisers to high powered fishing boats. In total, 5,000 boat .. are registered in Woodbury County. Overall Cimmarina Harbor in Sioux City is one of many major investments in the City of Sioux Ciry estimates a $30-45 downstream recreation. million impact from tourism and is in the process of building a nine-mile park along ne.:d' the Missouri Ri ver at a cost of $ 10 m iII ion. Several marinas in the Council Bluffs/ o)e e}e some h1gher relea~e~ 1f the) are needed before the young lca\'e the ne'>t Omaha area and a similar emphasis on The Corp-. ha~ a "Ma~ter Manual" that\.\. as developed to prm 1de long term a,md riverfront development demonstrate depend gu1dance on managmg th1s complex riverS) stem. An Annual Operating Plan ence on adequate flows in the river. Downstream recreation, just like naviga \\ater 1s prepared each year b) applying Master Manual operating criteria to the tion , can become very dependent on releases S}Stem '>toragc condllton'> and uses for the commg year. Tw1cc a year the Corp-. opo11er of water from upstream reservoirs, particu corp' talks w1th the public about the Annual Operating Plan and system condit1ons. larly in low-flow seasonal periods, or in longer periods of drought. But in such to Lake Any Interested person can attend these meetings and make comment-.. periods of low water supply, releasing water W1th the drought begmning in the late 1980s. upper basm state-. dt~satt!'. from the reservoirs hurts their recreational fied with Corps operatmg plans began to ask that the bluepnnt tn the Master opportunities. It follows, then, that when Manual be rev1e\.\.ed to ~ee if 1t dealt appropnatel) wJth current usc~ The) water in the mainstem of the Missouri is scarce, recreation is just one more source of argued that the1r econom1c reliance on reservoir recreation \.\.as Important and ~d. To conflict between upstream and downstream not given enough \.\.etght tn system operation. IO\\ a and the other dO\\ n~tream p!11 one users. Many conservationists in the lower ,,, for states have argued that the1r own recreation and all other u-.c-. -.hould not be 0 Sep1ember/Oc1ober 1992 • lo"'d Con...:n.JIIOnl\1 37 wo policy sources have become prominent in thei.mp ba in have attacked the Corp for year for the con truction and maintenance of the nav1gauon channel because of the negauve Impact that it has historically had on the natural area along the river. Upper ba m mtere ts have charactenzed the conflict for water during drought as upstream recreauon ver u downstream navigation. Ironically lower basin users have come to realize that all of them are dependent on adequate flows. Old adversaries have become partners. Equally ironic is the contrast of con flicts between the states at different times. ln the mid- I 980s, when water was plentiful , the upper basin states sought opportunities hanncd in an attempt to provide new benefits to one use. especially because the to sell water. During negotiations of ~late governor' representatives, Iowa argued the drrm do"" n ot the reservoirs ha~ a! ways been an integral part of drought need for water for fi sh and wildlife and management. recreation. However, upper basin state In earl) 1993. the Corp~ •~ expected to release an Environmental Impact claimed that the ability to use or sell water without Interference was more cntical. Statement for public reviev\ and comment. The FIS documents a three-)ear Fortunately, we stood firm. effort to assess options to enhance benefit~ to system uses dunng drought or to The dramatic decline in the channel cat vcnfy that current management is appropriate. fi sh population of the river along Iowa's bor der is a good example of resource loss. The The Reservoir Control Center is in Omaha at the M1ssoun R1ver Dl\ lSIOn's Iowa DNR, last year, finally called an end to headquarters. It 1s electronically hnt..:cd to the reservoirs and stream gaugmg commercial fi shing for catfish on the Mis '>lations throughout the basm They arc re'iponsible for da}-to-day operations. souri. Because of the lack of habitat for cat fi sh reproduction, only sport fishing is al Policy level questions often end up m the Pentagon office of the Assistant Pnon lowed, now. Another era, gone. Secretary for Civtl Works m the Defense Department. Pnm, As recently as I 972, phenomenal mal In recent years. two other decision makers have been asked to make policy lard hunting occurred in areas like Louis the Ia ville Bend near Blencoe. But in addition to on the management of the nver --the Courts and Congress. Lawsmts Initiated the declining population of mallards by basin states have become common. Members of Congress have mtroduced throughout their fl yway, Louisville Bend bills to alterS) stem operations and who controls them. Currently all eyes are suffered from the channelization project -- which destroyed habitat attractive to m•grat on the ~taster Manual reviev\. mg waterfowl. The channel project cau ed L 38 lo"'~ Con~.-.~liOnl\1 • Scplcmber/Oclober 1992 lnth t mpact on the Missouri River-- the Courts and Congress. c 51 c silt to deposit in the oxbow lake isolated at .c. ...0 Decatur Bend near Onawa which resulted in c 0 ~ the conversion of a large area of water to corn ground between 1972 and 1981 . Several lakes along the river still provide a reasonable chance for fish ing because pumps are employed to maintain their level against the draining action of the lowered water level of the Missouri. Lake Manawa, near Council Bluffs, Blue Lake at Lewis and Clarke State Park., near Onawa, and Snyder and Brown's lakes in the Sioux City area have aJI lost their surface water connection to the river. As a result, they cannot provide the fish nursery benefits to the river they once did, and recreationalists cannot move freely between river and oxbow. The water supply for ~ Brown's and Snyder lakes comes from the Blue Lake, a Missouri River oxbow, Is the primary cooling water of Neal 4 Generating Station of feature of Lewis and Clark State Park near Onawa. Iowa Public Service Company, just south of Sioux City. In 199 1, state parks along the Missouri in Iowa attracted 1.2 million visitors, the most popular site being the 600-acre Lake Manawa. states sued the federal government to halt the sale of water to be used m a coal •ause the This amount exceeds the use of at least two of drought slurry p1peline proJect and their views on the Ia~ prevailed In 1988, The the upper basin reservoirs. Given the fewer Dakotas and Montana asked for an mJuncuon to prevent the Corps from makmg number of people in the upper basin and the spnng navigation releases which would lower reservoir levels They stated that dramatically different water-based recreation lmpdct opportunities, however, comparisons are the drop in water le'vel would de'vastate the year's fish spawn by exposmg un difficult. It should be noted that in addition to hatched eggs laid along the shore JUSt below the water. The State of Iowa sa~ these parks, there are county facilities and nu the lower flows as harming Its own spawning season and reducmg the benefits merous access points and wildlife areas which support boating, hiking, hunting and fishing to all other uses. The InJUnction was granted in district court, but overturned on j, ision's on or along the river itself. appeal. A second suit by upper basin states asks the court to rule on several legal With the passing of old timers, fewer and issues related to the operation of the system and the Corps' determination of fewer people are around today who knew the erati001• Missouri before it was transformed by engi \ssistant priority uses. Most recently, the state of Missouri filed a suit asking the court neering. Photos and written accounts docu primarily to tell the Corps to follow the current Master Manual. The result of ment the recreational paradise that used to be the last two lawsuits is yet to be determined. there, although in those times, activities such ,e pohc) as fishing and hunting were considered more iniuated necessary to fill the larder than they were recreation. Certainly, if today the river fit its oduced description of 75 years ago, it would dwarf the J. Edward Brown is Iowa's representative on the Missouri Basin States outdoor recreational resources of the rest of Association, an mterstate organization established by the governors to aid the state. commumcation and give states a voice in how the river is managed. --EJB September/October 1992 • Iowa Conservatoonost 39 YOU CAN HELP • Like it or not, the limitations of the THE system in drought become more apparent to all as compe tition for the resource increases with population and use. To meet any request for service, the Corps must take away MISSOURI from some other existing use. A change could benefit Iowa at the expense of the Dakotas or the reverse could be true. RIVER Change could also hann one Iowa interest while helping another. While the Corps has its hand on the wheel, it is not free to do as it pleases. It has no end of masters beyond the Master Manual. Small changes can be made without major consequence. Large alterations require the approval or consent of Congress. Those of us involved in representing the state's interests in technical meetings and at hearings have attempted to accurately portray the needs of our state along the river. But now we are moving closer to a time when the Corps must reveal what changes, if any, it may be considering and information that supports the best options as well as a favored option. All of this information will come to us by the time the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) is released. We need your help. The Corps has a responsibility to consider all impacts. We have tried our best to tell them about our uses of the river and our concerns for any reduction in service. If we may have missed some element that is important to you, we need to know about it. Similarly, the Corps faces a legal obligation to fully assess the impact of change. They cannot, for example, simply change their manual to retain more water in the reservoirs to forestall hann to recreation in Montana and the Dakotas at the expense of our own recreation. In addition, the Corps must do its very best to identify what other interests are hanned by such an action. When the Draft EIS is released, we are going to need help in deciding how well the Corps has done its homework. The draft will not be light reading. It will be a complex technical report. But there will be summaries and other means to help you understand the technical language. In addition, two public meetings will be held thi'S fall in Sioux City and Council Bluffs to provide you with additional information. The times and locations of the meetings will be announced soon. If you cannot attend either meeting, there are still other resources that can help you to become involved in the future. You can start receiving information from the Corps as it is available by getting on a mailing list. To do so, write to Larry Cieslik, Project Manager, 12565 W. Center Road, Omaha, ME 68144 or call (402)221-7360. To receive information from the department about the Corps activities, contactJ. Edward Brown, Department of Natural Resources, Wallace State Office Building, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034, or call (515)281-8941. uc lEAl EA :ase in January. But if you order your Iowa hristmas gift subscriptions now, you can g advantage of our low, low rate of just $6 td, there is no limit on the number of gift ~ an purchase! e will begin each gift sub&c ription with the 1993 issue. Plus, we will send each gift alendar - our November/December 1992 at no ex.rra charge! And, we will also send card, from you, to each gtft reciptent. .eeps on giving- all year. But, hurry . .. :r subscription rates going mto effect soon! 1issing, send names and addresses. along wuh $6 1, to: Iowa Conservaflomsr, Iowa Depanment of Vallace State Office Buildmg. Des Moines, Iowa onal calendars may also be ordered for $3 each. ~. This offer expires December 31. 1992. 'TI j] en CD ~ (") c ~ en ~ -z enm en ~ While the Corps has l) ~ masters beyond the ~ z Large alterations reoj 9 Those of us .....,..; ~ :D -CID m hearings have -c we are moving close~ considering and infc1ri !:< this infonnation will - - 0 EIS) is released. - m - en We need your - l: - Q our best to tell them - z - m s: If we may have IDlss• - sn )> Similarly, the - 0 - ~ - cann~t, for example, - r forestall harm to recrc! -- In addition, the rnrn~ -- an action. - When the Draft -- has done its hollnew•Ol - -• report. But there - language. In addiitio~ - Bluffs to provide -- will be announced that can help you to the Corps as it is avam Manager, 12565 W. To receive int1orri Brown, Department 50319-0034, or call uc A GREAT EA Our rates will increase in January. But if you order your Iowa Conservationist Christmas gift subscriptions now, you can save 40% by taking advantage of our low, low rate of just $6 for one year. And, there is no limit on the number of gift subscriptions you can purchase! Order now and we will begin each gi ft subscription with the January/February 1993 issue. Plus, we will send each gift recipient a 1993 calendar - our November/December 1992 issue - a $3 value at no extra charge! And, we will also send a personalized gift card, from you, to each gift rectpient. Give the gift that keeps on giving- all year. But, hurry . .. and duck the higher subscription rates going mto effect soon! If the order form is missing, send names and addresses, along wtth $6 for each subscription, to: Iowa Conserva(lonist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Wallace State Office Building. Des Motnes, Iowa 50319-0034. Additional calendars may also be ordered for $3 each. Quantities are limited. This offer exptres December 31, 1992. IOWA'S OUTDOOR COOKBOOK -~ut by Julie Spark and Tammra K. Pavlicek 5 The hol1day season 1 JU t around the corner, and with the calloped Wild Turkey or Pheasant Aunt Elaine's Pheasant 1/2 season comes delic10u holiday 1/2 cooking and baking. 2 cups cooked turkey or pheasant 4 pheasant breast.... halved and I Try one -- or all -- of the e l /2 lb. Yelveeta cheese boned -1 rec1pe for your family thi holiday I pmt broth 01 milk 8 slices bacon (fry unul half done) cason. They are . ure to become I sma ll on1on. chopped 1-1/2 cups sour cream family favorues. 2 cupo., uncooked macarom 2 cans cream ol mushroom soup. Do you have a favorite outdoor 4 hard-boded eggs undiluted rec1pe ) ou would like to hare wtth 1 can cream of mushroom soup 6 slice., ch1pped beef. pull apart our readers? Send to "The Outdoor I can cream of celer) soup 1/2 lb mushroom'>. ra\\ Cookbook. ," Iowa C onsen·auomst. I 8 01 can sliced v.ater Il-l cup butter t.U ( Wallace tate Office Building, De chestnuts. opuonal -?-1- T fre'>h par-.ley ot br Memes. Iowa 50319-0034. We salt and pepper regret that we cannot acknowledge \\rap bacon ,\round each pheasant s rece1pt of rec1pe or return rectpes. Mi'\ all ingredient together and breast. place 111 shaiiO\\ casserole. We will pnnt a · many as space refn gcrate ovcrn1ght 111 a 9x 13-mch Shred ch1pped beef over top of each. allows. pan Combine sour cream and soup 111 Bake at 325 degrees for 1-1 /2 small bowl: mtx well and pour over hours. pheasant. --Warden's Cookbook Cook uncovered m 200 degree GamE oven for 4 hours. Barbecued Quail Saute mushrooms and butter: spoon over each breast, -.caner on top. 8 quad Candied Duck --£lame So/mer. 1/4 cup butter 4 H auwatosa. ~~ ISCOIISill 1/4 cup on1on. chopped 2 large apples 4·' 1/4 cup green pepper, chopped - cup brown sugar 3 I /4 cup water 4 large ducks 1/4 cup ketchup Salami 2 cup flour I /2 tsp. dry mu tard I ) tsp. salt ~ Worcestershtre sauce. to taste 2 lb!.. ground \emson or beef tsp. pepper salt and pepper 2 tbs. Morton Tender QUtck. softened butter 1 tsp. garlic or omon salt Slice the 2 large apple : place hot rice, buttered tsp. sa lt slice on a cook1e sheet and sprinkle parsley sprigs or greens t!.p. coa r~ e pepper with brown sugar. Let stand for I hour or until the juice from the apple turns I tsp. mustard seed Split quail. To make sauce, fry 1 cup water the brown sugar to syrup. onion and green pepper in butter in a Remove bone from the duck B frying pan over medium heat for 5 breasts; sli ce the meat in strips. Roll in Mix all ingredi ents together. Add r minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients cover and refngerate overn1ght. Make flour with salt and pepper mixed in. B and simmer for I0 minutes. Butter a into small rolls. Fry as you v. ould ch1cken until large bakmg dish. Arrange quail skin- Bake at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 almost done. Pour the apples and Ide up. Brush butter on quail and hour~ brown ::. ugar mixture 111£0 the frying pan spread some barbecue auce on each v. llh the meat. Cover pan: tmmer for quail p1ece. 15-20 m111utes. Makes 3-4 sen 111gs. Bake m a 450-degree oven for 25 -- ~l arden's Cookbook mmute . basung the quail occa ionall) . Sene on hot buttered rice. Ladle pan JUices over nee and add parsley. -- ~i arden's Cookhoo/.. Date Nut Harvest Bread Molasses-Sorghum Cake Nut Stuffing for Game Birds -- 5 cups toasted bread cubes or I cup butter 2-l/2 cups flour or stale bread l- l/2 cups sugar 1 tsp. gmger 2/3 cup chopped omon 4 egg l tsp. cinnamon 2/3 cup celery, chopped with 2 cups canned pumpkin 1/4 tsp. salt leaves 3 cups fl our 1/2 cup shortening l /2 tsp. sage l tsp. salt l/2 cup sugar l/2 tsp. thyme 2 tsp. baking powder l/2 cup molasses I egg, beaten l/2 tsp. soda 1/2 cup sorghum 2 cups chopped nuts 2 tsp. cinnamon 2 tsp. instant coffee l tsp. baking soda 1e) l cup chicken broth l 8-oz. pk..g. chopped dates l/4 cup marganne l/2 cup ratsms l cup hot water 1 tsp. alt 1 cup pecans, chopped '· l tsp. chopped chives Cream shortening; gradually beat Cream butter and sugar. Add in sugar and continoe beatmg until ltght Saute onions, celery and nuts eggs one at a time, beattng after each and fluffy. Stir m mola <>ses and until onions and celery are tender but addition. Add pumpkin and mix well. sorghum. not browned. Add remaining ingredi Sift flour, salt, baktng powder. Sift flour with gmger, cmnamon ents. Moisten with stock. soda and cmnamon. Add to pumpkm and salt. Stuff fowl loosely and truss (bind mixture and beat well. Add dates, Dissolve baking soda and coffee tightly). Brush with butter and bake. raisins and pecans. Mtx until well in water; add alternately with flour --Warden's Cookbook coated and dispersed through mixture. mixture to batter, beating after each n Pour batter into 2 greased 5x9- addition until smooth . inch loaf pans. Fill containers 3/4 full Pour into 9x9x2-inch square pan and bake at 375 degrees for 60-75 lined on the bottom with waxed paper. Game Warden Stew minutes or until bread tests done. Bake in 350 degree oven 45-50 minutes or until top springs back when 3-4 lb. meat (deer, elk, moose, lightly pressed. Cool in pan 15 antelope or beef) , cut in l-inch minutes; remove to wire rack. P· cubes Cranberry Salad Iff, 4 potatoes, cut into large chunks SUI 4-5 carrots, l-inch slices 1 lb. cranberries, ground raw Black Walnut Pie 3 onions, cut as desired 2 cups sugar l small can mushrooms 2 cups seedless grapes l cup sugar I tsp. salt 2 cups pecan pteces 6 T fl our 1/2 tsp. basil 1/2 pint whtpped cream 1/4 rsp. salt I tsp. paprika 2 egg yolks, well beaten 1-l /2 tsp. flour Mix cranberrie and sugar. Let 2 cups milk 1 tsp. chopped parsley stand in refri gerator 24 hours. Drain . l tsp. vanilla 2 cans of tomato soup and two Add grapes and pecans. Add 2 tsp. butter, softened cans of water (more water if whipped cream just before serving. 1 cup chopped black walnut meats needed) I unbaked 9-inch pie crust Brown meat. Put in roasting pan. Sift together sugar, flour and salt. Add remaining ingredients. Blend in milk and egg yolks. Cook over Bake at 250 degrees for 4-5 hours. boiling water until thickened ; cool. Add --Warden's Cookbook - ~ walnuts, vanilla and butter. Pour into Warden's Cookbook pie crust. Warden's Cookhook can be Bake at 450 degrees for I0 purchased for $ 10 plus $2 shtpping minutes; then reduce heat to 325 and handlmg by wnttng to Fish and degrees and bake for an addtttonal 30 Game Officer Association, George mmutes. Hemmen, Rte. 2, Box 259, Guthne Center, Iowa 50 11 5. A supplement is also available for $5. -- --~ CONSERVATION UPDATE by Kathryn Stangl TREE FARMER ~ OF THE YEAR Outstanding Tree Farmer of the REHABILITATES Year for 1992, Gene Frye, notes that tree plantings have improved ABUSED water quality and habitat along the adjacent stream corridor. Trees, FARMLAND shrubs and native plants now Profitable and cover the area. Environmentally ound Land U e Revive Area Manon farmer Gene Frye has been named the Iowa 1992 Out tandmg Tree Fanner for the contributions he ha made m rehabilitat ing badly abused Iowa farmland. Frye was selected from candidates throughout ... the state because of his work tt... on his multi-purpose farm, ...c 0 que which he calls Ganderhawk 'Tli Forest. 1969 photo of poorly maintained pasture diff The American Tree mar Farm System ded1cated the first tree farm June 12, 1941 hon m Wa hmgton tate. In the The Iowa program 1s hard to recognize. Today and one-half, three ~ 5 1 year<; smce that fi r t cospon ored by the DNR, the area 1 a maze of bedroom ranch tyle hoq ded1cat1on the program has the ISU cooperallve ex wildl ife habitat and erosion homes. Han est products gone national m scope. ten ion serv1ce and wood 1s almo t nonexi tent. The have mcluded veneer, Iowa JOmed the program in u ing industnes. creek that runs through the lumber and railroad tie . 1955. When Frye bought the farm IS again running clear, "Thi lllu trate what The program gives I00-ac re property in 1969 with fish returning. Wild can be done to change a \\to publ1c recognition to those there was an exten<;IVC life abounds with deer and nonproductive parcel of fath private woodland owners erosion problem. About turkey, a side stream farmland to more appro vati who are doing outstanding half the land was in low supports turtles, wood pri ate, environmentally 192 jobs in the management of quality, abused timber and ducks use the area and Frye sound and profitable cun their forest lands. The basic the rest was in an over has regularly seen herons. uses," Frye says. the aim of the program is to used, highly erodible, row Trees, shrubs and "A large portion of IOUJ place more of Iowa's crop situati on. native wildflowers have the farm' ucces is due Prot woodland under manage Now, instead of being replaced the poorly main to the availability of the ue1 ment practices that will grazed up ro the banks tained pasture, bur that has accurate, technical bnng contmuing benefits to there is a filter slrlp nor been the only change. mformauon provided by for the owner and provide adjacent to the '>tream In addition to annual the 0 R d1 tnct foresters :sa better, fore ~ t~. services and runmng through hi'> firewood harvests of low and ISU exten ion per &."!cl products for the pubhc. propert) . The four pre- quality tree , Frye has sonnel. They not only tree A<, of March 1992, Iowa 1969 crop fi e ld~ and harve<;ted 26,000 board feet . aved me from some b1g Ot has 789 des1gnated tree port1on ~ of t1mber adJacent of lumber since 1978. mi take · but were there lncJ farms covenng 59,700 acres. to the fi eld<, \\ Ould now be enough to construct two for me whenever I had ho~ 44 lo" ,J Con...,,.,.Jtu>n"t • S REAP and Three ti ve director for Renew Additional America. "This program sets a positive example for DNR Programs the rest of the nation to Receive National follow ." Renew America Three other DNR program areas received Awards national recognition by Iowa 's Resource Renew Amenca m obtain Enhancement and Protec ing 1ts Certificate of Envi tiOn Program (REAP) has ronmental Ach1evement. been se lected to receive These program are: the R ene~t Amenca Envi + the public awarenes ronmental Achievement program called "Iowa A Award. Th1s prestigious Needs a Cleaner Planet," in Future tree farmers will benefit from the computerized award IS the only national cooperation with the Des Information Frye keeps regarding inventory, growth award presented by the Moines Advertising and financial records. environmental community Professionals, the Iowa and is bestowed on envi Newspaper Association, ronmental programs for and the Iowa Recycling questions," Fyre notes. habitat and the appearance their success in protecting Association; "That makes a critical of the land. Tree Farm the environment, inspiring + the Iowa Motor land must be pri vately re difference in making others to take environ Vehicle Fuel Reduction management choices." owned and there are no mental actions and Program; and "Quite a few genera fee s, costs or dues to reaching community + the 85 percent tions of my famtl y have participate in the program. goals. Ethanol Car Demonstration been in woodland occupa Future tree farmers Smce its inception in Project. tions and environmentally will benefit from the 1989, REAP has allocated Based in Washington, aware, so this is always computerized informat1on $45 million for land ac D.C., Renew Amenca is a CIS something I have wanted to Frye keeps regarding, qUisition , conservation nonprofit organization do. One grandfather ran a inventory, growth and educat1on and soil and committed to re toring our s. . ' . . sawmill, another had award financial records. That water conservation natton s communtt1es nat winning fruit trees and my combination of current proJects throughout Iowa. through environmental a father was an active conser technology, respect for the Drawing from the state's action . According to a tf vationist beginning in the land and environmental general fund and from Renew America spokeper o- 1920s," Frye says. Frye's values makes for an award lottery profits, thi s 10-year son the organization "seeks current work in returning winning combination. legislative initiative out working programs the land to environmentally represents one of the around the nation, whether sound uses, rehabil itating its nation's most ambitious, large or small scale that ef productive capacity, contin state-sponsored efforts to fectively protect, restore or ues thi s tradition. protect local natural re enhance the environment - The key requirement sources. programs that prevent for Tree Farm certification "Iowa's REAP pollution, protect wildlife is a management pian that Program established Iowa species and threatened mcludes the production of as a national leader in the habitat, enable citizens and trees as a repeated crop. movement to retain our industrie to recycle wa tes Other maJOr objectives country's rich base of or use energy more wisely jg include watershed protec ecological re ources." or ensure the safety of food e tion, recreatiOn , wildlife says Tina Hobson, execu- or drinking water supplies." Sep1 ~ mbe r/Oc1ober 1992 • lo"'a C'on...:l'\allonl\1 45 CONSERVATION UPDATE Energetic Central IO\\ a Che\ y dealers. ationa l Energy Con- needs with mtegrated Organizations The wmnerc; are detennmed ultants. This Cedar Rapids re ource plannmg; replacing b) the miles per gallon company was the first all street lighting with Win Awards ach teved over the I 00-mile business in Iowa to provide efficient, high-pressure For the fourth year, the course. comprehensive energy sodium lamp ; and working DNR ~•II present the I o~a Sponsors mclude Central management servtces to with local ervtce orgamza Energ} Leadershtp A\.. ards. l o~a Chev)/Geo dealers. the busme es, churches, non tton to promote compact Thts year's wmners mclude Chevrolet Geo Motor dtvtsion. profit facihue and homes. fluorescent llghttng. the following leaders m the Iowa Corn Promotion By not JUSt repre enting one Waverly Light and energy efficiency and renew Board , the Ruan Greater Des manufacturer or one product Power has operated three able energy resources. Momes Grand Pnx, Pizza Hut ltne, th1 company help its hydroelectric generators since T he Cit) of Jo,,a City. and Kum and Go -, tores. client choose the appropriate 1923. A new effort m Smce 1978, Iowa Cit) ha IE Branching Out product from do7en of renewable energy mvolves employed an energy coordma Program. Startmg m one manufacturers. whether 1t's tudymg the po sibtlity of tor to ave energy m both ci ty small city, commumt y tree an energy management in tailing wind generators. facilities and throughout the planting programs have system or lighting, or a new The utility ha lowa 's community. Outreach and "branched out" across the appliance. large t municipal utility tree ed ucation effons ha\ e state, thanks to a program Thei r broad-based planting program, developed mcluded "energy fatrs," launched b) Trees Forever methods mclude a thorough with Trees Forever. compact fluorescent ltght bulb and Iowa Electnc Ltght and analy 1s of a budding's Wood Crest Custom giveaways, energy videos on Power. In late 1989, a pilot energy usage and energy Homes. Developing energ) cable TV and poster conte ts. project was staned m bills. The resulting report efficient, pa sive solar homes Over the past I 0 years. Belmond . Iowa. That com mcludes suggestion for 1 a family affair for Wood the CH) ha saved close to mumty's reacuon ~as so tak.mg advantage of lower Cre t Custom Home of $2 million tn energy costs. poslttve that the Branch mg rates offered b} utthues, Bettendorf. Members of the According to James Schoen Out program was created to speci fie energy-effi cient Prochaska family de ign and felder, Iowa City energy plant trees statewide . equipment and advice on how supervise the energy-efficient coordinator, any city govern In 1991, 36 communities to operate a facility more construction of the homes, ment tn Iowa that spends at work.ed wi th Trees Forever to efficienrl y. decorate and choo e appli Tel leac;t $ 175,000 on energy btlls recruit 2,000 volunteers, ational Energy Consult ance with effictency in Ap tn liS buildings can't afford plantmg nearly 5,000 trees ants was the gutding force mmd, and market the home . s, NOT to hire at least a part and 21,000 seedlings. Iowa behind the energy manage A recent project was a • time energy professional. Electric has committed to ment efforts that won Iowa 3,600-foot custom ranch To Geo Metro Etha nol providing $1 million over the Energy Leadershtp Award in hou e that will cost less than Challenge. For the past two nex t five years to "branch out" pre\ tous year for the Indian $250 per year tO heat and years, on the eve of the Ruan mto even more communities. Creek. Nature Center and the require only one watt per Greater Des Momes Grand Properly placed trees save Cedar Rapids Bus Depart quare foot for ltghting. ~ou Pri x, a race of a different kind energy by shading buildings ment. Many of the energy ha ~ has taken place. The winners from summer sun and shelter Waverly Light and efficiency features of the colb succeed not on speed, but on tng them from wmter wind. Power. A small municipal home are un een by the anc fuel effi ciency. The Geo Urban tree planung also uulny, Wa\ erl y Ltght and buyer , but the Prochaskas on t Metro Ethanol Chal lenge provtdes other benefits such as Power, i tak ing the lead on m i ton adding quality and tn~ promotes effictent and safe sot! stabilization , wildlife food three fronts -- energy effi comfort. Their motto is "We lllar driving as wel l as the use of a and habitat and noi se absorp ciency, renewable energy and strive to do 100 things one )ou renewable fuel -- I0 percent tion. Tree leaves also filter tree-planting. Energy effi percent better every day. " IO d ethanol-blended fuel. pollutants such as carbon ctenc} effort include hiring a Their commitment shows in cad Teams made up of high dtO\tde and through full-lime energ) advtsor to the tate of the art technolo the school student" and local e' apotranspiratton can \\ ork with customers, gtes and knowledge mcorpo media and other celebrities actually help cool the ai r in budders and contractors; rated into the homes they of 1 drive Geo Metro'> provided by the summer. addressing future energy build. hav -- out any products used for Chemical Association will Dates and locations for placmg October Is cleaning, lawn and garden, assist the volunteer with the fa ll toxic waste cleanup 1 automobiles and hobbies. If answers to questions on days are: re National they have warnings on thei r unusual products or farm + Sept. 12, Cerro orkmg labels, they are hazardous. chemicals. If you have waste Gordo County, Cerro :amza Energy The more warnings you see, that needs to be dropped off, Gordo County Fairgrounds, pact such as "Keep away from the telephone volunteer will Mason City Awareness children," "Do not get on schedule an appointment. + Sept. 12, Monona ~d your skin," "Wear goggles," Your TCD appointment will County, Monona County :uee Month "Danger,'' "Flammable" or last no more than five Recycling and Transfer )fS Sir "Caution." the more danger mmutes and you can be on Stat1on. Highway 37 E, 1 ous the product IS. your way to other Saturday Tun n ol\·e' Next, decide which Items actiVIties. + Sept. 12, Pl ymouth the theme you can use up. recycle or Bes1des speedy service, County, Plymouth County .• of uors. give away. Call your local other advantages of the "caJI Maintenance Bu ilding, wa's "Energy TCD telephone assistance line for an appointment" TCDs LeMars ty Ire'· which will be staffed a week are: + Sept. 19, Allamakee relope I Technology or two before the event. Read -- You will know who County, Allamakee County to them the list of matenab can be contacted locally for Fai rgrounds, Waukon tom fora you will bring to the TCD. assistance. + Sept. 19, Winnebago energ) They have been trained by the -- Instead of the "quick County, Forest City Mainte r homL Competitive DN R to help you, and may fix " solution -- bringing in all nance Bu ilding, Forest City ,.,ood even save you a trip to the toxic chemicals -- your + Sept. 19, Palo Alto County, Palo Alto County KJf America" event. For example. they may personal ass istance call will of !he give you instructions on how help you properly manage Fairgrounds, Emmetsburg gnar. to safely dry out your unus much of your toxic waste. + Sept. 26, Shelby It !ffil Cl able latex paint so can be -- If you do happen to County, Shelby County mes. Telephone disposed of in your regular forget an appointment, volun Fairgrounds. Harlan pph· trash. Or. if you have used Oil, teers can call and remind you. + Sept. 26, Cass Appointment you may receive the address County. Cass County Fair in -- If you are a farmer of a convenient local collec grounds, Atlantic bQmei- System For With seasonal farming com asa tion site. mitments or have commit + Sept. 26, Sac Toxic Cleanup Days County, Sac County Fair ch If you have items that ments tying you up on the The Toxic Cleanup Da} you do not want, TCD Saturday of the TCD, you can grounds, Sac City iS than (TCD) "call for an telephone volunteers may find make arrangements for + Oct. 3. Jone and appointment" ~ystem allows per a home for them with some delivery of your wastes by County, Jones County Fair you to dispose of your one who can use them. For others if needed. grounds, Monticello e. , hazardous wastes during the example, a volunteer found a -- You will be able to + Oct. 3, Cedar ~y- collection day and provides home for a gallon of fl oor receive written household County, Cedar County Fair the an opportunity for education wax that a senior citizen hazardous material informa grounds, Tipton he on alternatives to di sposal or center was glad to receive. tion to help you in the future. + Oct. 3, Howard s~as in some cases proper di sposal They used it up and saved on All in all , telephone County, Howard County )·and management in the home. If is ··\\ e their budget and consequently TCDs add up to an efficient Fairgrounds, Cresco you are stumped about what some costs of the TCD way to serve the citizens of Watch local newspa one .. to do With unu"iable chemi d1sposal were reduced. Iowa with proper manage pers for phone numbers to n. • cals m your home, watch for If you find anything ment of household hazardous ca11 for appointments. i\\ -!11 the next TCD m your count}. unusuaL the volunteer will waste . They provide educa Rember to store IJIOIO" Complete an mventory help tackle the problem by tion as well as safe disposal household hazardous corpl'" of the tOXIC matenab you pro' iding options. The DNR of tOX IC chem1cals from the materials afely until the ,e~ have m your home. Check or the Iowa Fertili7er and home at lower disposal costs. events are held. September/O.:toberl992 • lo"'a Con'e"'auono~t 47 CONSERVATION UPDATE Iowa T rophy All-Time Top 10 Racks Upcoming NRC, See page 18 for the /992 loH"a Record Deer Racks Deer Records EPC and Preserves SHOTGUN TYPICAL Deer hunters who COUNTY TOTAL Board Meetings NAME CITY TAKEN YEAR SCORE successfull y bagged a deer Harold Dickman Woodbine Harri,on 1964 200-2/8 The dates and with trophy-si?ed deer Wayne A. B ill~ De. Moine• Hamilton 1974 199·5/8 locations have been Kenneth Tilrord Lamoni Decatur 1985 198-1/8 antlers are encouraged to Michael R. Edle Danville De' Mome' 1989 195-4/8 set for the following George L. Ro~\ Ottumwa Wapello 1969 195-1/8 enter the rack m Iowa' · br g Fore•t N. Richardwn New Virgonca Warren 1989 194·3/8 meetings of the Dan BW>h Winter...:! Matlhon 1911 7 game record regrstry. 190-3/8 Natural Resource Monty Stark Mt. Plea-ant Henry 1984 189·3/8 In order to qualify for Gregg Redhn Iowa City John,on 19113 187-6/8 Commission, Envi Denni• V~udl Stonn Lake Chcrol.ee 1974 187-5/8 an award, however, a rack ronmental Protection SHOTGUN NONTYPICAL Commission and the mu t be measured and COUNTY TOTAL cored by an offi cral scorer NAME CITY T AKE.'II YEAR SCORE Preserves Advisory U IT)' Ra•eling Emmehburg Cia) 1973 282 for the Boone and Crockett Carroll Johnwn Moorhead Monona 1968 256-5/8 Board of the Iowa Oa•id Mande"hecd Welton JacL,on 1977 253-3/8 (fi rearms) or Pope and UITy J. Caldwell De, Moine Warren 1990 250.2/8 Department of Carl Wenke Cedar Rapids Lee 1972 245 Young (archery) clubs, or Wendell Prolt'man MI. Pleasant Henry 191111 238·1/8 Natural Resources. Ed11ar Shield• Grand River Decatur by a wlldlife b10log1. t , con 19116 229-6/8 Agendas for Bob Hardong Pleasantville Wapello 19115 229·318 servauon offi cer or other m Duane RcL De' Momes Madi\On 1972 2211·2/8 these meetings are set Ed Stivard Burlington De' Mome- 1990 227·6/8 approximately I 0 di vrdual cerufied by the DNR. The sconng system MUZZLELOADER TYPICAL days prior to the COUNTY TOTAL used for Iowa records is NAME CITY TAKEN YEAR SCORE scheduled date of the JeiT)' Conover Siou~ City Monona 1990 182·7/8 identical to that used by the Patrick BurLie Earlv clle Clayton 1990 170-2/8 meeting. Steve Carter Wa\hington Henry 19117 167 For additional in Boone and Crockett or Pope David Hammel Dorchester Allam aLee 1990 166-1 /8 and Young clubs. Jeff Kauzlarich Rathbun Appanoo•e 1989 165·5/8 formation , contact the larT) Cutkomp Donnell,on V~n Buren 1989 164-6/8 Award certificates will Ron Murray Mi~oun Valley Harro.on 1987 164·518 Iowa Department of Ron Han!>Cil Hampton F11ll1Lhn 1989 164-3/8 Natural Resources, be pre ented in six clas es. Dale Clayton Glenwood Mrll• 1990 164-1/8 The classes, wi th mmrmum Kevin McDonald Amana lo"a 1990 164 Wallace State Office scores for each are: hot MUZZLELOADER NONTYPICAL Building. Des Moines. COli STY TOTAL gun, Typical - 150 pomt , NAME CITY TAKEN YEAR SCORE Iowa 50319-0034. MiLe Moody Hamburg Fremont 1990 210.2/8 on-typical - 170 pomts; Vince Jauron Harlan Monona 1990 209·118 Natural Resource •Dean Beyer O...ge Mote hell 200·5/8 Muzzleloader, Typrcal - Daniel Kaufman Wapello wuiw 191!4 197-5/8 Commission: 150 points, ontypical - •Steve Mundell Ottum"'a Monroe 1991 196 Deck Paul Red 0 4L Montt~omery 1988 189-418 --October l, Manchester 170 pomt ; and Archery, Nathan Giddongs Morri.on Jachon 1990 188·1/8 • Jame• P. Parker C lar i nd o~ Taylor 1991 182·1/8 --November 5, Keosauqua Typical - 135 point , Pete Sanford Osceola Clarke 1990 181 --December 3, Nontypical - 155 points. Craig Cret\in11er Spencer Clay 1990 174-7/8 Des Moines Deer hunters possessing BOW AND ARROW TYPICAL COUNTY TOTAL Environmental trophy racks which have not NAME CITY TAKEN YEAR SCORE Lloyd Goad K no~ville Monroe 1962 197·618 Protection been officially mea ured Roben Miller Wyoming 1977 194·2/8 may contact the Iowa Richard Swim Des Mocne' W•rren 1981 190·5/8 Commission: Kevin Peterson Mediapoll\ De' Moines 1989 188-1/8 --September 21, Des Department of Natural •John Kite Farntington Lee 1990 182·6/8 • Jeff L. Weigen New London Henry 1991 180-4/8 Moines Resources, Wallace State Vern Back•trom De\ Moone' Pol k 1986 180.1/8 Rodney Hommer Woodburn ClarLe 1990 179-4/8 --October 19, Office Building, Des Robcn McDowell Onumv.a Wapello 1985 179 Des Moines Moines, Iowa 50319-0034, Glen Thom~on W. Burlington De' Moine' 1987 179 --November 16. (515)28 1-5145. BOW AND ARROW NONTYPICAL COUNTY TOTAL Des Moines Because of shnnkage m NAME CITY TAKEN YEAR SCORE varying degrees, rac k. s tak.en JeiT)' M. Mon,on Clear L.tLe Cerro Gordo 1977 222·1/8 State Preserves Davtd Propst Duncombe Web,ter 19117 219·3/8 during the recent huntmg Blaine Sab.kom Sucherland Cia) 1970 2 18·1/8 Advisory Board: sea on cannot be measured Chris H..ckney Allenon Wa)ne 1983 215-5/8 --September 9. Joe Renenmeier Dubuque Dubuque 19117 204·1/8 for at least 60 days m order Phillip M. Collier Surlingcon De, Mocne' 1978 203-618 O'Brien County Ted Miller Ne"' Vorgonoa Wmen 1986 203·5/8 for the ant lers to dl) prop Boll &won Siou• Coty Woodbury 1966 202·5/8 DeMy Baum Ottumwa W~ pello 1990 202·1/8 erly. Dorrance Arnold Oelv.eon Clayton 1977 200-5/8 ------~ 48 lov. ~ Con>ei"\JIInnl\1 • Scpceml>er/Occober 1'192 CLASSROOM CORNER by Don Sievers How Many Can Come To Dinner Age Grades 3-6 Background Wildlife populations can fluctuate dramaticall y within a given year. Objectives Wildlife numbers are directly related to the quantity and quality of Students will be able to: available habitat. The number of animals that can be supported through 1. identify the carrying capacity of out the year is known as the carrying capacity. a simulated habitat for coyotes based All wi ldlife have certain requirements for survival. These include on food as a limiting factor: and food, helter, water and living space. The carrying capacity is determined 2 ~ identify ways that people alter by the avatlabihty and arrangement of these requirements. When people the carryi ng capacity by changmg the alter the envtronment so that one or more of these reqUirements are habitat. reduced or eliminated, wildlife numbers will decrease or disappear. One role of the wildlife manager is to develop and implement plans that will allow for wise use of available habitat by people and wtldhfe. Method Many wildlife species have young in the spnng of the year, takmg Students role play a predators to advantage of the increased amount of food that is being produced within determine the carrying capacity for the habitat. Populations increase until their food supplies begin to coyotes in a simulated habitat. decline. Throughout the fall and winter, food supplies continue to decline and the competition for food increases. Many wi ldlife populations reach Materials L [ their lowest numbers during the winter when food supplies are at their One sheet of paper and penci l per (S lowest and climatic conditions are most severe. student, one blindfold and 200 paper cups to simulate prey animals eaten by coyotes are needed. Cups should be Carrying Capacity labeled as follows: 90 with R for rabbits, 40 with M for mice, 40 with C B Surplus decreased due to: for carrion (dead animals), 20 with S for squirrels, and 10 with P for L Starvation pheasants. You may want to add cups following the same ratio for larger groups of students. The above num bers work best with a group of 12 to 15 students. c c Spring Summer Fall Winter A Unrestricted production if no limiting factors existed B Average yearly production C Annual breeding stock Carring capacity of the land increases in early summer L when there is a lot of food and cover. This h ealthy £ habitat is soon filled by the new animals. In late summer, when the population and the available food and cover reach their peak, some animals begin to die. Septembcr/Octob 6. When all the prey have been gathered, the game IS over. Each ture1 student should tally up the total weight of their captured prey to see if bed they surv1ved. The weights of the prey animals are: rabb1t -- three pounds; pheasant -- three pounds; squ~rrel -- two pounds: carri on -- one fl)ht and a half pounds: and mice-- one ounce. Do not tell the students hov. ~•oil much the ammalc., we1gh until you are at th1 stage or c;tudent c; wtll <.,elect \!an for heav1er ammals dunng the game. n\q 7. 01 scu'>s the followmg: ~trea • How man) coyotes survived? Was there enough food for all'> If ects not. hov. man} CO) ores can II\ e m th1 habitat'? Would these impact<; lead to an increa e or decrease 111 the carrymg tion • capacity? Stock \Oij I Roger A Htll I deep Don Ste\ e1 s H a trauung officer ~111h \fdrq the depwtment's Con sen atwn Educa ha.h tiOn Cente1 111 Guthne Count) IO\\ a 's stream re~ t orauon programs are not onl) prO\ tdmg good fishing but the) are abo helpmg to clean-up northeast lO\\a \ coldwater streams. These s trea m ~ are hea\ tl ] used by trout angler<,-approx tmately 25,000 trout stamps are purchased from the DNR each )Car. Through the years. the quality of UALI TREAM these streams has been degraded by intensive agriculture. The goal of coldwater stream restoration is to pro Article by Kimberly K. Coulter vide for sport fishmg while protecting and enhancing the habi tat and water Photos by Ken Formanek quality of these streams. Stream degradation presents a challenge to fi shenes btologtsts m mamtammg sullable habttat for trout. The survt val. gro\\. th and reproductton of trout reqUires shelter from predators, clean water, suffi cient living space, favorable water tempera ture, and gravel stream beds for spawning. Bill Kalishek, fisheries management biologist with the DNR in Manchester, has been involved wtth several stream improvement prOJ ects and feels that sotl erosiOn from cropland and damage from livestock access and waste are the main problems. " It·., a toss-up." Kalishek. says. "Both are concerns that need to be dealt wtth in northeast Iowa." Li vestock usc the streams not onl y for drinking water and relief from the summer heat, they also feed on more heat than narrower, deeper, faster .... the lush vegetation along the ~ tream stream channels. The warmmg effect is Iowa has 106 coldwater streams banks. They deplete the stream vegeta increased as water current velocity totaling 307 miles •• only 42 of tion, and heavy concentrations of live becomes ~lower \\. tth stream ""tdenmg. these miles have been restored stock trample streambanks, leavmg the Sedimentton from '>Otl eroston ts a and protected. The banks along sotl unprotected and subJeCt to erosion. stgmficant nonpomt source polluuon this stretch of Spring Branch in Delaware County have been As the bank'> collapse and recede. problem that cc1n change the '>trcam protected with riprap and bank deep hole'> "" tt hm the ~ tream s fill with bottom conftguration and de'>tro) ftsh hides. sedtment and the '.treams become habttat. SIO\\ -fl O\\ ing \.\ ater'> cau~e sand -. hallo"' and wtde ellmmatmg places for and stlt to be deposttcd on the '>lream trout to htde. In addllton. they absorb beds. covenng the gravel used b) trout for spawning. Trout need clean, well preserve the remaining naturally repro Bl aerated gravel beds found in swift ducing trout streams in Iowa. flowmg coldwater streams. HOW ** B1galk Mddl The committee contacted landown Creek 1 e Runoff from cropland is a signifi Bear ers along Ensign Creek and purchased a cant source of contamination to parcel of land containing more than one coldwater streams in Iowa. Runoff CV.VlON half mile of stream length. Manage may contain pesticides, fertilizers and ment of this land was then turned over animal wastes at levels which affect to the DNR. aquatic life. Excessive growth (or DNR fi sheries personnel try to keep blooms) of algae occur when excess the stream channel as natural as pos pn DElAWARE nutrients from fenilizcrs and animal Spring sible. Natural coldwater streams c~ waste enter into streams or lakes. * anch typicaUy have shallow, fast-flowing art When the algae eventually die, the I riffles followed by deep, calm pools. Cl decaymg process consumes the oxygen Trout survive best in this riffle-pool \il needed by fish. habitat. In-stream evaluations and prt Livestock access to streams also feasibility studies of various habitat \\~ increases the amount of fecal matter improvements are then implemented on Eo and bacteria in the water. Livestock the state-owned section of the stream. pn that drink contammated stream water Unfortunately, habitat improvements nu may ingest waterborne pathogens, in cannot be made on most privately creasing the risk of diseases such as owned lands through this program. bovine leptospirosis, mastitis and other is located at the junction of Ensign Techniques used to stabilize Ensign ailments. Creek, a coldwater stream, and Hollow included riprap, fencing and ON R Projects Hew lll Creek, a warm water stream. planting of long-stem prairie grasses. pn The DNR has hm1ted cost-share Ensign Creek is in Clayton County ''These are inexpensive ways of letting the fund s available for coldwater stream and at one ume was a naturaUy repro nature take its own course to improve Co restoration and trout stream habitat ducing trout stream. " Reproduction trout habitat,'' Kalishek says. Covering llo improvement projects to state-owned of the trout,'' Kalishek describes, the bank with riprap 'armors' the bank land in northeast Iowa. Privately " has dropped so dramatica lly that it from the fast flowing water decreasing owned streambank protection projects is not enough to repopulate the erosion and creating hiding places for ;,~ are generally done voluntarily by land stream. Since 1991, we've had to various sizes of trout. " By fencing, a the owners. restock it tw1ce to keep up the popula buffer zone of vegetation will eventu to The DNR conducts an active trout tion of the trout. '' ally grow between the fence and the hn: stream land acquisition program . Ac In 1986, a coldwater stream stream, reducing erosion of the stream Gr: cording to Kalishck, " Land is pur commiuee was formed consisting of a bank,'' he adds. apl chased by the state for stream restora group of indi viduals representing the Habitat improvements for trout at 10 tion projects from willing sellers below DNR, private organizations and Ensign Hollow included intallation of industry. Their goal is to protect and 95 bank hides between 1990 and 1991. or at appraised value. Best managc hal meni. practices arc then applied to these aec state lands to reduce soil erosion in the ' pol watershed and on stream banks.'' jle Two of the projects that Kalishek ts m mvolved in -- Enstgn Hollow and Spring Branch -- arc part of this program. The area known as Ensign Hollow ~~) ,· water level age •Bankhides are artificial, \Va overhanging ledges, at the Pro outside of bends where the e\~ current sweeps along the bank. I :'le They make ideal hiding places for . I I . - ~"'~. En1 trout. A properly constucted hide I l I IEF should remain under water year 1 I I .. \ l \ I round. The water acts as a wood '1./ \/ preservative. ~ Bank h1des are artifical, overhanging Iowa is to establish protected corridors evaluations tn 1991 md1cated that ledges. constructed at the outside bends along cold-water stream segments where Bigalk was Jacki ng in pool habitat and ~11- where the current sweeps along the livestock access or antmal wastes are in-stream cover for ratnbow trout. :da bank. The submerged wooden struc causing a negat1ve 1mpact. Ga1ge "Problems on Bigal k are attributed to Jne- tures are topped w1th rocks and sod and Wunder, fishenes management biolog1st livestock over-grazing. stream channeli provtde shelter for trout. from Decorah, says the goal of the zation and sedi mentatiOn," according to Restoration of the publicly owned project is to protect the waterway whi le Wunder. "Restoratton work is sched portion of Ensign Hollow improved maintaining the economic viabi lity of uled to begin this fall," he says. :eep habitat tremendously . However, the Ii vestock operation. The stream restoration measures privately owned reaches of Ensign In the northeast corner of Howard being considered include fencing, Creek also need protection , especially in County, near Creso, lies Bigalk Creek, streambank stabi lization, stream-bed areas of known trout reproduction. The a spring-fed tributary of the Upper Iowa reshaping, corridor revegetation, tree Clayton County Soil and Water Conser River. The lower part of the stream is planting and installation of in-stream vation District designed a water quality managed as a put-and-take trout fishery habitat structures. After these changes protection project for Ensign Creek, by the DNR, where rainbow trout are have been made, the qualtty of the which 1s funded through the Resource stocked regularly from April through stream habitat will be monttored to on Enhancement and Protectton (REAP) October. document the improvements tn stream 1. program. The amount of si lt and Wunder says results of habitat quality due to the Installed practtces. nutnents enrering Ensign Hollow wi ll be reduced through a combination of soil erosion control methods in the water Best Management Practices Help Save Iowa's Coldwater Streams ;ign shed. Another DNR land acq uisition By implementing best management practices (BMPs) on your land. you can project is Spring Branch, located below minimize soil erosion of streams. Here are a few BMPs to get you started: ing the Manchester Hatchery in Delaware • Limiting livestock access to streambanks allows banks to revegetate and ·e County. Three springs, with a combined soils to stabilize. ring flow of 5,000 gallons per minute, feed • Fencing allows revegetation of streambanks, reduces erosion and can be nk Spring Branch. Currently one-half mile a first step in developing a more productive pasture management system. Land ng of corridor protection has been estab owners should refrain from farming within 20 feet of the bank, which requires the )r lished on Spring Branch. Areas along protection of permanent vegetation to stabilize the soil. a the creek have been fenced off for five • Developing off-stream watering systems such as springs. wells or ponds U· to 10 years, but livestock still have with watering troughs prevent damage by livestock using the stream for drinking. limited access to water for drinking. • Armoring streambanks with riprap is one of the most effective and popu un Grasses have been planted and the lar methods of controlling bank erosion, it is easy to install and repair. has a natural approximately 90 bank hides are two to appearance, and adjusts itself to the shape of the bank. at 10 years old. • Junk. such as appliances. bed springs. car bodies. plaster and wallboard, of These stream protection and trout should never be used for erosion control along stream banks. Junk is aesthetically 91. habitat improvements began l 0 years unpleasant and seepage of chemicals from abandoned materials may be hazardous ago and have tncreased the trout to the environment and toxic to fish. - population in the stream from 30 pounds • Back-sloping and seeding of cutbanks stabilizes eroding streambanks. per acre in 1977 to 300 pounds per acre Cutbanks occur where the water is eroding the streambank at the outside of stream in 1987. bends. Usually the seeding is done with long-stem prairie grasses which stabilize Although state purchase and the cutbank and also provide shade to the stream and overhead cover for trout. restoration of coldwater streams is pos • Planting streamside vegetation, such as grasses, low shrubs and trees is a sible, Kali shek reminds that voluntary low-cost erosion control method that stabilizes the soil, slows the rate of runoff, actions by landowners is more desirable. filters out sediment and nutrients, and creates shade to cool open sections of The Section 3 19 Nonpoint Source Man streams. agement program, of the 1987 Clean • Installing in-stream structures such as bank hides or covers provides pro Water Act, is a federally funded tective cover and create holes for trout to hide in. program that assists landowners in • Installing rock and log deflector points creates narrow streams and deflects establishing water quality best manage the water flow. They form deep pools on the back sides of the points and increase ment practices (BMPs). The U.S. the velocity of the water. deepening the stream, flushing out silt and exposing the Environmental Protection Agency underlying gravel and rock rubble. (EPA) awards grants for 319 projects Before you begin any streambank protection project, check with your county and the program IS admintstered by the and local government about their requirements. For help with these and other DNR. BMPs. contact Bill Kalishek at the Manchester Fish Hatchery at (319) 927-3276. One of the Sectton 319 projects in .... Bill Kalishek on top of a bank hide at the Ensign Hollow project in Clayton County. Riprap and long-stemmed native prairie grasses were used to shelter the stream. BMPs to be installed include fencing of the stream corridor to limit livestock access to a rock/gravel crossing that can be used by both livestock and machinery. At Bigalk Creek, cattle have easy access to the stream. Another Section 319 prOJeCt stream water<,hed'> 111 northeast Iowa. worked closely with Nu% assisting h1m Wunder 1s In volved in 1s located on Carl Nu'>s, a farmer and stream m applying for REAP funds . "From a Middle Bear Creek 1n the northwest co1Tidor lando"" ner from Arlington, IS landowner's point of view," ays Nuss, comer of Winnesh1ek County. The currently part1c1patmg 111 an Ensign "the land I pay on contract must eco propen} t'> pm ate I} owned. and Creek. proJeCt I lc ongmall) staned nomlcall) pa) for Itself." Wtthout the fencmg and bank stab1ltzatton v.1ll be '>tream preservatiOn b) \Oiuntaril) REAP funds. he Sa) s he couldn't ha\ e among the flr'>t practices to be 1mple takmg some ot hi'> cropland out of done tt. "REAP 1s 1mportant to the menred. Federal .tgenc1es and pm Jtc production through the Consen at1on preservation of the natural resources in orgamzauon'> 1molved m thi~ prOJCCl Reserve Program. "The next ) ear. I IO\\a:· satd Nuss. are designing corridor exclus1on fence., took the cattle ou t of the pasture near "Landowners need to realize that and providing funding for backslopmg, Ensign and discontinued the grazing," coldwater stream restoration starts with riprappmg and seeding native pra1ric Nuss explains. "I let nature take its them,'' ays Kal ishek. "By limiting grasses Plannmg has been completed course." ltvestock access ro stream banks and and construction of the fences \\.Ill Smce then, l\lu-,.., has mstalled appl) mg BMPs. landov.. ners are rees begm thl'> }ear terraces and sed1ment ·Control basins tabltshmg the natural S) tern. Let Volunteer efforts \\ tth REAP funds and is gettmg cost nature call the shot . The needs of the The maJOflt) of lo\\ a's trout share asss1stance for umber stand trout and the charactensucs of the streams (85 percent) are privately improvement. "I also cleaned up the stream tt elf will be the true t gu1des to owned. State, federal and private trash 111 the stream," says Nuss. good management." conservation groups have formed "People thought it was a dump -- you partnersh1ps to demonstrate and Imple knov. 1t \\as common practice back Kimherly K. Coulter ts a nonpoillf ment Improved stream consen auon then... The Cia) ton Count) Sot! and sow ce mformatton spe£ ialist [01 the practices on more than 13 coldw atcr Water Consenation 01stnct has departmellf in Des Mo111es a .. people pa$ture .. by John Pearson "Fire!" someone shouted, "Ftre in ~him the hayfield!" Jffi a Oscar and Clara Sheeder glanced up ~u~~ . to see flames racing across the newly :co- mown grass, heading dtrectly toward the bales which they had JUSt harvested. Some of the stacks were already blazing. Despite their frantic e fforts during the minutes that fo llowed, the Sheeder family fought unsuccessfu lly to stop the fire from destroying more than a thousand bales and three large stacks - - their entire hay crop for the year 1946. Injury was added to insult when Clara's arms and hands were severely burned while fighting the wildfire, which had been accidently started by a discarded cigarette. This loss and inj ury prompted des to the Sheeder Family to suspend their own intentional burning program. m whtch - they had previOusly conducted con -< trolled bums every third year smce ...... C(l 0 about 1890 to stimulate the productivity et: September/October 1992 • lo"a Con-.c!'-Jtoon"t 55 The ' egetatJ on of Sheeder Prairie another. 25 actuall y nested there. The v..a ~ ~tu d 1 ed b) two graduate tudents most common nesting spec1es were yel from lov.. a State Un1ver 11y. In 1969, lowthroats, h o u ~e wrens. fi eld spar Robert Kenned) descnbed the flora rows, yell ow warblers. gray catbirds and general vegetation of the new and goldfmches. Nearl y three-fourths pre erve, mterv1ev. ed Oscar Sheeder of the ne tmg spec1es were woodland about Its hi story, and made several rec birds which were attracted to the ommendations fo r its management. He preserve by the pre ence of woody determined th at big and little bluestem vegetation. Only two species depend were the dominant grasse , that heath ent on grasslands -- dickcissels and aster, false indigo and rattlesnake grasshopper sparrows -- sporadically rn a ter were the most abundant fo rbs, nested in Sheeder Prairie. Apparently and that leadplam and New Jersey tea there was not enough open grassland in were the most common prame thi s "praine" preserve to suit the mhabitmg hru b . need of the e pra1rie bird ! The In 1983. Jon Wh ite conducted a relati ve benefit of managing the detailed study of the vegetation. He pre erve for v.-1de d1 ver Jty of bird fo und that 1t was mo tly ''dr) -me 1c" pec1e -- b) permitting woody vegeta (moderately dry) prame. Similar to tiOn lO remam -- versus managing it to parts of the Slln on, Freda Haffner and pre erve rare prairie vegetation (b) Cayler pra1rie pre erve 111 north west reducing woody cover) were actively of the1r native gra hayfi eld. After the Iowa, but that 11 also contamed orne debated among Iowa naturali ts during 1946 tragedy, more than a quarter of a mes1c (moist) prame m dramageways. the 1980 . century and a change in ownership At the ti me of Kennedy' study, ln 1989, the management plan for would occur before controlled fire the prame had not been burned fo r Sheeder Prairie was revi ed in favor of would once again be used on Sheeder more than 20 years and woody vegeta maintaining and expanding prairie Prairie, this time under the direction of ti on (mostly black will ow, boxelder vegetation. In an effort to restore state park rangers with the intention of and wild plum) had become well estab prairie vegetation invaded by trees and preserving the plant and animals of lished in the drai nageways of the shrubs, the new plan includes rotation thi s remnant tall grass prairie. preserve. Kennedy recommended that ally burning parts of the prairie for two Today, Sheeder Prairie is a 25-acre large trees not be removed, but that con ecutive year . foll owed by rest state preserve located in Guthrie small trees and shru b be controlled from fire fo r two years, as well as County. fo ur miles west of Guthrie with fi re. H1s recommendation manual cutting of Sibenan elm and Center and one mile north of Highway formed the bas1 for the management thicket of gray dogwood. Th1 cycle 44. It ha been owned by the Iowa plan fo llowed by the D R between would be foll owed by application of Department of Natural Re ources si nce 1973 and 1989. Under 11. the prairie mall quanuue of non-per 1stenr 196 1 and was dedicated as a state was di vided into north and outh halves herbicide on cut stem in order to pre erve m 1968. Most of the preserve which were individually burned every prevent re prouting. A study of the con ist of well -dramed loamy soils on two to fiv e years. However, the areas effect on pring bummg on rare plant a generall y we t-facing slope. It is of den e woody cover that had become specie ha been recently initiated by dissected by several small drainage established between 1946 and 1973, Dr. John Pleasants of Iowa State Uni ways and contains a seep about wi th a 27-year "head start" on versity. midway up one of the hillsides. A total renewed fire management, did not bum Sheeder Prairie is frequentl y used of 174 nati ve and 20 alien plant species readil y. After several bum cycles, it by groups of student and teachers occur in the prairie. The rich flora of also became evident that younger trees visiting the Springbrook Conservation Sheeder Prairie was preserved by its and shrub could recover and even Education Center nearby. It also serves unique hi story as a native grass surpass their former cover between as what naturali t John Madson calls a hayfield which was repeatedl y burned bums of thi s frequency. The result was "people pasture," a place where you wh ile pri vately owned by the Sheeder that, de pite renewed burning, woody can go imply to appreciate natural family. Re t and renewed burning vegetati on on the preserve slowly beauty in a gras land settmg. The during DNR ownership have main increased. preserve i yours to enJOy. Pay It a tamed th1 ~ d1versuy. The concept of Between 1980 and 1982, the birds visi t on your next trip through central v. hat constit utes the ''best" manage of Sheeder Praine v. ere studied by Iowa. ment for the presene has evolved in Rene Laubach of the De Moi nes the face of new find mgs and changing Center of Sc1ence and Industf). She John Pearson ts a plam ecologiSI Huh atllludes about conservation. a process found that of 64 spec1es of birds the deparrmem's presen·es and ecologi wh1ch contmues even today. observed m the preserve at one time or cal sen•tces bureau 111 Des Moines 56 lo-.u Con-.cr.•llonl\1 • ScplcmbcriO..Iobcr 1992 E ::> c ne c .s::... ,\el- .)l ~ <.> ..~ False indigo is one of the more abundant forbes found on Sheeder s ~ Prairie. ths ld ... Sheeder Prairie consists of well-drained loamy soils on a generally west-facing slope. It is dissected by several small drainageways ld· and contains a total of 174 native plant species. y tly dm ~ta- 10 } mg ror ·of ... ~ ::c0 t: ~ 0 0:: Celebrate Je f PRAIRIE UJ( \ ' J· HERITAQE d WEEK on r"es sa Sept. 6-12 Seplembcr/Ocrobcr 1992 • lo"'a Con-.e~auon1<1 57 •••••••by Angela Corio R ising 500 feet above the confluence of the Wisconsin ments had been made in the park since the 1930s when the and Mississi ppi rivers, Pikes Peak State Park provides breath Civilian Conservation Corps con tructed many park facilities. taking views of the nearly four-mile-wide river valley. The Over the years, increasmg u e and visitation began to have in park's rugged land cape of exposed rock, high bluffs, deeply creasmg 1mpacts on the park's fragile natural re ources. In carved stream valleys, waterfalls, seeps. caves and crevices many places, for example, the shallow soil on the tra.b \\aS provides timeless chann and vivid beauty. Adding to its worn away to bare rock and wuh it the ongmal vegetation. appeal are lu sh vegetation, abundant wildlife and numerous Facilities such as rest rooms and shower buildings were old archeological features such as Native American burial and and deteriorated and beyond the point of "repair." Plans for "effigy" mounds. All of this beauty is located in the aptly redevelopment began in 1980 and construction in 1990 with named "Little Switzerland" area of northeast Iowa. funds from REAP. the Resou rce Enhancement and Protection Pikes Peak was dedicated as a state park in 1937 and Fund and the Land and Water Conservation Fund of the now encompasses 970 acres. Until recently. fev. Improve- National Park Serv1ce. 58 lo"a Con~n.auonl\1 e Scplcmber:October 19'12 ••••• A major trail renovation effort was completed using a wood and steel decking system to provide a safe trail surface, while minimizing erosion and protecting the resources. A DNA trail renovation crew accomplished the project. the =ilities. Mark Edwards 131 e in· . In \1:1.' ion. :old 0~ for \1 ,th 1eetioO e Seplember/O 60 lov.a Con~rvdllonoq e Seplcmb.!riO ••••• Additional facilities include a modern rest room in the picnic/overlook area; a childrens' play structure; an information bulletin board; enlarged paved pedestrian area with seating near the enclosed picnic shelter; two additional small picnic "gazebos" ; and a shower/rest room building in the campground. September/October 1992 e Iowa \on,ervauon"t 61 WARDEN'S DIARY by Chuck Humeston Six Steps Guaranteed to Ruin Your Sport Rrrrnng. "Hello?" ''You the game warden?" "Yes." ''I've got people tre passing out here .. " Rrrrnng. "Hello?" "Someone JU St hot a pheasant tn the grove next to m) house .. :· L------Rrn nn~. "Hello?" "I've found a bunch of deer htdes respect fu ll ) ts JUSt common courteS). tt elf posstbly a reflection of how \\e thro~ n under a bndge ...·· Trespasstng "tolauons are the percetve our natural re ource in Rrrrnng "Hello?" number one complatnt I hear about general? Do you dtspose of tho e "Yeah. I JU t saw someone drivmg hunters. hides and sk.ins properly or toss them by my place wtth a gun sucking out off the nearest bndge for all to ee? the car wmdow ..." Shooting next to a house or These are just a sampling of some li vestock. Shooting at signs or any other of the calls we get at home. When we Iowa law requires you to be at property for target practice. follow up on the calls, can you guess least 200 yard~ away unless you have This is an act of vandalism. But what opmions the callers have formed permtsston. How would you feel to anyone who sees that stgn, usually about hunters? hear shots bouncmg off your house? think-s. "Hunter dtd that." Some people seem to go out of How would you feel wllh your thetr way to ruin the sport for others. famtl) tn the yard? Carele s gun handling. Sure. I realtLe the majority of hunters On one occa ton I hunted with a do a good JOb of obeying laws and Shooting from a vehicle. person who tarted twtrling ht hotgun 1~ ethtcs. I'll talk about them tn another Of course tt's tllegal. Yes. it ltk.e a baton. I never hunted with htm column. But for now. J want you to mak.es that ..,hot at the phea ant or agatn . What about taktng that hot I constder JUSt stx acttons. These six deer tn the ditch easter. But. ho\\ when you can't ee the target back nerot actions and thetr continuing abuse are doe.., tt dtsplay you as a hunter? Are ground? Or are you gutlty of occasion of !he guaranteed to rum your sport in the you too la1y to wal k. ? It violates not ally leaning that loaded gun again t the the 1' eyes of the public. Notice, that's your only the law but also the very car? Or maybe your "habtt" i forget restde \eo sport. We, as officers. can't protect it essence of the sport. ting to unload the gun? ~ for you. There are too few of us. The It only takes a momentary mental Painti1 future of hunting is your responsibility Disrespect for wildlife. lapse to cause an accident. Unsafe gun :at an1 and depends on how you conduct In some countries, the hunt is handling is not only unethical, it kills. of the yourself a~ a hunter. Just take this treated wi th great ceremony and the an act sampling of six. and then think, "Do I game wi th reverence. Here, we This is just a Ii t of a few things. ·~s3s see myself?" often treat the game as a commodity. I'm not intending to be judgmental. taken One day J got a call from a very I'm just telling you what I see and the qu T respassing. upset person about a deer whtch had hear. an tee Thts has to be the ultimate tn been legally shot. but had been Ye , omeume · I am outraged. 'Ihing. arrogance. Oh. tt's tempting to run tn suspended fro1en over the stair More tmportantly. tf you as a hunter. a \Vg~ qUtckly. No one wtll see. But tt closes ratlmg of a bustness ltke a Christmas sport!lperson. ee the e occumng, you tar ~ta more doors 'O hunttng every year. remdeer M) phone started ringing should be too. P~:th~ Every ume you take to the field People have a fundamental nght to be off the wall with persons who failed }our 0 secure tn thetr property. Asktng to sec any humor tn the situation. you are an ambas. ador for )Ourself. ani st. permtsston and handling a denial Is not our treatment of the game your sport and other hunters. 1993 State Waterfowl Stamp Iowa legend Maynard Reece, five-time win ner of the federal duck stamp design, has created Iowa's 1993 state waterfowl stamp. Iowa Ducks Unlimited coordinates the development of the design. Because of DU's involvement, there are two ways to buy the art print Iowa DU provides the print to all donor members who contribute $200. For more information, contact your local DU chapter, or state president John Kruse at (7 12)732-4370. Or, the Maynard Reece Gallery has published 600 1\\ v.e stgned and numbered prints that sell for $ 125 each. n Christmas delivery is guaranteed. The gallery is 1se located at 3512 Ingersoll, Des Moines, IA 50312; , !hem (515)274-1880. The image size of the print meas see? ures 6- 1/2" x 11". Add $5 if you wish to buy a regular state duck stamp with your print "Landing-M a/lards" . But ally ilh a 1993 Habitat and Trout Stamps sho!gv" lhlulll Fonner Iowa arttst Brian Wignall, previous win shot ner of the Iowa trout stamp contest and two-time winner ' 1ac~· of the Pheasants Forever Print of the Year, has created :casion· the 1993 habitat and trout stamp designs. Brian now ainstthe resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, as art director for the Las rorgel· Vegas Natural History Museum. He has created a painting titled "Streamside Grouse" that both the habi mental tat and trout stamp designs will be taken from . Posters afe gun of the trout and habitat design measure 17" x 29" with it ~ilh. an actual image size of 12" x 24". The cost of the poster is $35 plus $5 for shipping and handling. Orders will be ~ing' taken until the cutoff date of October 15 to determine :oral. the quantity to be printed. Christmas delivery is guar d anteed. To order, send check or money order to: Wild Thmgs by Brian Wignall. P.O. Box 27474, Las Vegas, "Stream Side Grouse" NV 89126- 1474; (702)258-8484. Add $5 for the habi tat stamp and $ 10 for the trout stamp if you wish to purcha e them with your poster. Please indicate with your order tf you \\Ould like your stamps signed by the field arttst. elf.