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·~~~ 1\~ CONTENTS
Iowa CONSERVATIONIST
July/August 1993 Volume 52, Number 4
STAFF RO NATURAL RESOURCE COMMISSION Barbara Nelson Chairperson Ruthven Marian Kieffer Vtce-Cha.rpetWn, Bellevue Mark DoD Secrewy Counctl Blurf\ Rlcbud Garnts Moont Plea.ant Thomas G . Monroe, Stgoumey Douglas R. Smalle)' Des Mot~ La•onoe M. Troyna, New Hampton page 20 page 29 ENVIRONJ\.t ENTAL PROTECTION COMMISSION Richard Hartsuck Chaupenon. Dei Momes FEATURES Clark A. Yeager, Vtce-Ch.luper\On, Ottumwa Nancylee A. Sltbenmann Secretary. Cedar Raptd ~ 4 ARCHAEOLOGY ANDIOWA'SSTATEPRESERVES Verion Brill. Elgm Willlam Ebm, Cmton by Shirley J. Schermer Rozanne King, Mondamm Charlotte Mohr, Eldndge Margaret M. Prahl, Stoux Ctty 11 ASK BERNIE THE BIOLOGIST by Bernie Schonhoff Gary C. Priebe, Algona DIRECTOR 16 ALL IN A DAY'S WORK by Lowell Washburn Larry J , Wilson DEPUTY DIRECTOR 20 HISTORY OF lOWA' S FOREST RESOURCES by Dennis Michel Don Paulin DIVISION ADMINISTRATORS 24 HOME IMPROVEME NTS by Jim Scheffler Stan Kuhn Admtnt SPECIAL PHONE NUMBERS by R. H. (Dick) McWilliams DNR Central Office, (SIS) 281-SI45 Emergency Sptll Respon~ . (SIS) 281-8694 Telccommumcauon' Devtce for the Deaf. 38 NORTHWEST IOWA-- THE SAUDI ARABIA OF WIND ENERGY Iowa Consu,•atwnut (ISSN 0021·0471) ts published 44 POLLUTION PREVENTION REALLY PAYS by Larry Gibson btmonlhly by the Iowa Dcpanment of Natural Resources, Wallace Slate Offoce Butldmg, Des Momes, Iowa S0319· 0034 Second clas\ postage patd m Des Momes, Iowa. and 60 FIREFLIES by Rob Simbeck addtuonal matltng offices Subscription rates: $9.97 ror STATE LIBRARY OF IOWA one year, $14.97 ror two ywrs ond $ 19.97 ror three year5. Prices s ubject to change without noti~e . Include East 12th & Grand mat lt ng label for renewal\ and address changes. POST DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 MASTER Send changes 10 the Iowa Consuvattomst, DEPARTMENTS Dcpanmcnl of Natural Resource\, Wallace Slate Office Butldmg, De\ Motne\, Iowa 50319-0034 50 The Practical Conservationist 52 Conservation Update Under Tille VI of the 1964 Ctvtl Rtghl~ Act. SectiOn S04 57 Classroom Comer 62 Warden's Diary of the Rebabtltt~uon Act of 1973 the Age Dtscnmmauon A•t of 1975 and Ttlle IX of the Educalton Amendments of 1972. redcr-.d n:gulauon\ prohtbtl dtscnmtnatton on the b;"'sof race,color, n~honal ongtn, \C~ or handtcap If you COVERS belteve lhal you have been dt'>Cnmtnated agamst m any program. aclt>lly, or factluy as de July/August 1993 • lo"'a Con..crvattont\t 3 - --- - ~- ...... present preserve status tn one or more of the deglaci by Shirley J. Schermer other category types -- geological , by bon natural(biOlogical), hi stoncal or forests scemc. Conver ely, many preserves andoa not designated specifically as ar if pres~ chaeological preserves do contam mobile archaeological sites. no\\-el mamm CULTURAL HISTORY OF IOWA Curren For many people, Iowa's history v. ithin extends back onl y to the first white daung European settlers. However, there and Iowa's State Preserves were people inhabiting what is now \t Iowa for thousands of years before European settlement Prehistoric F~ env1r01 archaeologists study the period of human h1 story before 1t was written. qUJckl1 oda) people are director of the Iowa Archaeological mixed Sun C) Keyes. considered by many to With no wnuen documents available. aware that our ~ be the father of Iowa archaeology, the matenal remams left by past upphe of natural State 1 cultures are the pnmary evidence re ource hke oil and recommended. m the 1930s and 40 . 18 a archaeologists have to reconstruct the clap~ coal are dimmi hmg. 1te for state purcha e and pre erva condm pa t. Preh1 tory IS the maJOnty of the Many people know it non. Srx of those s1tes ha\ e mce been gathen ded1 cated as state pre erve . Three total human story. IS neces ary to and the conserve the natural additional s1tes are now protected Paleo-Indian panem resource that are w1thm Effi gy Mounds National The environment dunng the ha\e bl still left. Con ervation of our cultural Monument. Paleo-In dian penod was vastly re ources is also necessary if we want There arc currentl y 16 preserves different from that of today. The to increase our knowledge of the past. dedicated for their archaeological climate was cooler and wetter than Many archaeological sites that might significance. Several qualify for have been able to tell u about ancient mammoth hunters, mound bu ilders or prehistonc vill agers are being de stroyed. Archaeological sites are non renewable resources. When they are destroyed. they are gone forever. Many things, even nature itself, can endanger s1tes. Much archaeologi cal mformauon IS lost each year through eros1on. plow ing, mdu trial and res1denual development, and h1 ghway construction. Even if broken and scattered artifacts are found later, most of the informati on about the site and its occupants is lost. People digging up artifacts without regard to the site and the knowledge it contains pose dangers as well . Archaeolog1cal preserves were established to encourage the study and -;:; apprcc1at1 on of prehistoric and historic X... :$ cult ures 111 Iowa. The need to preserve 0 9 1mportant archacolog1cal sites for 0 .c fut ure generauon-. was recognized as c.. ":$ carl y a-. 1920 by Charles R. Ke) es. past ~ 0 :::- 7 ~ ~ .."c Woodland pottery vessel :J - present averages. The recently diverse environment. Toward the end Woodland deglaciated land capes were covered of the Archaic period, population The Woodland tradition was by boreal and conifer-hardwood levels appear to have mcrea ed characterized by the construction of forests, sh1fung through time to elm substantially. The con truction of burial mounds and by improved and oak-dommated woodlands. Prairie, large communal bunal grounds, or technologies, such as ceram1cs and if present, was very limited. The ossuaries, suggest that Archaic groups horticulture. which lead to increa ed mobile Paleo-Ind1an peoples hunted were becoming more sedentary. efficiency. The basic hunting and now-extinct large mammals such as Brushy Creek State Preserve in gathering subsistence strategy, contin mammoth, mastodon and giant bison. Webster County was dedicated for its ued from the Archaic period, was Currently there are no known sites archaeological, geological and natural pursued during all of the Woodland within the State Preserves System features. The area was occupied by cultural phases. Nati ve plants oft en dating to this period. Middle Archaic people who camped thought of as weeds today were grown in the Brushy Creek bouomlands and for their nutritious seeds. Woodl and Archaic used the abundant plant and animal farmers developed domesticated Following the end of the Ice Age, resources. One of the early Middle varieties of some native grain crops environments changed relatively Archaic sites contai ns evidence of long before com or beans became quickly, as deciduous woodlands, bison killing and butchering. important. mixed w1th prames m western areas, The next maJor period of human Ceramics are an example of one became establtshed over most of the occupation in the Brushy Creek very important artifact for the archae state. The Archa1c culture was an valley occurred approximately 1,000 ologist. They are breakable, yet the adaptauon to forest and riverine to 1,200 years ago, when Late broken pieces, or sherd • occur in conditions w1th mtensive hunting and Woodland people used the uplands abundance after hundreds of years m the gathering. Th1s economic adaptation for seasonal hunting. A burial mound ground. Ceramics were also an avenue and the seasonally mobile senlement group located within the pre erve of artistic expression. The appearance of patterns of Archaic peoples seem to boundaries was built by these Wood pottery during Woodl and times is have been a response to the seasonally land people. significant because it indicate that people may have become more seden tary. Earlier peoples used light-weight, T Example of effigy mounds built by the Late Woodland culture. This aerial was taken at Effigy Mounds National Monument in Allamakee County. owlo northe eXI'! C bULl arne bUill ( pen tmol aT) CQ b) CaJ are se \IClnl a roc' and 1 bee preser listed HI,IOJ llm1 ston n ArchJ indue .. charactented by tnfluences from what change "'as the bo\\ .md arrow Com uon a Rock shelter at Woodman Hollow archaeologtsts call the Hopewell was introduced to many groups after borro• State Preserve, Webster County lnteractton Sphere -- a bunal cult or around A D. 800 but dtd not form a pah~ dunnt religion This tnteraction sphere staple crop unlll A.D I 000 Whtlc t conststed of the exchange of tdeas and mound bUtldtng conunued mto the Potter portable skm bag~ or carried woven raw materials among cultures over a Late Woodland penod, mound Creek \\'OQd con tamer~ made from the mner bark of wtde area but "" tth local vanattons and construcuon was generally simpler tree~ or reeds. Nomadic hunters and modifications. Trading involved raw than in the preceding penod. An ~In an gatherers wou ld not have wanted to material-. such as Kntfe Rtver fltnt from tnteresttng vartation appeared in the Amer carry heavy breakable pots. When they North Dakota. obsidt an from the Upper Mtssisstppi Rt ver valley area- lllin01 began to settle tn vi llage for part~ of Yellow~ t o ne Park area. and shells from the construction of effigy--.haped sugge the year. however, they found many the Gulf Coast, as well as htgh qualtty mounds. peopll uses for pottery. stone and ceramtc arttfacts Bunal In Turkey River Mounds State ts sigr Earthen mounds are believed to mounds of tht s penod are more Preserve, on top of a scemc narrow lOg th have been constructed primanly for complex than earlier or later mounds. ridge overlooking the Mi sissippt group reltgtous, ceremonial and bunal Most Mtddle Woodl and people Rtver and the mouth of the Turkey purposes These symbolic features and probably lived in small communities or Ri ver, are 43 burial mounds and a u the cooperative construction effort~ farmsteads, focusing thetr subsistence emtcircular dttch whtch enclo es three B of the mounds. Mound construclton and o· needed were eemingly associated with economy on food resources in large tl btP 11, rebtrth and death. The predomt nver valleys and tendtng gardens of panned the "transtllonal" Archaic by cu nant type of archeological feature in the squash, tobacco and native grain crops Woodland period through the Late ture •. State Preserves System ts rhat of the such a mar helder and goosefoot Woodland Effigy Mound penod. Most ~este burial mou nd group. Although hun By Late Woodland times popula of the unexcavated mounds wtthtn the ~lilll dreds of mounds dotted htlltops and tion levels apparently mcrea ed raptdly. preserve -- an effigy mound. linear Platn terraces along ri vers and streams even a For the most part, settl ements were mounds, and conJoined contcals garde hundred years ago, man> have been small and dispersed across the land probably date to Late Woodland . The eanhl destroyed by culti vatton, construction scape. Although the wtdespread Turkey Rtver State Pre erve Archaeo soc,aJ and vandalism exchange of exoti c raw materials and logical Di trict wa listed on the the'ie Early Woodland settlements were artt facts declined, some trade and Nattonal Regtster in 1989 rneat small and seasonally occuptcd. stmilar contact wtlh other groups continued. A Fish Farm Mound Indian and h to those of the Late Archatc penod technologtcal de\ elopment appeanng at Mounds State Preserve contams at robe The Mtdd/e Woodland period is tht '> time and contributing to cultural least 28 mounds on a htgh terrace Bison overlooktng the M1 ~~ ~.,~1ppi River in variet) of t oo l ~ -. uch a., '>Capula hoes. "aile). northe a~ t I o~ a T~ o other mounds u ed in gardenmg and d1gg1ng Wittrock Indian Village State exi t outs1de of the pre<,erve boundaries The Great Oam culture de' eloped Preserve is a M1ll Creek "1llage located but arc cons1dercd to be part of the fro m the local Late Woodland culture tn O'Bnen Count) 111 north we'>t l o~a same slle. Some of the mounds were around A.D. I000 Vtll age-. \vere It \vas the first archaeolog1cal '>lte built dunng the M1ddle Woodland ~itu a ted on low terrace'> above the fl ood dedicated in the Preserve'> S) '>tern penod by people at lca~ t peripherally plai ns of nvers and '> tream'>, and on lake Thanks to the W1 ttrod. fa mtly. ~ h o involved w1th the Hopcwclli an mortu shores. Large. permanent ' 11lagc.., tna) plowed arou nd the '>llC unlll 11 wa'> ary complex. Other mounds were built have been occup1ed b) the enu re acq uired by the DNR 111 1937. much of by early Late Woodland groups. There popul ation throughout the fall , w1nter the sttc re m a in ~ tntact. are several s it e~ tn the immediate and spring. Smaller, temporary camp The si te is situated on a low terrace vicinity of Fi sh Farm Mounds including sites were used for ~ea so n a l gathering of on the eastern bank of Waterman a rock shelter, another mound group resources. During the su mmer, a Creek. a tri butary of the Little Sioux and two village s it e~. all of which may communal bison hunt or the c~ t ab li s h Ri ver. Occup1ed between A. D. I I 00 be culturally associated with this ment of small ca mp ~ it c~ for horticul and 1300. the vi llage was '>U ITOunded preserve. The F1 ~ h Farm Mounds were tural purposes may have led to tempo by a rectangular di tch -- '> llll VISible listed on the Nau onal Register of rary abandonment of the large ~e ttl e today -- and a palt sade u'>ed for Histone Places tn 1988. ments. fo rtification. Depres~ I O ll '> tn the land Hartley Fort State Preserve is a Although the main dl'> llncm e surface refl ect the locauons of 20 small fort1fied Late Woodland village feature of Gitchie Manitou State semisubterranean house'> butl t b) the in Allamakee County tn northea t Iowa. Preserve 1s geolog1caL '>C \ Cral archaeo "ill age occupant '> . This 1s a prt \ ate preserve and permis logical s1te'> are located ~ 1th1 n the The site \Va'> ded1cated a'> a sion must be obtamed to "isll the ite. pre erve boundaries Prehl '>tonc '> llC'> National H1 stonc Landmark 111 1965 Archaeological deposlls at Hartley Fort include a po~"> lbl e mound group and Although the preser"e 1s '> t a t e - o~ned, incl ude an earthen enclosure. a habita three habitation tion area, nmc comcal mounds and a site . A recent borrow pll. Storage pits. buri als and archaeological palisade postholes were uncovered survey of this during excavations in the 1960s. preserve identifi ed Pottery indicates contact with the Mill one and possibly Creek culture in northwest Iowa, Late two Great Oasis Woodland cultures in southern Wiscon sites. sin and Mi ssiss1ppian sites in the Mill Creek American Bottom ncar East St. Loui s. villages appear as Illinois. Archaeological evidence deep accumulati ons suggests the sue was later used by of habitation refu se. people of the Oneota culture. The site or m1dden depos its, is significant in relation to under tand on terraces above ing the interaction of late prehistoric the Big and Little groups tn the Upper Mi ssissippi Valley. Sioux rivers and their tributaries. Late Prehistoric Many of the By A.D. 1000, the earlier hunting compact villages and gathering groups had been repl aced were fortified with by cultures based primarily on horticul log palisades and ture -- in eastern Iowa, the Oneota; in encircling ditches. western Iowa, Oneota, Great Oasis, Within the vill ages JSl Mill Creek, and Glenwood (Central were indi vidual e Plains). Improved corn varieties, earthlodges with garden surpluses, new storage methods, large internal storage pits containing the A earthlodgc houses, and a complex produce from their corn plots along Wood duck effigy pipe found at social orga mzauon were common to with native crops Communal bison Toolesboro Mounds, Louisa County these Late Prch1 toric villagers. Bi on hunts were probably conducted on one meat was a common item in the diet, or more occasions dunng the year. M1ll and h1de., were processed for clothing, Creek people mamtamed connectiOns, robes. l odge~ and tepee covenngs. po sibly through trade. v.llh maJOr B1 on bo ne~ were mod1fied mto a prehistoric centers 111 the M l'>~ I '>S 1pp1 acce s i acros pnvate property. western Iowa near Glenwood. these eastern Iowa as well as extens1ve parts Permi sion from the adjacent land s1tes occur as scattered home tead and of central and northwestern Iowa. owner is nece ary to visit the ite. small clusters of houses along ridges Oneota peoples lived throughout the The archaeological remains of and bluff , and in the valleys of the Midwest between around A.D. I 000 communitie along the Mi ouri Ri ver M1 ssouri River and its tributaries. and 1700. Oneota vi llages were large m ea tern Nebra ka. outhwe tern Currently there are no known Central and sprawlmg with numerous torage Iowa. northwe tern M1 soun. and Plams Jtes w1thin the State Preserves pits scattered throughout. Shell northea tern Kansas are grouped into Sy<>tem tempered. globular-shaped pot what i called the Nebra ka pha e of Dunng the Late Preh1stonc period decorated with geometric de 1gns are the Central Plains trad1t1on. In outh- the Oneora culture dom1nated much of d1 tmct1ve and found in abundance on Oneota sites. The subsistence economy was based on fishing, hunting, plant ~ WlrTIOCK II COHSfiUCIIOH Reconstruction collecung and agriculture. Oneota diagram of the complexes are ancestral to several Wittrock Indian m1dwestern tnbes such a the Iowa. Village, O'Brien Oto. Mtssoun and Winnebago. County Hi toric Indians and Euro- Americans C A USEWA Y Early Euro-American trappers and traders in the eastern part of the state --N would have likely encountered the 0 :..._,~ --...... :J'90 n Iowa. Dakota. Sauk and Mesquak.ie fll lD P LAN (HT.Y ..... tnbes By the early to mid-1700s. the • EA• JH lODGE : .. 9' W U NUS OEPI£HION S • ::~.~:::. Iowa were mo\ mg west due to mcrea - •fv-J-.. . ' ~ ' '' 0 ing pressures from group to the ea t - .,,o '19 18 '. '. ', 0 ..o '20 \ ' ~ . 0 Great Lak.es group mcluding the Sauk, 16 ~ EN IIY I 17 0 t The sites at the mouth of Catfi sh Creek comprise the area that has been an intricate part of the prehi stori c occupation of the region, the foc us of early histori c American Indian and Euro-American interaction, as well as the site of an early American mining settlement. Hi torical documentation is imprecise enough to rat e uncertai nty as to the exact locations of the vanous structures a ociated wi th Julten Dubuque's establi hment. Whtle archaeologists do not have enough evidence at thi potnt to conclu ively pi npoint the location of the c struc tures, it doe appear at least some of Dubuque's seulement occurred in this site complex near the mouth of Catfis h by Fort Armstrong at Rock Island, Fort subsequent influx of trappers and Creek. Crawford at Prairie du Chien and Fort traders. The lead depostts in the area The most readily observed features Atkinson in Winneshi ek County. In drew international attention to the of the lead mining in the M ines of 1833, much of eastern Iowa was region as early as 1682. Spain are the mine pits, adits and opened fo r non-Indian settlement, in The prehistoric cultural sequence shafts. Archaeological evidence for the 1846 Iowa was granted statehood, and of the M ines of Spain follows the lumbering and farming acti vi ties that by 1850 small towns were scattered general pattern for the rest of Iowa and replaced lead mining as econo mtc across the state. the midwestern Umted States. Prehis pursuits include stone fences, a erie Catfish Creek State Preserve is toric evidence such a bunal mounds, of old roads, several historic founda located in the northern portion of the rock helters, vi llage and camp slles, tions and a small ht toric fa mily Mines of Spain State Recreation Area, and numerous artifacts mdtcate cemetery. Historical and archaeological south of the city of Dubuque. The previous occupation in the area dating evidence indicate the area wa al o Mines of Spain ha been listed as a as far back as approximately 8.000 used for weekend or summer retreats histone dtstnct on the National Regis years. Although the lead ore in this area by at least two Dubuque families in the ter of Historic Places and has been had been known to Europeans since the latter part of the 1800s. nominated as a National Historic 1600s, the lead region of the Upper Fort Atkinson State Preserve is Landmark. The natural resources of the M ississippi Valley was contro lled by located along the Turkey Ri ver in e Mines of Spain attracted both prehis American Indians until the 1820s and Winneshiek County in northeast Iowa. toric and hi storic inhabitants to the 30s. The Neutral Ground, a 40-mi le wide area. Julien Dubuque spent 22 years strip fro m the Mississippi River to Des For the prehistoric people, the living and working with the Mesquakie Moines, was established in 1830 by the Mississippi Ri ver wa a source of food, Indians at the Mines of S pain . His lead U.S. government in a peace effort to 1, water and a transportation route. The mining establishment included a wharf, separate the Sioux (to the north) and rt rock fo rmations provided surveillance a blacksmith shop and fo rge, a mill , a the Sauk, Mesquakie and Iowa. In r points, landmarks, shelter and possibly smelting furnace, boats, min ing 1840, the army tried to move the ceremomal sues. Abundant plant equipment, live tock, fur trade para Winnebago from W isconsin to the resources and wtldltfe provided food phernalia, and housmg fo r him, his eastern half of the Neutral Ground. and clothmg for the preht tone people French a sociate and se' era I hundred where they were provtded wtt h an and later auracted Euro-Amen can Indians, a well a. the lead mine Indian agency and chool. The J interest tn htdes and fu r and the them el\eS. Winnebago , however, were rel uctant Fish Spawning Species Time Temperature Northern Pike March-April 35 degrees Walleye April 45-50 degrees White Crappie April-May 56 degrees Black Crappie April-May 58 degrees Carp April-June 58-68 degrees White Bass April-June 58-70 degrees Largemouth Bass May-June 63-68 degrees Bluegill May-August 70-80 degrees Channel Catfish May-July 75 degrees Brook Trout October-November 50 degrees Do all fish spawn at the same time of can be a bit of a problem. Tempera year? ture and lack of oxygen are your No. There is quite a difference in the greatest enemies in this battle, so spawning time of many fish species. here are my recommendations One of the earliest species is the starting from the time you head northern pike, which usually spawns home until you head out to the lake in March or April when the water again. temperature is only about 35 degrees First of all, look in your minnow -- just three degrees above freezing. bucket and get rid of any minnows Northems have been known to spawn that are injured or look stressed. Fill under the ice. Largemouth bass don't your bucket with some cool water begin spawning until water tempera from the lake -- not the water in the tures are 63-68 degrees which, in shallows by the boat ramp where the Iowa, usually occurs in May or June. sun has been shining all day, but in Channe~ catfish really like it hot some deeper water that has been before they become amorous. They shaded. If your trip home takes don't start spawning until water more than an hour, try putting the temperatures reach the mid-70s minnow bucket in your cooler to which can occur in Iowa anywhere keep the temperature from climbing from late May to July. Brook trout too high. Don't let the bucket sit in are at the other extreme. They don't the sun in a closed vehicle for too spawn until October or November long. when the water temperature has Once you're home the minnows dropped back down to around 50 will still need a cool place to live degrees. with plenty of fresh water. I suggest See table above for a list of the using a cooler or half of a clean fish mentioned plus some other plastic drum to keep your minnows. popular species and their spawning Place the cooler in your basement or times and temperatures. in an old refrigerator. Keeping the temperature down does several I like to go crappie fishing using jigs things -- it reduces the stress on the tipped with minnows, but I usually minnows, allows the water to hold have some minnows left over from more oxygen, and it slows the spread each trip. How can I keep them alive of most diseases. until the next trip? Your minnows will need fresh A jig and minnow combination is a water every few days. If you live great way to really tie into good where the water is chlorinated, you numbers of crappie, but as you've will need to let the water set for noted, keeping the minnows alive several days so most of the chlorine 12 Iowa Conservationist • July/August 1993 --- Water Ia the moat denH, or h•vlut, at 39 degreaa. Both waa mer and colder water are lighter. Once the water reaches 39 degreaa, It displaces the wamwr, lighter water at the bottom of the lake. Thla lighter water then rlaea. Thla Ia known as •take turnover. • (Top photo) One of the •rlleat apaclea to spawn Ia the northern pike, which usually spawns In March or April. (Far left photo) Storing minnows In a cool place and changing the water frequsnUy will help keep minnows alive between fishing trips. (Left photo) July/Auptl993 e Iowa Coaservabooist 13 of fish, buy an inexpensive aquarium pump and air stone and keep a steady stream of bubbles rising to the surface of the water at all times. A quick recap -- • Keep fish cool and in good shape until you get home. • Replace the water with fresh, cool, well-oxygenated water at least once a week. • Avoid chlorinated water. • Continue to sort out any injured or stressed fish or any that show signs of fungus. You should be able to keep your minnows for a couple of months withoU\ worrying about feeding them. What does it mean when people talk about a lake turning over? A fairly simple question with a rather complex answer. Let's start with a short lesson in limnology (the science of processes in which matter and energy are transformed will gas off. Chlorine is very hard within a lake). The lesson starts Effect of Temperature on fish, but why is another question. with the fact that water is the most Upon the Density If your water is heavily chlorinated dense, or heaviest, at 39 degrees or you want to be extra cautious, Fahrenheit. Water both warmer and been of Water most pet stores sell de-chlorinating colder than this is lighter. The fact Pool tablets for aquariums. that everyone has observed but may Temperature Density Even if you have well water it not have thought much about is that might be advisable to a1Jow the ice at 32 degrees is 8.5 percent 32 degrees 0.99987 --water water to set for a few days. Some lighter than water at 32 degrees. 0.9168 --ice well water has very low concentra That is why ice floats. Water is one tions of dissolved oxygen. Almost of the few substances that is less 34 degrees 0.99903 directly opposite from this is the fact dense in its solid form than in its that well water can be super satu liquid form. The table above may 38 degrees 0.99999 rated with some gases such as help explain this unique characteris nitrogen. Allowing the water to set tic. 39 degrees 1.0000 for a few days alleviates both these In the fall as the surface water problems. cools and gets closer and closer to 42 degrees 0.99997 Another reason for letting the that 39-degree point, it becomes water set is so the temperature will more and more dense or heavy. adjust to the same temperature as the This heavier water then displaces water the minnows are in now. Fish the warmer, lighter water at the can go into thermal shock if they are bottom of the lake. This lighter quickly moved to water that is more water then rises. This is known as than five degrees different from the lake turnover. In the winter where water they are in. would the lightest water be and shad In order to maintain adequate where would the heaviest water be? bait dissolved oxygen levels you should The heaviest water would be at the not try to keep more than one or two very bottom of the lake and the minnows per gallon of water. If you temperature of that water would be want to keep higher concentrations that magic 39 degrees. The lighter 14 Iowa Conservauonist • July/August 1993 and cooler water would be above and What family offishes has the channel catfish and bullhead, and would be progressively colder toward greatest number of species in the the ever-ugly flathead catfish. the surface with the coldest water at Mississippi? Well, that gets us to sixth place, 32 degrees just under the ice. Re You might be able to guess when I and like I said in the beginning, member the ice itself is 8.5 percent tell you most of its members never there are 28 families, some of which lighter than the water and therefore get more than a few inches long. only have one species in the Missis floats. If water did not posses this The minnow family has 48 species sippi. The bowfin is one such unique characteristic, it certainly found in the Mississippi which is example -- that strange prehistoric would ruin ice fishing. just about one third of the total looking fish with the long dorsal fin number of species. The most that inhabits backwaters of the How many different kinds offish are famous member of this family has Mississippi. The even stranger found in the Mississippi River? to be the carp -- that Asian trans looking paddlefish is another Well, if you mention the Mississippi plant that occurs everywhere. example. Its closest living relative River most people think of catfish, - maybe channel catfish, maybe ttalliead catfish, But definitely catfish. ... 147 species of fish representing 28 Many people Oie swprised to find that the Mississippi ilso has viable families are known to occur in the pOpulations of walleye, sauger, largemouth bass and even smallmouth Upper Mississippi River. · bass. Yes, that resident of clear northern lakes and freestone streams also graces the mighty Mississippi. In fact, 147 species of fish representing 28 families are known to occur in the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) - What family has the second most is found in China. In the lower pools that portion of the river north of the number of species in the UMR? and the open river there is even an confluence with the Ohio River at The same hint for this group as for obscure species named the mosquito Cairo, lllinois. the minnow group would apply - fish that gives birth to live young. Believe it or not trout have even most members never get much So, as you can see, the Old Miss been taken in the UMR as far south as larger than minnows. Although this is a lot more than just a catfish creek. Pool 14 near Davenport, Iowa. Of is true, the lesser-known members It contains a full range of fish species course, not all of the 147 species occur of this family are even more -- something you might keep in mind throughout the entire UMR. Those obscure to most anglers than the the next time you're trying to decide species of interest to anglers, such as minnows. However, the more where to go fishing. walleye, sauger, largemouth bass, famous members of this family are And, by the way, that rumor you channel catfish, bluegill and crappie sought after by many more anglers. heard is true. There is -- or at least are abundant in the pooled portion Have you figured it out yet? The was -- a shark in the Mississippi ... from Alton, Illinois north, ut most second largest family of fishes • a bull shark found in Pool 26 near become uncommon in the open river found in the UMR is the perch Alton. The bull shark is an innocent below Alton. family which includes those highly species that often wanders into prized species -- the walleye and streams and estuaries. That other Which single species would you sauger. This family has 18 species rumor you heard is also true - guess has the greatest number of found in the UMR, the majority of "Fishing is great in the Hawkeye individuals in the UMR ? which, called darters, never get State." Need a hint? Some ocean-going more than a few inches long. species of this family taste really Two families that come in a good on crackers after they've been close third and fourth with 15 a.'ld Have a question you'd like to see pickled. The family is the herring 14 species, respectively, are the considered for my next article? Send family, and the most abundant single sucker family and sunfish family. it to me at the Fairport Fish Hatch species in the UMR is the gizzard The sunfish family contains the ery, Rte. 3, Muscatine, Iowa 52761. shad -- a prey species and well-known much-sought-after largemouth bass bait fish of catfish anglers. The and its equally popular cousin the gizzard shad is classed as abundant smallmouth, as well as bluegill and from Cairo, Illinois all the way to the crappie. Bernie Schonhoff is a fisheries Twin Cities, often reaching hundreds In fifth place, we find the biologist for the department at the of pounds per acre in some areas. catfish family with the ever-popular Fairport Fish Hatchery. July/August 1993 • Iowa Conservatinni>~ !r5 by Lowell Washburn \\ tdeS' perhaJ E Stt of ,n( office emJn yeMS . • state 1 kill .' dunn popu by he flu~rv stre !ugh Have you ever wondered what to According to Bill Jinkinson, field emil' do with a pile containing more than office supervisor for the department's ofte~ 14,000 dead and rapidly decaying Mason City office, the field work in fishet laying hens? No? Well, then how about each district falls into two main offict this one. Have you ever wondered categories -- routine and nonroutine. mctdt what to do with that little puddle of One of the main purposes of each fluorescent ooze that leaked from a field office is to conduct inspections of at del barrel on a truck that just pulled off the various facilities to evaluate compli and u interstate? You know, the puddle that ance with environmental regulations. numt just caused the county sheriff to "Typically, these include the periodic Stell I suddenly become unconscious and fall inspections of landfills, municipal ~ face ftrst into the parking lot of a busy wastewater treatment plants, industrial first t fast-food restaurant. No, I haven't had wastewater treatment sites, public poilu to deaJ with that one either, and I don't water upplies, underground storage strea~ think I want to. tank sites, and industrial air pollution kno\\ I've also never had to try and sites," says Jinkinson. times _g0 figure out which way a deadly cloud of "Of course it is the nonroutine c. escaped anhydrous ammonia is going aspect of our work that generates the 0.:z f~llol 0 to head next, or how to safely remove most public interest. But it is also the Ptpe I 7,000 gallons of gasoline from the lift part of the job that can instantly throw b} aI ... station of a public water treatment all of your plans out the window and Ingd Hazardous spill specialists work to plant, or who or what j ust ki lled all the make life extremely interesting," he contain an anhydrous ammonia leak tiatly from this railway tank in Aplington in fi h in a favorite fishing hole. chuckle . li\e f 1991. For a select handful of Iowans, Most of the nonroutine workload thed ituations like these are an all-too comes largely as the result of public tlunoc common occurrence and may, in fact, complajnts. "People come to us with a Up&tri be all in a day's work at an Iowa DNR' wide variety of concerns such as illegal CUt i1J Environmental Protection Division open dumping, stream pollution, open field office. burning, or maybe a runoff problem a ,tr] In Iowa, the DNR's environmental with a neighbor's feedlot," says recaJ protection activities are divided among Jinkin on. "We also re pond to a som~ six di tricts, each served by an EPD number of emergency si tuations that open field office. A typical office is staffed we refer to a 'hazardous conditions'." Pretn by one field office supervisor, a half T he most common are pills involving bOo~ dozen environmental specialists and agricultural chemtcal or petroleum sourc ... one ecretary. Field office are located products. Although spills involving case at Mason City, Manchester, Spencer, large quantities of toxic indu trial not S4 Atlantic, De Moines and Washington, waste are the rarest type of 'hazardous thee; Iowa. condition' to occur in Iowa, they draw to,10 16 Iowa Con<,ervalionost • July/August 1993 widespread media attention and are longer present at the scene. "At that leaking underground storage tanks is perhaps the best known to the public. point we can often speculate, but offer currently being monitored. Envtronmental specialist, Ron no real proof," Stelltck notes "Considering that we are staffed Stellick, agrees. Stellick works out "Some of our largest fi sh kills by a total of only seven technical of the department's Manchester field remain unsolved," says Stelltck. A personnel and j ust one secretary, it's office and has been involved in classic example occurred a few years pretty easy to see how we can fa ll environmental protection for 29 ago on the Wapstpinicon Ri ver near behind," says Stelhck. "Recently, in a years. Anamosa. "It was really qune mcred three-week period, we received more "In [the northeastern] part of the ible," says Stell ick. "Dead fi sh every than 40 complaints at this office." state we seem to suffer frequent fish where -- lots of pike, lots of catfish Sifting through a mound of paper kills," says Stellick. Many occur over 10 pounds." No one could figure work, Stellick listed some examples. during the summer when fi sh out what killed those fi sh, and the • an illegal sewer system populations may already be stressed incident was eventually filed away. discharging into the Maquoketa River; by heat. If a sudden occurance Then, out of the blue, the mystery • dumping of construction flushes some waste into an already killer struck fi ve years later in the same material into the Wapsipinicon River; stressed environment, the odds are high that a sigmficant kill will occur. When a fish ktll does strike, environmental protection personnel " .. . for me the things that stick out , often work hand m hand with fishen es biOlogtsts and conservation the most in my mind are not necessar officers to dtscover the cause of the incident. ily the big kills or the big spills. In a "The biologists are very efficient of at determining the cause of death stead, it is the unsolved mysteries like and the offi cers have a tremendous number of contacts out there," says the reoccuring kills on the Stellick. ' ' "Once we arrive at a site, the first thing we try to do is sample the Wapsipinicon River." al pollution. We grab samples up stream, downstream and from any place and with the same vengeance. • improper disposal of industrial known outlet," says Stellick. "Some "That's really frustrating," says waste at a fiber plant; I times we get lucky." Stellick, "and you can lose sleep trying • improper disposal of waste oil At a recent kill, the scenario to figure out what's going on. down a shop drain; followed the cookbook formula. A The field offi ces make recommen • manure being dumped into a pipe containing water contaminated dations on what actions should be marsh adjacent to the Maquoketa .e by a feedlot operation was discharg taken to fix the problem, and may River; \\ ing directly into the creek. "Essen recommend enforcement action. • strong industrial paint fumes tially there was no oxygen and no Each case is weighed on tts own and overspray on cars; live fish on the downstream side of merit. Some are accidents, and • a business dumping oil on a the discharge," says Stellick, "but unfortunately others arc deliberate driveway and covering it with sand; things were normal from there violations • a dairy operation dumping upstream. A case like that is pretty "Basically, dealing with the wastes into a creek; a cut and dried." complaint load comes as an 'add on' to • someone reporting an oil gal "Another time we got a call that our routine duties," says Stellick. At smell in their drinking water; and :n a stream had literally turned white," the Manchester office routine duties • one neighbor backing water recalls Stell ick. "It turned out to be include the scheduled inspecti ons of onto another's land. (Even though someone dumping milk from a dairy 5 18 active public water supplies, 25 EPD offices are not officially operation. A case like that is also sanitary landfills and transfer stations, responsible for managing flood pretty simple. You just pull on your 352 sites in 15 counties that hold plains, they often serve as investiga • boots, walk upstream and find the permits to discharge treated wastewa tors for the department.) source." But these are textbook ter, 36 major industrial air sources "The list goes on and on," says cases, and the ta k at hand is usually (each capable of annually emitting in Stellick. not so easy. Unfortunately, some of excess of 100 tons of pollutants), 2,772 "This morning whtle responding the calls come too late, and whatever registered underground storage tanks, to one of these, I aw a black plume toxin may have cau ed a kill is no and 719 sites where the cleanup of of smoke go up and knew It must be Jui)/August 1993 • lo"'a Con..ervauon"l 17 mdustry and large power stat1ons," ays Stelllck. There are also a number of Sites where the federal Environmental Protection Agency is also mvolved, and those must be on ttme "At all of our field offices we try to do the be t we can to meet everyone· s need , " says J mkmson. "Unfortunately, people who enforce Iowa's env1ronmental regulations do not always have a particularly good 1m age. "In order to maintam credibility. we need to treat all Iowans m a fa1r, consistent and professional manner," ays J mkm on "For example, we need to treat a small gas station operator the same way we treat someone at the Casey's cham. We also need to be consistent in the way we deal wtth a large munictpal landfill versus a smgle landowner w1th an open dump. "The e situations can be ex tremely d1fficult, but are al o very neces ary m order to mamtam integrity," says Jinkinson. However, Jinkinson also notes that field per onnel are willing to "bend over backwards" when working wtth small cor bu me e or mdivtdual landowners \\11 "We are very sensiuve to a \\b per on' financial situation," says far Jinklnson. "They must compl) w1th be( the Jaw, but we deal on a compas Ea sionate basis. What we are doing ts the for the citizens of Iowa and for the latt ~ long-term health of the environment. .<: ~ In general, I think most people fro 5 real ize thi , but it may not be foa realized by those we're dealmg w1th dri tire ," he says. "We have enough to at the time." "11 • Although conflict resoluuon can A fire at a storage facility in Burt, do already, and in spite of what \\a Iowa, in 1991 involved many types of some people think, we're not out certainly make for a long day m pesticides. The toxic smoke plume col there looking for more. But on the anybody' book, environmental lea made it necessary to evacuate protection work can certainly have other hand , we're not turning our co nearby farms. (Top photo) its lighter, more interesting side as heads either." The incident turned lUI well . A typical complaint call may involve out to be a landowner illegally of. "Ju t about the time you thmk open burning of tires. (Bottom di posing of old tire . It you've een 1t all, somethmg new photo) "Like everyone el e, we have to tht pop up," says Stellick. "We had one set priorities," says Stellick. Some d! dairy operation, that ran 1ts coohng major sites have to be done on time, the water over the surfaces of a field and every time. "Our greatest priority is wa down into a sinkhole," he recalls. given to the inspections of water Wh "The dairy had made some changes supply and waste treatment facilities foa in its operation and asked us if they in larger communities, heavy co, 18 I owa Cono;er.-alJOOI\1 • Jui)/A ugu\1 1993 could still use the sinkhole. We put dyes in the cooling water and checked all the local farm wells in the area for one week. Everything was okay -- no colored water," he says. Then one Saturday night a conservation officer called Stellick with an unusual story. It seems that while swimming in a spring a farmer's wh1te ducks had suddenly become colored like a "bunch of Easter eggs." You guessed it, it was the dye from the dairy -- one month later and eight miles away. "Another time we received a call from a Citizen who complained of foamy, d1scolored and foul-smelling drinking water," Stellick recalls. and not the municipal treatment ... "This mdividual lived near a large faci lity. A train derailment near Mason City in 1989 caused 2,000 gallons of diesel wastewater treatment plant and was "Those kinds of incidents certainly fuel to spill into a drainage ditch. keep the job interesting," says Stellick. convinced that the facility was (Top photo) leaking. Try as we might, we "But for me the things that stick out couldn't find a leak," he says. "Even the most in my mind are not necessar Diesel fuel from this semi-trailer tually, we even put dye into the toilet ily the big kill s or the big spills. truck spilled into the Cedar River of the person who fi led the complaint. Instead, it is the unsolved mysteries near Charles City in 1990. (Bottom It turned out that the water went from like the reoccurring kills on the photo) the toilet, into a road ditch, and Wapsipinicon River. disappeared into a hole. Pretty soon "If we could figure out what's the dye showed up in the drinking happening in those kind of cases, we water of that same person -- the one could do something about it," he says. who had made the complaint. The "Those are the ones that di turb me the foamy, smelly, discolored water was most. Maybe someday we'll find the corning from h1s own ewage system answer. " July/Augu~t 1993 • lov.a Coo"'"'a11on"t 19 by Dennis Michel M m~ sil fo hi at ac bt th !>( sb pc w I tli F< ra. 10 ,; Tt lu 1! ... 20 Iowa Coosel"\allon"l • July/AUtlU\1 1993 owa is essentially a prairie state, with forest sawmills along the Miss issippi had increased, and the lands located either in the eastern part of the milling oflowa lumber became more profitable. Barbed state, where there is increased moisture, or wire was invented and it was common practice to use along the bottomlands and on the slopes adja forested areas as a cheap pasture, which had a signifi cent to streams. The unglaciated region of cant effect on the quality of many tree species. The northeastern Iowa, and the Skunk and Des western extension of the rai lroads had a major impact Moines rivers were, and sti ll are, the areas with the on Iowa's forested acreage. It was estimated that one most significant forested acres. mile of railroad track required approximately 800 In 1896, Dr. L.H. Pammel, of Iowa State Univer average-sized oak trees, just for sity, analyzed the surveynotesofthe general land office ties. The combination of these The western expansion of for the 1832-1859 pre-settlement era oflowa. Through factors increased the decline of his analysis, Iowa was estimated to have originally had Iowa's forested acreage. the railroads had a major about 19 percent forest with approximately 6.7 million The 1990 forest resource impact on Iowa's forested acres. The settlement of Iowa during 1850- 187 5 had survey, completed by the U.S . acreage. It was estimated little effect on the original forested acreage. Because of Forest Service, estimates Iowa's the abundance offertile prairie lands, most farms could forestland to be about 2.1 mil that one mile of railroad be established without clearing the forest. Land owner lion acres, or approximately six track required approxi ship, adjacent to forested areas, was desirable for the percent of the state's land area. potential lumber, fuel and fencing. Sawmills were The white oak/red oak/hickory mately 800 average-sized widely scattered and did not have a negative impact on forest type represents the larg oak trees, just for ties. the forest resource. est species mix ( 46 percent), followed by the maple/bass For many years, pine logs from the Lake States were wood (25 percent) and elm/ash/ rafted down the Mississippi River to several sawmi lls soft maple (25 percent) types. in Iowa. By 1875, thecostofpine lumber from the great Growing-stock growth exceeds T The wood industries of Iowa produce a wide range of products, including veneer logs, hardwood-grade lumber for furniture, corrugated papers, planting mulch and animal bedding. This photo, taken in October 1951 , shows walnut logs ready for the sawmill. July/August 1993 • Iowa Cono,crvatJorust 21 Iowa's first sawmill was es removals and about 92 percent of the state's timberland ts m tablished in 1831 on the pnvate ownersh1p Iowa has Yellow River, in the north the potent1al to grow some of the finest hardwood spcc1es m eastern part of the state. the world. Lieutenant Jefferson Davis, who became presi Iowa's fir t awmlll wa e tab lished 1n 183 1, on the Yellow dent of the Confederacy, River, in the northeastern part constructed a dam to de of the tate. Lieutenant Jefferson Davis, who became velop water-wheel power president of the Confederacy, for the sawmiU. constructed a dam to develop water-wheel power for the aw mill. For many year , water power wa u ed to operate the numerous awm1ll along the Missi s1pp1 River and 1t main tributaries. During the rnid-1800 , Clmton, Iowa, was recogmzed as having more wood-ba ed bu me es than any other town nationwide. Profe or G. Hartman of Iowa State University, reported that dunng the mJd- 1870s the lumber production of 15 M1ssis ippi River towns, from Lansing to Keokuk, amounted to about 300 million board feel of lumber annually. Today, the wood-using industries of Iowa are a small segment of the state's economy, when compared to the agricultural sector, but they do represent an tmportant contribution to Iowa. This year there are 78 primary sawmills and more than 230 secondary wood processors operating in Iowa. According to a 1989 report by the Department of Economic Development, these wood industries employ more than 12,000 persons, with an annual payroll of more than $210 million. Value added to the state's economy, by harvesting and pro cessing ofthe raw materials, plus Value added to the state's the manufacturing of products, represents more than $474 mil economy, by harvesting lion annually. The wood indus and processing of the raw tries o flow a produce veneer logs, materials, plus the manu hardwood-grade lumber for fur mture and mtllwork markets, facturing of products, rep sliced veneer, crating, pallets, resents more than $47 4 corrugated paper, crafts and wood residues that are processed million dollars annually. into fuel , planting mulch and animal bedding. Wood is the leading indus trial raw material (25 percent) used in the United States. We all benefit from the agricultural goodness of our forests, as we do from the art and science of forestry which helps direct resource management decisions. Dennis Michel is the rural development/forest prod ucts and marketing forester for the department in Ames . The• Big Timber Sawmill, Vinton, Iowa. This year there are 78 primary sawmills and more than 230 secondary wood processors operating in Iowa. These wood industries employ more than 12,000 persons, with an annual payroll of more than $210 million. (Top photo) ~ Oak is one of the most-often harvested tree species in Iowa; however, growing-stock growth exceeds removals. July/Augusl 1993 • to"'a Comcrvalton"l 23 Fourth in a Series Iowa's Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program is working in several ways to make Iowa a more enjoyable place to live and visit. Its emphasis is on helping assure the well-being of Iowa's natural and cultural resources, and providing people with opportuni ties to wisely use and benefit from those resources. Article by Jim Scheffler Photos by Ken Formanek .... The historic Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) shelter at Red Haw State Park, in Lucas County, is undergoing extensive reconstruction with REAP land management funds. July/August 1993 • lo"a Con..ervJIIORI\1 25 hen people think of Iowa's state parks, images usually appear of Ii wooded hillsides, inviting I trails, sparkling lakes and I streams, busy beaches and campgrounds, rustic lodges and cabins, and quiet picnic areas. Photo albums throughout the state are full of pictures that awaken pleasant memories in park visitors. But, very seldom are cameras focused on the pipes that bring water to rest rooms and shower buildings, the electrical boxes that bring modern conveniences to I I campers, the hidden structures I that keep a hiking trail from eroding, or the shelter that protects picnickers from weather. All of these things can make or break an enjoyable park outing. If they are available and in good working condition, they usually go unnoticed. But, if they are in disrepair or run-down, they are I what park visitors will probably remember most. Iowa's Resource Enhance- doesr ment and Protection (REAP) the\\ program has been working sunnl behind the scenes to help mean assure that only good memories Won't are taken home, and that trail [ Iowans have a sense of pride in enJoy their state parks. No, this lodge f Pnor lll sta the st $31ll users l'eSIOJ old a ~ REAP funds paid for \Vate1 rehabilitation of the CCC- room. vintage dam and spillway at trail s. Springbrook State Park in Park Guthrie County. l'eaJ c 26 Iowa ConservatooruSt • JulyJAugust 1993 ~ Iowa's state park system is nearly 75 years old and just like a house built in the 1920s, needs a lot of "home improvements." Efforts are being made in restoring historic buildings In state parks, like the Lake Ahquabl State Park lodge In Warren County. ~ The modern shower/toilet buildings such as the one at Palisades-Kepler State Park In Linn County (below), as well as the new concession building at Big Creek State Park In Polk County (bottom) have been built with REAP land management money. doesn't mean that REAP can control The permit era ended in 1989 the weather and guarantee bright, when REAP was established. The sunny 78-degree days! What it does land management element of REAP mean is that toilets will flush, you began where the park user permit left won't lose your three-year-old in a off-- accomplishing badly needed trail rut, and you won't get wet while work in the state park "infrastruc enjoying your lunch in a shelter or ture." REAP's land management lodge. element receives nine percent of the For three and one-half years program's budget. A small percent prior to REAP, these kinds of projects age (seven percent to date) of land in state parks were funded through management funds are also used for the state park user permit. More than similar projects in state forests and $3 million was contributed by park wildlife management areas. users, and headway was made in Good strides are being made in restoring historic buildings, replacing putting life back into many DNR old and unsafe electrical, sewer and facilities. However, the list of water systems, building new rest projects is currently much longer rooms and showers and renovating than available REAP funds can trails. Because of the user pennit, accomplish. After all, Iowa's state park visitors were beginning to see a park system is nearly 75 years old real difference. and, just like a house built in the July/August 1993 • Iowa Conservattorust 27 ~~ REAP's land management portion has done a lot to address trail problems in state parks. Crews have worked at Pikes Peak, Ledges (below and right), Pine Lake, Seeds Lake, Bellevue and Wildcat Den state parks and Mines of Spain State Recreation Area. These projects have received national attention and also provide increased accessibility to people of varying abilities. The REAP trail program has received wide community support and has been supplemented by grants from the Department of c 0 Transportation and .&!~ .5:: Department of Economic c i' Development. ~ I I 1920s, needs a lot of "home Im provements." New requirements spelled out in the 1990 Americans With Di abilities Act, require Iowans in both government and private enterprise to make places like public buildings, park lodges, campgrounds and restaurants accessible to ci ti len~ w1th disabili ties. REAP fund will be u ed in state parks to help provide acces sible picnic and campmg facilities, as well as 1mprove acce s to park lodge , cabm and beache . So, tt' vital that REAP con tinue to be a vtable program w1th adequate funding. The REAP "pie" has many "slice ." If the pie ts small because of reduced funding, then REAP land management and the other "slices" wi ll be less effective in meeting their important goals. Citizen understanding and support of REAP arc crucial if the program's early successes are to continue into the future. c: Jim Schefj1er ts an executive 0 2 assistant for the depamnent's .g ~ recreation programs bureau in Des 0 o:: Moines. 28 l n~~ ... Juvenile great horned owl. (Far right) ... Owls are equipped with "tools" that make them very efficient predators. Their specially designed feathers give them silence in flight (top). And their dagger-like talons produce a very effective "death grip." y human nature we tend to B view happenings of the twilight hours with a degree of mystique. Many of us who stumble helplessly after dark without a flashlight marvel at the amazing adaptations of nature's nocturnal predators, particularly owls. How can a creature fly down and catch a small mouse in the dead of night? It is with great curiosity of the unknown that inspired wildlife biologists to investigate the owl's secretive habits and specialized adaptations. As biologists have learned about the benefits these nocturnal raptors provide, The owl study conducted more people have grown to appreciate in Iowa was just one compo them and other predators as integral nent of a complex, multi-year parts of the ecosystem. As the biologi investigation assessing possible cal and aesthetic value of owl s has effects of insecticide applica increased, so has society's concern tion on corn to various wildlife about the exposure of these and other species. The Institute of animals to environmental pollutants, Wildlife and Environmental e habiqtt destruction and pesticides. Toxicology (TIWET) located at ~"' Since pesticides are often used on Clemson University, Clemson, ;3: agricultural lands frequented by South Carolina, became i foraging owls, and exposure-effect interested in the influence .3 questions have gone unanswered, a agricultural pesticides may research project was conducted in have on owl behavior and survival. concern in the past, due to their negative Studte south-central Iowa to investigate both The study began after discovering, in impacts on wildlife and persistence in the now t the owls' behavior and their potential earlier investigations, that common environment. Most have since been ducre. exposure to these chemicals. prey items of the owl, such as mice, banned in the United States and replaced Where Increased awareness and concern primarily by the less-persistent organo may be exposed to the insecticides and Iabore over environmental effects of industrial may carry chemical residues. The study phosphate and carbamate insecticides. lanttc by-products, emissions and disposal of Some organophosphate and carbamate was undertaken in the agricultural organ hazardous wastes have generated public community near Chariton, Iowa. The compounds are highly toxic under certain WiJdij conditions and can cause immediate concerns about the impacts of agricul National Wildlife Federation provided level tural chemicals of all kinds. Not only Jeremy Buck, graduate research impairment, sickness or death to exposed Illdice are university researchers interested in assistant at Clemson, with an environ animals. Because of their acute toxicity, like tl the answers to these questions, but mental conservation fellowship to these compounds must undergo various deterr conservation organizations, industry, undertake field work fo r the owl study. testi ng procedures before they can be WiJd!i state and federal agencies, and indi registered by the Environmental Protec Illsect vidual farmers have shown interest, as rganochlorine insecticides such tion Agency for pest control. well, in identification and resolution of as DDT, mirex, dieldrin and Wildlife toxicity tests have been done F 0 1 existing problems. heptachlor attracted much attention and for various chemicals in laboratory earne direct 30 Iowa Cooservauorust • July/August 1993 conditions. He then maps the location of the owl, based on a number of these signal readings, and "sees" whether the owl is in the woods, a com patch or some other type of habitat. Buck used radio-telemetry as part of a project to determine the risk of organophosphate insecti cide exposure to great homed owls. The telemetry aspect of the project allowed him to detennine if the owls were active in fields treated with organophosphate chemicals. "The owls may be attracted to these areas because prey may be more vulnerable," says Buck. "On the other hand, the owls may avoid the treated areas or not change their habitat use patterns at all after insecticide treatment. Obviously, the more owls use the treated areas the greater the chance of insecticide exposure." y polling local farmers, B Buck found several organophosphate insecticide products being used by landown ers within the range of owls he was monitoring. "Although the response of the owls to these treated areas was difficult to understand," says Buck, "we did obtain some interesting results." First, it was determined by radio telemetry that owls were indeed using agricultural areas treated with organophosphate chemicals. studies with pen-reared animals and are researchers are disadvantaged. Over Second, although organophosphate now being compared to studies con coming "night blindness" is essential. products are known not to accumulate in ducted in the wild on treated fields So how does Jeremy Buck do it? He birds like DDT and other organochlorines, where wildlife actually lives. Both has a truck equipped with an enormous evidence was found of some exposure to laboratory and field studies are impor set of "rabbit ears," radio telemetry organophosphates in a few of the owls. tant to accurately assess the impacts of receiver and headphones. He has Buck concludes that although exposure to organophosphate insecticides to adapted, like the owl, by artificially these chemicals was indicated, there was wildlife. Laboratory studies show the increasing his "stereophonic sound no mortality of great homed owls docu level of toxicity of an insecticide and perception." That is, instead of having mented during the study, and changes in indicate likely effects. Field studies, to see his subject he locates it by feeding habits and reproductive behavior like the owl project, are essential for hearing signals from a small radio from exposure to organophosphates have detennining the degree to which transmitter attached to an owl. After not been evident. wildlife may actually be exposed to an releasing a "transmittered" owl, Buck Agricultural chemical use is as high in insecticide. can generally pick up the signal Iowa as anywhere in the country. Farmers For decades, scientists have emitted from the transmitter at a in the Chariton area have shown much learned about wild creatures through distance of two kilometers or better, interest in effects of chemicals on their direct observations. This is where owl depending on the terrain and weather environment. With this heightened July/August 1993 • Iowa Conservaoorust 3 1 cancer slup fr unden area. enviro cbemi1 tal Re1 affihal Unive, G long-11 tmplic on fan depenl re5ec1I1 PUbliC conun reduc~ quah~ spec,e hornCj SllllJJa Ope rat '1\hile 'hip a PilnJct \\lid hi chem, are on Prov,c chellli ... A great horned owl equipped with a radio transmitter. The owl's movements will be tracked with the use of radio telemetry. (Far left) Photo by Jon Straver; ... Great horned owlets. T Graduate student Jeremy Buck approaching a juvenile great horned owl, near its nest, for tagging. concern in mind, TIWET, with sponsor systems and to ship from American Cyanamid Company, determine practical undertook a new venture in the Chariton farming methods area. To continue research on the which pose the least environmental effects of agricultural risk of exposing chemicals, the Edith Angel Environmen wildlife to agricul tal Research Center, a field station tural chemical use. affiliated with T fWET at Clemson Currently, collabora University, was established. tive work with the ! Goals of the center are to establish Iowa DNR and Iowa ~ long-term research efforts to examine the State University is :0~ implications of agricultural chemical use being planned at the j on farmland. The success of these efforts site. ~ depends on involvement of students, researchers, agencies, industry and the ncreasing human ! public. Habitat management techniques I populations and ~ continue to be developed at the center to resultant world reduce soil erosion, improve water markets have contributed to the push to substances in the environment. The use quality, and enhance habitat for many maximize agricultural production, of pesticide chemicals in agriculture is species of wildli fe, such as the great bringi ng with it high-tech agriculture no exception and must be carefully homed owl. The 160-acre site is fanned and often compromised land stewardship evaluated. As nature so aptly built its similarly to surrounding small farm practices. Current work at the Edith own system of checks and balances, we operations for grain and hay production, Angel Environmental Research Center too must devise checks on our own while demonstrating sound land steward will address improved methods to better agricultural production practices. ship and wi ldlife management practices, integrate modern agricultural techniques particularly with regard to chemical and with improved habitat management for wildlife interactions. Agricultural wildlife and soil conservation. chemicals are used where needed as they As illustrated in Buck's great Karen Peterson Craft is the research are on most Iowa farms. The center horned owl study, we must continue to center coordinator for the Edith Angel provides an ideal location to examine investigate promising new methods for Environmental Research Center in chemical pathways throughout biological assessing the true impacts of toxic Chariton. July/Augusr 1993 • Iowa Con~"auom\1 33 ------ - by F J the fi I "Fish I used blueg fe\\ . d0\\1] but rr and a p1cke then I that' blueg b~~ .- 1 small at tin a maj fishe1 can, 1 mana Iems I fishe1 bass, abun, crap~ and 1 blue~ checl large chanJ e~ceJ g1zza fisbe1 usual and v l 34 Io"a Consel"aUonnt • Jui)/August 1993 by R.H. (Dick) MeWilliams A scenario: an angler discussing the fi shing history on a small lake. "Fishing used to be real good here. We used to catch nice-sized crappie, bluegill and all kinds of bass. Then a few years ago things started to slow down. We caught a few larger crappie, but mostly just some smaller crappie and a few small bluegill. Bass fi shing picked up though, at least for awhile, then kind of tapered off. Now about all that we catch is small crappie, a few bluegills and once in a while a real nice bass." Does this sound familiar? In our smaller lakes this scenario can be, and at times is, real. In many of these lakes a major culprit in the decline of the fi shery is gizzard shad. Gizzard shad can, and do, play a major role in management and management prob lems in small lake fisheries. In a well-balanced small lake fishery, bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass and channel catfish are the abundant fi sh. Small bluegill and crappie are prey for largemouth bass, The best way to avoid problems with gizzard and in tum, largemouth bass keep the bluegill and crappie populations in check. With this population balance, shad in small lakes is to avoid introducing largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish all provide anglers with them in the first place. excellent fishing opportunities. When gizzard shad are introduced into this fi shery, a shift occurs and the result is usually a decline in the overall health ~ and well-being of the fishery. The chemical kill, during the renovation of Lake Ahquabi in 1981 , yielded The gizzard shad is a member of mostly shad and few game fish. Jui)/Augu>t 1993 • Io"a Con 36 lo"a Con~rvattoru't • July/Augu\t I'Nl small, and that left only about five well-meaning individuals have intro percent of the total weight of fish in the duced gizzard shad into a small lake in lake of catchable size! the mistaken belief shad will help Unfortunately, there are few increase the forage in the lake and lead options for small lake fisheries with to improved fi shing. Experience in our .... Gizzard shad create problems in high densities of shad that have a good small lakes has shown shad provide few small lakes by stunting other forage chance of success. One option that has benefits for a fi shery, and that shad fish, such as bluegill, and competing been used with some success is to truly are a bad idea for small lake directly with young crappies and !0 selectively control shad usi ng a fi sh fi sheries. small bass during their development. toxicant. Shad are more sensitive to A balanced lake system will provide fish toxicants than most gamefish. R.H. (Dick) McWilliams IS a fisheries plenty of forage fish in the form of Toxicants are applied at levels which management biologist for the depart panfish, as well as game fish for generally do not cause large numbers of ment in Boone. trophy fishing. desirable fish to die, but high enough to kill shad. The trade between loss of r some desirable sport fish to many shad is more than off- I set by the increase in er production and populations of sport fi sh in following ul years, if enough shad can be Jrs eliminated. In situations where the fishery is so poor JL that even this technique has only a slim chance of td success, the best option is to drain the lake, or completely renovate the population with fish toxicants, and restock with desirable fish. ). The best way to avoid problems with gizzard shad in small lakes is to avoid introducing them in the first Uld place. This can be accom he plished by use of vertical d drops in spillway structures, which the DNR has incorpo rated, where possible, into recent lake developments and renovations. This prevents shad from moving in into these lakes from the ,wn adjoining streams and rivers. Angler can also pie. help by being awaie of the rypes of bait fish used and make sure shad are not used !5 .&l.s:: J or released accidently in "' areas where they are not ~ present. In some instances ' July/Augu'l 1993 • l o'"~ Con..ei"Jioonl\1 37 SPIRf Scbo< Ius sc watct they \\ind Oven ~e\\e I I • the cc I I wasd I he m1 I 1 flash I the'' \\lnd F hade or ref middl schoc usmg I U]tlm Ii work connl 'Th is powe In Sp distri bills. SPIRIT LAKE SUPERINTENDENT OF everyone felt disappointed," said done, consultants to hire and financ Schools Harold Overmann and one of Ovennann. ing to arrange. The DNR was able to his school board members were After their conversation at the arrange a beneficial financial watching a Little League game when Little League game, Overmann and package for the school district - they both realized something -- the Newell started investigating wind using a grant from the U.S. Depart wind was blowing awfully hard. energy. They contacted the Department ment of Energy and a loan through Overmann pointed out to Dr. Craig of Natural Resources, and with their the Iowa School Energy Bank Newell that, as a non-Iowa native, help, will begin powering the Spirit Program -- to fund the entire the constant wind in northwest Iowa Lake Elementary School with wind $238,000 project. The loan will be was the first thing he'd noticed when energy by mid-summer. paid back in about four years, using he moved there. the savings in utility costs the school That conversation provided a will reap. flash of inspiration for the two men - The district, with its technical the schools needed to harness that advisors' help, chose to install a 250- wind as a renewable energy source. In the Midwest, wind resources K.ilowatt turbine on land just south of Previously, the school district are measured by a class system, the elementary school building it will had explored installing a wood-fired from Class I to Oass V. Most of power. The turb~ne , with 87-foot or refuse-burning boiler in the new northwest Iowa is considered to blades, will sit on a 140-foot tower. middle school. Overmann and the have Class IV wind resources, The school building won' t be school board were enthusiastic about and certain sites are Class V completely disconnected from Iowa using a renewable energy source, but (the very best). Electric, the area's utility company. ultimately, the project just didn' t Because wind speeds vary throughout work out. the year, some months the turbine "We ended up putting in a WHEN OVERMANN CONTACTED won' t generate enough for the conventional heating system, and the DNR about wind, energy bureau building's needs, and the district will staffers Ed Woolsey and Rick buy some electricity from Iowa Buckley got to work. "We helped Electric. During other months, identify the path to getting the however, the wind turbine will ~ project done," said Buckley. "We This summer wind energy will begin generate a surplus and the district powering Middle Elementary School helped find technical resources, and will sell the excess to the utility. in Spirit Lake, saving the school most importantly, money." Electricity generated by a school district $29,000 per year in utility There were wind speed data to district fits both the school's yearly bills. collect and engineering studies to be cycle and the utility's as well, July/Aug\ISI 1993 • Iowa Consc:rvauorusl 39 - --~------I according to Ovennann. The ut1hty needs more power in the summer, when the school is shut down and not using most of the electricity it's producing. The wind resource peaks in the spring and fall. ALTHOUGHTHESPllUTLAKE commumty school district will save $29,000 per year in utility bills, according to Ovennann that wasn't the primary motivation for installing a wi nd turbine. "Education was the fi rst priority," he aid. "We need to teach pre ervation of the environment, and to do that we have to model it." PARTS OF THE MIDWEST, INCLUDING much of northwest Iowa, have been called the "Saudi Arabia of wmd energy" because of their wind re- ource . The wind resource is mea ured by wmd speed -- how fast the wind blow -- and wind avru.lability - how often 1t blows. In the Midwe t, wtnd re ource are measured by a class system, from Class I to Class V. Mo t of northwe t Iowa is considered to have Cia IV wind resources, and certain ites are Class V (the very best). About 90 percent of the U.S. wtnd power potential lies in 12 central state , including Iowa. According to a tudy by Battelle Pacific Northwe t Lab , Iowa possesses the wind re ource then to produce more than six times its own eleva energy needs, with the potential for and a becoming not only energy self I sufficient, but an energy exporter. owne SOuth High FINDING THE SITE LOCATlON IS THE " key to taking advantage of wind I 45,000 1------ 40,000 D Energy Generation 35,000 '--~ D Energy Consumption 1------~ · 30,000 :r: 25,000 ~ 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 JAN FEB MAR APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 1992 the right wind speeds, a high enough can also continue to fann all but a around for years. According to John elevation, access to transmission lines few acres of the land leased for the Sayler, president of the newly and a cooperative landowner. equipment. "This can be a benefit to reformed Iowa Wi nd Energy He found all these elements on land fanners, especially if they've had a Association, the wind industry i owned by George Braaksma, Jr. just tough year in farmi ng," said nothing new. "There were six south of Allendorf, Iowa, next to McNeal. million wind systems sold in the Highway 59. Since last winter, five 65- The Allendorf wind farm is a U.S. in the 1920s through 1940s. Kilowatt turbines have been spinning pilot project in which McNeal hopes You could buy a windmill from the out electricity that is sold to Iowa to prove wind energy's reliability Sears catalog, and they 'd throw in a Electric Light and Power. The fi ve and economic viability in Iowa. He Zenith radio with it," he said. Some turbines produce enough electricity to chose a Windmatic, a wind turbine of the world 's largest wi ndmill power about 100 homes. manufactured in Denmark, because manufacturers were located in Iowa. According to McNeal , the project is it's known to be sturdy and reliable. Wind power decl ined with the a "great deal" for everyone involved. "The Windmatic is the DC3 of wind advent of rural electric cooperatives The uti lity, Iowa Electric, will be able turbines. Just as the airline industry and large centralized coal-fired to buy the power for about six cents per didn 't exist before the development plants. A brief revival in the 1970s, kilowatt hour for the next 33 years, of the DC3 airplane, unti l the spurred by the energy crisis and regardless of how much electric rates Windmatic came along the commer federal tax credits, was squelched by and costs go up. cial generation of electricity through poor technology, high costs and The landowner not only receives a wind didn't exist," said McNeal. changing federal policies. guaranteed royalty on the sale of Why is wind the energy resource , electricity -- McNeal estimates it at WIND ENERGY IS THE CLASSIC for the 1990s? According to Sayler. $800 per year for each turbine -- but "overnight sensation" that has been two factors are most important. Jui)/AuguM 1993 • lo"'a Con-.cn;aiJORI\1 41 afuture a as a leadi turbines. a well as envuonrnental contn .. "Ftrst. m the past decade, the cost of jobs to Io Since last winter, the 65-Kilowatt butwns." turbines have been spinning out wtnd power has dechned by 75 all over tl The DNR is interested in electricity that is sold to Iowa percent. Generation costs have Sayler. wind, according to Woolsey, not Electric Light and Power. dropped from 25 cents to between five and seven cents per Ktlowatt only because it's environmentally fnendly, but because it can be an \Vfn{THJ hour." he satd. economtc development tool, llnderv.a} Second, wind technology has the monu advanced dramattcall) Wtth the especially m rural areas. It can help Iowa stop exporting so many happenint work of aeronautical and electncal MeN engmeers and hehcopter rotor energy dollars. When the wind farm projects construct destgners, recently developed wmd currently on the drawing board Allendorf turbmes have a 98 percent reliability are underway, there will be both new Wind fac tor, according to Sayler This short-term and long-term employ Allendorf makes them rehable enough for 2SO..I 4 2 lo"'a Con..er\ atlonl\ 1 • Jui)IAugu'l 1993 WIND RESOURCES D Class I ""., D Class 2 Class 3 • Class 4 • Class 5 .,• ... ' - .. • • ' ·... ' ... t , ,.. . -.e ,, ~ ~t ,,. ., ' 1 future in which Iowa regains its status ANOTHER WIND PROJECT IN ts a leading manufacturer of wind eastern Iowa will also be in opera Winds• are created by the sun's urbines. "We could bring hundreds of tion by this summer. Waverly Light heating of the earth's suface and are obs to Iowa and export wind turbines and Power received a grant from the strongly influenced by local terrain, tll over the country and the world," said American Public Power Association bodies of water, weather patterns )ayler. to demonstrate wind technology for and other factors. In the Midwest, the predominant winds are municipal utilities. associated with large-scale air WITH THE PROJECT AT ALLENDORF Ninety-eight percent of Iowa's movements driven by the jet stream, mderway, "It feels good to wake up in electricity is currently produced by although daily temperature-induced he morning and say, 'Yes! It's really coal-fired or nuclear-powered effects can be important. Wind tappening!"' said McNeal. generating plants. In the future, will energy promises to be one of the McNeal is already planning to Iowa continue to be dependent on least expensive and most abundant :onstruct more wind turbines at the imported fossil fuels or nuclear new sources of electricity - fossil or \.llendorf site and to develop several power? Or can it live up to its renewable - for the Midwest. 1ew wind farms at other locations. At potential as the "Saudi Arabia" of \.llendorf, the plan is to put in 40 new renewable energy and become an ~50-Ki l owatt turbines. energy exporter? The answer, as Two new sites are planned for they say, is blowing in the wind. iioux and Osceola counties, with a total >f 420 turbines in the 250-K.ilowatt ~ las s. According to McNeal, each of hese machines will supply 65 average tomes with their electncal needs. "The !ntire output of these two projects will Patricia S. Cafe is an energy .upply the residential needs of a city of information specialist with the tbout 100,000 people," he said. department in Des Moines. July/August 1993 • lo"'a Con~"'auonm 4 3 ------ nance troubleshooter, who devotes are mam much of hi s time to Boy Scouts, have fabricati< anythmg to do w1th factories in other proce~se parts of the tate. It may help if you requestef understand that "retiree" is somewhat slle oppc; of a mi nomer for Madison. He is a impleme member of the WRAP senior team - program one of 12 rellred and semi-retired The industry professional who have Madison provided their experuse to Iowa ~a.ste ret companies eeking assistance in ~ged ~ reducing waste. Madison has used his mprocet years of experience in utilities along paper an with many other skills, to help Iowa sophtstic compant es tdentify opportunities to SHe 44 low• Con,en.auon"t • July/Augu\1 1993 are manufactured in Waterloo through Cardboard Recycling also produced sludge and was expensive • fabrication, assembly and fini shing Waste corrugated cardboard is to operate. WRAP recommended either ' processes. In early 1991, the company baled and sold to City Carton for converting the paint booths from water requested that WRAP perform an on recycling. Waterloo Indu trie worked wash to dry-filter type or mstalling a site opportumty assessment to assist in with the recycler to identify available sludge-skimming device on existing implementing a waste reduction quantities in order to properly size a water-wash pools to reduce the genera program. baler to compact the material for tion of paint sludges. WRAP also The WRAP site team, led by Bob storage and shipping. Currently, 23 recommended replacing the chemical Madison, identified 11 categories of tons per year are baled and recycled. paint stripping of paint line hooks with a waste reduction suggestions. The ideas This recycling project reduced gas-fued burn-off oven to reduce the ranged from straight forward changes landfilling cost by $3,874 per year and paint on the hooks to a harmless ash s in procedures, such as implementing generated $172 per year in revenue instead of the sludge generated by the paper and cardboard recycling, to more from selling the paper, for a total stripping operation. ;ophisticated options, such as the on savings of $4,006. Investment for a The company evaluated the ideas >ite distillation and recycling of baler and collection equipment was and decided to convert two paint booths :>ainting solvents. A company team approximately $7,000 and was paid to dry-filter operation and to install a ~-Vas already studying paper and back in Jess than two years. Waterloo bum-off oven. Conversion of the paint . 11· ;ardboard recycling and had many Industries is now implementing steps to booths substituted filters for water in )ther ideas. As soon as they received reduce the amount of cardboard and b} capturing paint solids, thus eliminating ,. j}e WRAP team's report, they began to . !valuate and Implement suitable ID s of -x ojects. WRAP returned to the Waterloo {ndustries plant several months later, ..vhen the company was introducing its 1ew line of recycling products, and I· ;onducted a workshop on how to :leve1op an ongoing pollution preven ion program. A company team n investment of $89,457 has returned -site lttended that workshop. ane Using the ideas presented in the $57,060 annually, which has paid back Water ,0 WRAP report and workshop, plus the ;ompany's own engineering and loo Industries' investment in a little more than !mployee expertise, Waterloo Indus ries has implemented a number of one and one-half years. This is substantial Naste reduction and effi ciency projects md is evaluating many more. proof that pollution prevention pays. )ffice Paper Recycling :s Two grades of paper are collected other waste entering the plant with a hazardous waste. The filters can be :lp rom office areas and picked up by incoming supplies and parts. This disposed of safely in the local sanitary ese :::ity Carton, an Iowa City recycler. requires working clo ely with suppliers ,ther landfiU. The burn-off oven is used to !he desk-side collections are trans to minimize packaging and maximize clean paint from paint hooks and cure 10 ·erred to large plastic area-bi ns and the use of reusable containers where paint filters for safe disposal . The inal ly to cardboard containers at the possible. project eliminated the disposal of sludge ~nd oading dock for pickup. White ledger and the need to pre-treat and clean the shift >aper and ground-wood paper recy Paint Sludge Elimination paint booth water pools. The cost of :Jing total about 24 tons per year. This Waterloo Industries' previous filters and of operating the oven are less ecycling project reduced landfilling paint spray booths used a water curtain than the previous operations by more :osts by $1 ,348 per year and generated to coUect paint overspray and minimize than $28,000 per year. The investment )456 per year in revenue from selling air emissions. The paint from these for the paint booth conversion and the he paper, for a total savings of water pools formed a sludge that had to oven was approximately $43,000, which ; 1,80 4. It required an investment of be sent to an out-of-state hazardous was paid out in just one and one-half ()() mly about $500 for collection equip waste disposal facility. Paint line years. nent, with a payback on that invest hooks, which carry parts through the . nent in only three and one-half paint spray booths, were being cleaned Solvent Recycling \ ~ ' nonths. with a chemical cleaner. That process Four solvents were being used to .ent~ July/August 1993 • Iowa Conscn.auonm 45 clean paint equipment between color unco· changes or for reducing the paint to be CO,l apphed. WRAP tdenufied many \Vate opttons for improving the painting recol system, includmg on-site solvent oha recovery tf the solvent blend could be the o economically distilled to recover usable sol\t olvents. 10 t\\ The company studied the paint co~ts solvent system more closely and addtl dectded to change from the four- olvent proJe system to two solvents, one being toluene. This simplified the pent Ligb sol\.ent sttuauon enough to make on si te distillati on of toluene cost-effec menc ti ve. A small. automated dtstillation e\alt sull was purchased and installed to consl recover toluene for in-plant recycling. sum The toluene. previously sent out-of- Ullllt tate for mcmeratlon as a hazardous Plaru waste, is now used on-site as spray gun hOUSI and hne cleaner. The till recovers hghti approximately 75 percent of the toluene energ for reuse as cleaner. The remaining 25 l percent amounts to only I 0 drums per repla, year compared to the 95 drums per year haltd of solvent previously requiring dis ''as 1 posal Wa te disposal costs have been reloc, reduced by nearly $1 1,000 per year. chan! Solvent purchase cost were reduced by reduc about $4,000 per year. Takmg all squar savings into account, the recycling \\Jlh proJect aved more than $18,000 per COst ~ year, paymg out the equipment cost m )ear les than two years. btlls · Involving the total workforce in UtJIJ~ scrutinizing operations for waste sa\in ' reduction opportunities can also Paid! )ears 1 Barney Skiles, plant engineer with• en erg Waterloo Industries, shows Bob preve Madison the still used to recover many toluene. cienc Pre\e .... quirec Barney Skiles and Bob Madison i>O\Ve inspect the gas-fired burn-off oven and \I used to reduce paint which collects on the paint line hooks at Waterloo 1 Industries. PrOJt!J ha,e Indus and 3 lflvest $57.0 \\ate1 httle 1 46 lov.• Con...,,..auono 48 lo"'a Con-.endUOnl\t • July/Ausu" 1993 discontinued, eliminating empty cans Lomason's plant manager, credits and air emissions. The savings in paint pollution prevention with helping the purchase over the wax pencils totals plant remain competitive in a very tough .... $ 11 ,000 per year. marketplace. For Waterloo Industries, Gary Gresham, waste minimization pollution prevention means that in committee leader at Douglas & Other miscellaneous changes made addition to saving money, the company Lomason, shows Bob Madison and in a sociation with these projects have has additional credibility when market other committee members parts coated by the autophoretic reduced waste management costs by ing its recycling products, because deposition process. $31,000 per year. These projects have Waterloo Industries is also doing the saved Douglas & Lomason more than right thing for the environment. $200,000 annually and, while the Both of the companies highlighted company did not divulge the amount of in this story, WRAP's other clients and investment required, company officials many other Iowa companies are leading are pleased with the rerum on invest Iowa industry into the 21st century. ments. They are concerned about doing the Douglas & Lomason continues to right thing for the environment while pursue other ideas identified by both proving that pollution prevention can WRAP and the company employee pay economic dividends and help them involvement team. According to remain competitive in world markets. company officials all Douglas & With this kind of enlightened, proactive Lomason employees are particularly approach, they are helping themselves as proud of one of the most recent achieve well as Iowa's economy and environ ments -- an expensive painting process ment. Every time a waste is eliminated, replaced by a less-toxic and less a business saves costs, reduces regula- • expensive rust-prooflng process that has tory workload and becomes more viable. actually increased product quality while Scores of businesses in Iowa are begin reducing waste. Preliminary data ning to take this approach to pollution indicate a material savings of at least prevention aided by the DNR's Waste $90,000 per year, plus the elimination of Reduction and Assistance Program, and hazardous waste disposal costs and many other resources. Bob Madison's reduced utility costs. A full documenta grandkids just may have that better tion of savings and benefits is still in world after all. progress. Larry Gibson is an environmental IT REALLY PAYS engineer for the department's Waste The cost-savings and other enhance Management Assistance Division in Des ments to business exhibited by Waterloo Moines. Industries and Douglas & Lomason are not unique. Preventing pollution' by reducing waste and using less-toxic materials really pays off. Doing the right thing for the environment at the right time can reap significant dividends for a business. These companies also prove that many waste-reduction projects cost little or nothing to implement and require only simple changes in proce dures and technology. While not all pollution prevention projects have short payback periods, like many of those illustrated in this story, some may require a longer-term commitment by companies. However, most will pay good dividends in environmental benefits, long-term worker and commu nity safety, and a more competitive company. Steve Warywoda, Douglas & July/Augu•l 1993 • lo"'• Consel'\-allorusl 49 - THE PRACTICAL CONSERVATIONIST - designed to keep the seed as dry as provides additional space for less Starting a Bird possible and to mi ntmize waste. aggressive birds to feed. Perches offer Different specie of btrds have varying chickadees and tufted titmtce a place to feeding habits, so it is good to incorpo hold the sunflower seed by their feet as Feeding Program rate as many feeding options as possible they eat. Lacking perches, these birds Article and illustration by into a feeder design. wi ll fly to the nearest branch, possibly The btrd feeder on the oppo tte out of view, to eat the seed. Birds, such Pat Schlarbaum page has been de igned to keep the as nuthatches, will use any crack to seed a dry as possible, to mi nimize wedge the seed where they hammer it Anyone who has enjoyed listening waste and to appeal to a range of bird open. Ground-feeding birds like juncos to songbirds and watching their species. A roof with a two-inch and cardinals prefer fl at surfaces to land colorful flight can appreciate seeing a minimum overhang ts required to upon. The platform board of the feeder favorite bird at their bird feeder. ensure a dry feedi ng area. Cedar wood entices these birds, including woodpeck Feeding birds has become a multi swells when wet, providing additional ers. The wi re-mesh side container can million dollar industry supported by tightness. The kerf lot is positioned offer suet or peanuts. Peanuts are a people of all professions and ages. under the drip-line of the roof and favorite food of tufted titmice and Bird feeding benefits people who provides aeration to the platform ide of downy woodpeckers. enjoy seeing birds at close range. the feeder. The feedi ng area is a To attract the greatest variety of Feeders offer a food supplement for recessed trough with creened hole to birds, consider providing different styles songbirds, but seldom provide all of a provide aeration and ubsequent drying. of feeders. Tube feeders containing healthy bird's diet. However, local A dry feeder is a better feeder and will niger seed will attract finches, although bird populations seem to benefit from last longer. Moldy seeds may cause fi nches also eat sunflower seeds at a stable feeding regimes, especially at aspergillosis, a deadly bird disea e hopper feeder. Feeders spaced at nesting ti me. While winter feeding caused by Aspergillosis fumigatus, a various locations and heights allow less focuses on viewing, summer feeding common, widespread mold that grows dominant species a means to feed away and an accompanying bird bath can on wet grai n and bread. from more-aggressive birds. provide tremendous entertai nment. It's The trough feeding area is also By constructing a feeder that is thrilling to see a mother cardinal coax designed to minimize eed waste. screwed together, replacement pieces her young to the feeding station for the Occasionally, birds such as hou e can be easily installed. Predrilling the fi rst time, or to hear the chickadees and sparrows will throw seeds from the screw holes up from the bottom, where l.i house finches welcoming a refi ll. feeding area onto the ground but the possible, provides a sturdy structure. bird Songbirds are much more vocal in narrow trough area is not conducive to Screw indentations can become a site and summertime and contribute to the this behavior. for weathering and wood rotting. quit aesthetics of any home. Sunflower seeds, especially black Marine varnishes are acceptable for abo Bird feeders should be located near oil sun fl ower seeds, are favorites of exterior portions of the feeder, but 2. a favorite window. Songbirds prefer cardinals, chickadee , nuthatche , should be avoided where contact with ha\ protected areas out of prevailing winds, titmice and at least 40 other species. the seeds occurs. Linseed oil is also a the so locate feeders near shrubs or When feeding seed mi xtures, some good wood preservative. 3. thickets, with a sunny exposure where birds will kick less-preferred seeds out Maintaining a healthy bird feeding Coc possible. Shrubs provide quick escape station can provide immeasurable of the feeder onto the ground to rot so it Pia~ cover from attacking predators, but is best to offer only sunflower seeds in entertainment possibilities for your esc1 avoid placing feeders too close to the feeder, rather than mixing it with fa mily and fri ends. The opportunity to ma, • shrubs if neighborhood cats threaten other grains. Ground-feedi ng birds, share the oneness with the natural world !her birds at your feeder. that songbirds can provide is well worth such as juncos and true sparrows, prefer PfOI A feeder designed to provide a white millet but will eat dropped the effort of feeding them. 4. I continuous supply of seed is called a sunflower seeds. blea "hopper'' style, as opposed to a feeder The length of the feeder at right S.t containing only a ~ mall food supply allows more than one bird to eat at a Pat Sch/arbaum is a nongame wildlife the 1 that requires daily maintenance. time. Bluejays can be quite territorial, technician for the department at the Hopper style feeders need to be but a length greater than 10 inches Boone. ~ 50 Iowa ConservauonaSI • July/August 1993 ------ II •· 10'' , FE: !:O I N L"! I N":> !! I'T $1C7t: P" lcc.E-?2 SIP E~ _l 1/t>·~- r _l (!. '!.. -4!> 4 A 11&,..,··.....-- _LfEeOIIJl:! 1ff>•'-7'-- 3~ n [ AE'FZATlOI.I 1\0L..eSr- • L, 1: I'' At7A~ ~ ENeD ~ ~·~ 4-Yt. • • • • • • • • • 0 • • • r~ .A R eA ;~" 1 (D) INS~~ L r 'l;." • 0 0 • 0 • 0 0 0 • • 0 0 t Vo+' 11 2.~' ~ ~R r:" + 19 ~ ~~· t'-'- ,L 130IID M '- ~··:;~~8>l!a \ t-- v / I 4~ 7\ I I f' ~ ~4 .. " c;;:!f& Peer ~liT" P 5 MIT~ e A'T 6 llA I N fOR rL. I!Y.I&L.AS~ END FOI2- FEE PeR f3A.$ f: ( B) ATT,O. ~.{ END 12.'-4 /1 ,, .. ru:c. e .s P~eeADt:~ s (A ) d l!ls l--~------~------~~ 1 1 I0' XIO I• ~·' 1. II L J 5" 34"' ~ 4 '1 1 7~ " 17'4 HA 12-D'W~J!. E )\l ,. ;.~ 71L ,~ C.~OTH PLUS Z. P I ~C.. E ":::> !S :3')(} II PI EC.E ,:"OR. E;OTT"OM l THE fe EDEI2. F\..AIJS A.~ SOME\VH,_T C:O MP L.-IC ATEP,SI~ SOME.' PA.RT:S Afl.£ NOT V1':>1 13 LEE IN -n1E A0JO IN IN(-, II..LLISIRAIIO~ IHe SP!l.E,t>.DEI2. (C..}Ill ~'"T C.O l'{NECTS -n\E $IDE~ ,A"T1AC I-l ES AT( f3) ! HE" "F"E"ED INI7 I R.OUC:>H DIYIDEFZ.. ( A./ Fli~ OV!iCI2- .5C.. !l-J:E:N ONTO rHG BOTTC>,"' AT ( D) S· y Successful Birdfeeding Tips , 1. Occasionally birds will fly into windows. Stunned - . - -- • --~ - --- birds can be put into a paper bag (folded down at the top ------and held closed by a clothes pin) and placed in a warm, -- ~ -~-- quiet place like a closet. Take the bag outside after -- about 30 minutes and release the revived bird. ------2. Marauding cats that threaten feeding birds should -- have a bell attached to their collar to warn the birds of their presence. 3. Sometimes hawks (especially sharp-shinned and g Coopers hawks) will disrupt feeding birds. Shrubs planted near feeding stations should provide protective escape cover for the birds. However, the best approach may be to simply stop feeding for a time. The birds will 0 ·Jd then disperse to natural feeding areas or other more protected feeders in your community. th 4. Bird feeders should be cleaned annually with a mild bleach solution to inhibit mold growth. 5. House sparrows can be deterred from monopolizing the feeder by hanging monofilament fishing line around Bird Feeder Construction Supply List the feeder or feeding cracked com or grains, their l" x 12" x 8' board, several sturdy twigs for perches, favorite foods, away from the main bird-feeding area. 46 screws, plexiglass, hardware cloth, small piece of fine screen, wood preservative July/August 1993 • lo\08 Con..ervauonl\t 51 ' ~~ --- -- CONSERVATION UPDATE Volunteer Effort \\111 Brings Dream Lake in Co Playground to 10 mJ Big Creek suce \C.~n State Park ca~h 1 ln earl ] June an army Indm mtere of \ O iuntee r ~ com erged on shoub B1 g Creek State Park 111 Polk County ln \\-hat wa-. Kram a fi rst-of-its-kind effort in ... tor of Some of the skilled an Iowa state park , the pla}g craftespersons constructed 171 2). volunteers built a wooden components which were A play tructure nearly an then fixed in place by other acre in size 1n JU t fi ve members of the volunteer buyi~ days. crew. makm A pec1al des1gn firm the B1 from New York superv1sed Ken Fonnanek 'hou]( the volunteer constructton ... at (51. Volunteers worked through the rain and mud to complete crews whose talents ranged the playground at Big Creek State Park. from skilled woodsm1ths to those who soaped screws ''The recently completed wooden playground at Big Creek Deer and carried lumber is an excellent example of the public and private sectors Because the proJeCt had to working together to accomplish a project that otherwise Licer -""' may not have been possible. The thousands of volunteer <> be completed before c: s hours put forth built a quality playground area that will be , representatives from the ..-: ·~.., E deadh1 available for young people for many years," said DNR & and IU Bob Leathers design firm c: director Larry Wilson. 52 I "'~Con'"''"'"'"''' • July/Augu't 1993 A smular playground until the quota is filled. 1992 Assessment Shows rates from the past 30 years will be bmlt m August at Early muzzleoader season Americans Throw More and projects figures for 1995 Lake Manawa State Park is Oct. 9 to 17. A way Than Ever and 2000. A new statistic in Council Bluff . In order Applications for late appearing in the update is an to make this project muzzleloader and both There is both encouraging estimate of residential versus sucessful 200 to 300 shotgun seasons will be and sobering news in the latest commercial sources of MSW. volunteers per day and accepted beginning EPA assessment of the Residential sources are cash donations are needed. July 19. Applications must nation's residential and estimated to make up 55 to 65 Individuals v.. ho are be postmarked no later commerctal waste. The percent of the MSW stream, interested m asststmg than Aug. 27 to be valid. percentage of municipal solid while commercial sources are should call Sharon There are no quotas on the waste (MSW) recovered from e timated at 35 to 45 percent. Kramer. general coordina number of licen es issued the nauon · s waste stream for Looking to the future, the tor of the Lake Manawa for an) of these ·easons. rccyclmg and composting update proJects recovery rates playground committee, at Deer shotgun ea on IS mcreased from 13 percent in of 20 to 30 percent in 1995 ed (712)328-93 14 Dec. 4 to 8 or Dec. 11 to 1988 to 17 percent in 1990. and 25 to 35 percent m the Anyone mterested m 19. Late muzzleloader Tht s mcrease ts due to the er year 2000. Such increases m buying rafne tickets or season is Dec. 20 to combmed efforts of individu r recovery rates arc essenttal to making cash donations to Jan I 0. ab, busmesses, industry and keep pace with the nation's the Big Creek playground Applicants for the governments Despite this growing waste stream. The should call the park office free landowner/tenant good news. Americans still update projects that MSW at (515)984-6473. license should note that threw away more garbage than generation will increase to free Iicen ses will not be ever. The total amount of 222 million tons-- or 4.5 issued on the regular gun MSW increased from 180 pounds per person per day - application. This year, million tons in 1988 to 196 by the year 2000. Deer and Turkey free landowner/tenant million tons in 1990, which As for the other MSW License Applications Ii censes will be issued by means the per capita rate management options, Several application the county recorder offi ce JUmped from 4.0 to 4.3 pounds landfilling declined from 73 deadlines for restdent deer in the county of residence. per person per day. percent in 1988 to 67 percent and turkey licenses are Landowners/tenants have These latest tatistics in 1990. By contrast, quickly approachmg. The until Oct. 31 to obtain come from Clwracteri::.ation of mcineratton of MSW showed fir t deadline is for the the e licenses. Municipal Solid Waste in the a slight increase from 14 special youth deer season. All deer bow licenses Umted States: 1992 Update, percent in 1988 to 16 percent The application deadlme ts will be issued by county which was recently released by in 1990. July 23. To be eligible for recorder offices through the EPA. Based on data (Repnnted from the the spectal season, which is out the bow season. The collected through 1990, the EPA's Reusable News ) Sept. II , 12, 18, 19, 25 and deer bow sea on is Oct. 1 update reports MSW genera- newsletter on munictpal solid 26, persons must be age 12 to Dec. 3 and Dec. 20 to tion, dtsposal and recovery waste management. ) through 15 by Sept I. Jan. I 0. Recovery Rates for Some MSW Components by Weight The next deer applica The application 30% 28.6 tion deadline is Aug. 13 for deadline for a resident early muzzleloadcr season. combination gun/bow 23.0 The number of licenses turkey license is July 23, 19.9 issued will be limited to and turkey bow licenses 7,500, and a random are available throughout drawing will be held if more the season. The turkey 12.0 than that number apply. If gun/bow season i Oct. 11 10% I) ( I the quota IS not reached, to Nov. 28 and the bow applicattons wtll be ac only season is Oct.1 to ~ cepted on a first-come-first- Dec. 3 and Dec. 20 to 0 { IJ erved basts until Aug. 27 or Jan I 0. 1988 1990 1988 1990 1988 1990 PAPER METAL GLASS ' ------ CONSERVATION UPDATE Waverly Light and utility's consideration, fixture on the horizon, Iowa Bird Photos corn Power to Construct however, accord1ng to according to Cannon. Needed srud Glenn Cannon, general "Customers often attend Wind Turbine HELP!!!!! The manager. "Our utilit) has our board meeting to ask Breeding Bird Atlas Iov., Waverly Light and looked at the economics of how we are proceeding," project, co-sponsored by v.atc Power has been awarded a wind turbine very seri he said. Construction of the DNR and the Iowa l)pe a $25,000 grant from the ously. In today's market, it the turbine should begin in Orntthologists' Union the) American Public Power is an expensive option, yet June and it hould be in urgently needs photos of bird Association (APPA) to wmd ha great prospect for operation by the end of the Iowa b1rds. The final Jack defray the co t of a the future. Despite the summer. product will be a book ever project to demonstrate somewhat higher cost, our Waverly Light and ummarizing data on each and wind turbine operation customers, employees and Power also has an electric of the bird species known ptcn by a mall public power our governing board are powered truck, retro-fitted to breed in Iowa. thin] utility in a Midwest wmd very enthusiaStiC about the by the utility, that 1 used "We need pictures of of sl regime. The remaining prospect of locally ba ed, to gather information and all species even the birdi cost of the project, about clean, renewable electnc as hand -on experience common ones uch as pic~ $100,000, will come out ity," said Cannon. wi th electric vehicles. It robins, cardinal , pigeons, sornt of Waverly's budget. In return for the APP A feature a 28-horsepower mourning dove • house iden1 Waverly will be the grant, Waverly w1ll collect motor with 20 six-volt sparrow and starlings," a lift first municipal utility in data on performance and batteries and has been sa id Laura Jackson, ware the Midwest, and the co ts that can be u ed by added to the fleet to do nongame b10logi t for the DO let second in the country, to other small utilities. normal jobs around DNR. "People have I mstall a wind turbine. Waverly Light and Power Waverly. The utility ubrnitted a few ptctures of bird The utility already serves 3,800 cu tomer . considers the vehicle the uncommon, more youn generate a portion of its There are several hundred another way to test and unu ual or what they All~ electricity from hy Similarly s1zed publicly prepare for the future. con ider 'attractive' bird . ackn, dropower and is consid owned electric utilities in (See the windpower But we do not have many aren ered a leader 1n energy the Midwest. article, Northwe t Iowa u able shots of the com cann, efficiency and integrated Waverly residents are the Saudi Arabia of Wind mon, everyday Iowa \\ illt resource planning. eagerly anticipating the new Energy, on page 38.) species or the omewhat selec harder-to-photograph If )Ot The utility will ~ construct the wind Waverly light and Power is considered a leader in warblers. vireoes. grass Your turbine -- with a 140- energy efficiency and integrated resource planning. It land songbirds and wetland receiJ foot tower and 49-foot will be the first municipal utility in the Midwest, and the pecies. Out of the notin blades -- on a farm ju t second in the country, to install a wind turbine. approximately 200 birds I north of Waverly. The that breed in the tate, less for ct turbine will produce than a dozen pictures have PUbh electncny at a cost of been cho en for the book." subm about 9 cents per Jackson said. !>Osstl kilowatt-hour, two to "To make the book Flee~ three times the cost of truly useful, we need en p Depa coal-generated electric black and white photos, R.eso ity. The cost is also slides or high-contrast Offic higher than other wind color photos of all of the Gran, generated electricity Iowa bird specie . Project 503Jt because of the small coordinators would like to quest scale of the demonstra include a photo of each or Pic tion. species de cribed in the neede The cost was not the publication and need Jacks, over-riding factor 111 the immediate assi tance to 2823. 54 Iov.a Con...:l"al•omM • Jui)/Augu\1 1993 ------ complete the project," County Conservation Resources' wild turkey said Jackson. Park Directories program. The chapter "We know that A 40-page booklet donated three portable Iowans out there enjoy containing information on blinds that will be used to watching birds of all 1,464 county conservation watch turkeys at baited trap types, and we are hoping areas is now available sites and a telemetry they will share their own from the Iowa Association receiver that will be used to bird shots with us," said 0 fo llow radio-marked ] of County Conservation Jackson. "We urge Q. Boards. The booklet turkeys. The Full Strut everyone to 'not be shy' z0:: Chapter (Iowa City) has 0 contains information on and to submit any quality the location of all county also made a donation of pictures of birds they Fall '93 parks, river-boat accesses, two cellular phones for think we can use as a way trails, camping and communication between of sharing their interest in Toxic Cleanup Days swimming areas, fi shing trap sites and a computer birding. It might be your Toxic Cleanup Days and boating areas, avail programming interface for picture of a robin that lets (TCD) aJlow Iowans to able sports and fi elds, the telemetry receiver. The someone make their first dispose of their household hunting areas, nature donations are valued at identification and begins hazardous wastes and centers, historic sites, $ 1' 73 1. a lifetime interest in bird provide an opportunity for wildlife ex hibit and other "This equipment is watching," Jackson education on altemati ves to park features. extremely useful and noted. disposal, or in some cases ' Send $2 for each copy important to the successful Pictures can be of the proper disposal management ordered to: Iowa Associa completion of our turkey bird itself, or adult or in the home. If you are tion of County Conserva research," said DeWaine young birds at the nest. stumped about what to do tion Boards, Box 79, Jackson, forest wildlife All photos will be with unusable chemicals in Elkhart, TA 50073 or research biologist for the acknowledged when they your home, call the DNR phone (515)367-4000. department. "The chap are received. The proJect Waste Mangement Hotline ters' continued support is cannot pay for photos but at (800)367 -1025. Bluebird Conference especially important in will credit each photo The fall '93 TCD these times of limited staff selected for publication. counties and dates are listed Aug. 21 and 22 and research funds," said If your picture is selected below. Watch local newspa The ninth annual Jackson. The turkey you may also request a pers for phone numbers to Bluebird Conference is research at Stephens State receipt, for tax purposes, call for appointments. Aug. 21 and 22 at the Forest is also being noting the donation. Springbrook Conservation partially funded by a If you have photos + September 11 Education Center near re earch grant from the for consideration in the Mahaska County Guthrie Center. Preregis National Wild Turkey publication, please Marion County tration forms are available Federation and Iowa State submit them as soon as + September 18 from Don Pogensee, Lake University. "Without a possible to John Lucas County LeJune Estates, Ida Grove cooperative research Fleckenstein, Iowa Monroe County IA 51445. program and the commit Department of Natural + September 25 Two Wild Turkey ment to wild turkeys that Resources, Wallace State Emmet County both the National Wild Office Building, 900 East Mitchell County Chapters Make Turkey Federation and the Grand Des Moines, Iowa Scott County Donation to DNR Iowa Cooperative Fish and 50319-0034. If you have +October 2 The Central Iowa Wildlife Research Unit queslions about the type Buena Vista County Longspur Chapter (Des (ISU) have made, the DNR of picture or species Cherokee County Moines/Ankeny) of the Iowa would have been unable to needed, call Laura + October 9 Wild Turkey Federation has study the recent decline in Jackson at (5 15)432- Franklin County made a donation to the Iowa's wild turkey repro 2823. Hardin County Department of Natural duction," said Jackson. Jui)/Augu\1 1993 • lo"a Conservauonost 55 CONSERVATION UPDATE Results From Iowa's field, with the time fairly encounter with a deer. A Upcoming NRC, First Youth-Only EPC and Preserves evenly plit between all three well-placed tree stand or Board Meetings Deer Season weekend . Deer were taken ground blind near the edge La t year was the fir t on all three weekends, with a of some timber gives the The dates and year of a special youth-only slightly higher take on the young hunter their best locations have been deer eason in Iowa and the second and third weekends. chance to see a deer and set for the following eason appears to have been Nearly 75 percent of the pick a safe, effective shot. meetings of the a ucce . About 1,700 young hunters reported being Early morning and late Natural Resource young ter took advantage either very atisfied or afternoon are the best time Commission, Environ of the opportunity and more satisfied with their experi to catch deer on the move. mental Protection than 60 percent were on ence. This was the highe t It is important to keep the Commission and the their fir t deer hunt. satisfaction rating by any stand lightly hidden as Preserves Advisory Although many tate group of re ident hunter young hunters have a hard Board of the Iowa have pec1al hunts for young during the past season. time remaining still. Department of Natural hunter , Iowa is one of the About the only com However, make sure the Resources. first to give youngsters their plaint regi tered regarded the young hunter has a good Agendas for these own deer ea on. The main timing of the hunt. The early view of the area where the meetings are set objecti ve of the season is to season can be a bit warm and deer is upposed to appear approximately 10 days provide young hunters an bugs can be a nuisance, but so that they can make a prior to the scheduled opportunity to learn to hunt late September is the only good hot. date of the meeting. deer in a safe, well super time during the fall when no For Iowans who have a For additional. vised manner. To be other deer seasons take place. youngster eligible for the information, contact eligible the youth had to be The only change in the season, this is a good way to the Iowa Department 12 through 15 year old by season this year allow young get them tarted hunting of Natural Resources, Sept. I , had to pas a hunter hunter the option of u ing a deer. Tho e who do not Wallace State Office safety cour e and had to be bow a a weapon. have an eligible youth 10 Building, Des Moines, accompanied into the field When preparing for the their own household may Iowa 50319-0034. by an adult who also youth season, adults should know of a young person who pos essed a regular hunting keep in mind they are helping would like to go deer hunting but does not have Natural Resource licen e. Both the young the youth prepare for a anyone to take them. This Commission: hunter and the adult had to lifetime of responsible, enjoyable hunting. Here are season gives the adult hunter --August 5, Chariton wear hunter orange. The a few tips that can help the chance to introduce --September 2, young hunter also had to achieve that goal. Patience on youth to the sport in the Shenandoah stay in direct company with the adult at all times. the part of the adul t and pre- right way. It is a great idea Environmental Ba ed upon the result ea on practice by the youth to start now and plan on a Protection from the post-season harvest may be the key to a succe s hunt thi corning season. Commission: survey, about 40 percent of ful hunt. Always remember, The youth deer season i a --July 19, Des Moines the youths got a deer. More this is a learning experience terrific opportunity for Iowa 1 --August 16, Des Moines than 70 percent of the deer for the youngster. Adults hunters to share their --September 20, taken were antlerless, but all need to emphasize safety and appreciation of wildlife and Des Moines were, in the minds of the the po itive aspects of being hunting, pa s on the tradi young hunters, trophies. in the field . Adults should tion of re ponsible hunting State Preserves Although most youngsters make sure that bagging a and reli ve the excitement of Advisory Board: hunted with a parent, 21 "trophy" is not counted as the their own first deer hunt --September 7 and 8, p rcent spent at least part of only measure of success. The when they watch the Fayette County the time in the field with tactics that work best are excitement of youths either a friend or relative. those that give the young refining their own skills. These young hunters spent hunter as much time as (See page 53 for an average of 3.6 days in the possible to react to an application deadlines.) 56 Iowa Conscrvauon•st • July/Augu\1 1993 CLASSROOM CORNER by Bob Rye Home Range Age: The following activity is a version of "Home Range" from the Grades -- middle and high school curriculum material Lessons in a Land Ethic based on essays from Aldo Leopold's book A Sand County Almanac. This exercise was in-serviced Objectives: to 30 naturalists through a grant from Pheasants Forever in March 1993. Students will be able to: 1) interpret the evidence of "sign" Background: left by at least three different animals Leopold describes the area of land used by rabbits, chickadees, deer using natural settings or pictures; and and grouse and the plants used for food and shelter. He learned about the 2) define the term "home range" home range of animals by observing them directly and by finding and identify the approximate size of evidence of their behaviors. the home range for at least the local animals. Key quotes: "The wild things that live on my farm are reluctant to tell me, in so Method: many words, how much of my township is included within their daily or Students will read the essay nightly beat." "Home Range" and then find the physical evidence in their area. "Every farm is a textbook on animal ecology; woodsmanship is the translation of the book." Materials: Vocabulary: (Outdoors) home range, budscales, budding, popple, woodsmanship, ecology Animal identification books. ) (Indoors) Audio/visual materials about animal evidence, sketches of animal evidence, animal identification books. 0 Resource Materials: Leopold, A. 1949. A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There, !f New York Oxford University Press. Audubon Series of Field Guides: Mammals, 1980, New York; Alfred Knopf. Chase, M. and Chase, C. 1969. Field Guide to Tracks of North American Wildlife, NASCO Nature a Study Aids. Murie, O.J. 1975. A Field Guide to i Animal Tracks, Boston; Houghton Miffin. Peterson, R.T. 1947. A Field Guide to the Birds, Boston; Houghton Miffin. Schwartz, C.W. 1959. The Wild Mammals of Missouri, University of Missouri Press. Jui)/A ugu ~t 1993 • l o ~>a Con..e~J lt Onl\t 57 Extensions: Procedure: 1. Have the ~ tud e nts try to (Outdoors) duplicate ammal sign outdoors and 1. Dt scuss some of the possible animal ev1dence that might be found have students attempt to 1dentify the outdoors and the sin of the area needed for the particular animals to find animals that made them. food, water, shelter and adequate space. 2. Find out what sctentlst have 2. Take the students outdoors to a suitable area In teams of two to learned about home range smce th ree, d1rect them to locate ammal ev1dence and make sketches of their Leopold wrote th1s e say m the findmgs on five- by e1ght- mch cards (one s1gn per card) 1940s. 3. Ask them to choose one ammal s1gn they can 1denufy and see if ll 3. Invite a btologtst or btrd can be fou nd m several places m the area. Have them guess what the bander into class to talk about animal home range of that ammal m1ght be (identifi cation book may be used). signs and home range. 4. Direct each group of two to three students to pair up with another group and have them try to guess the name of the animal that left each s1gn, usmg one card. (Indoors) 1. Show an aud1o/v1sual about animal ev1dence. 2. Refer to outdoor procedure . substituting aud iO/VI ual materials for the outdoor expenence or use the sketches of an1mal evidence. Evaluation: The teacher should select an example of one ammal stgn (the actual cv1dence or a sketch) and ask the students to tdenufy the animal that caused It and the approximate s11e of its home range tudent Worksheet Introduction: The essay briefl y describes some of the activtties of rabbits, chickadees, deer and grouse as they find food, shelter, water and adequate space w1th in their horne range areas. h What to Do: 1. Read the sections descnbmg each of the ammals and their home 1 Loc range. Dest M; 2. Record the names of at least three local animals and sketch an Fl example of the evidence they leave. Esttmate the size of their home s range based on what you discover. COL l~ Animal Evidence Home Range Area \\ ,j a. Rt Tro b. B Use c. CA~ Ele( d. C.u tlse 3. Read about each ammal you tudied and find out more information til about each, espec1ally thetr home ranges. a. What ammal did you choose? \i b. What types of evidence could be found tf you studied the animal tls in more depth? c. How have humans affected the home range of the animals you Bob Rye is a trahting officer at the department's Springbrook Conservation investigated? Education Center in Guthrie County. 58 lo"'a Con You may not be interested in reaching an educated, involved, upscale reader. It may not be important to you that 55.000 Iowans read every issue of the Iowa Conservationist. Perhaps your product does not need to be showcased in the quality, 4-color environment the Iowa Conservationist has to offer. Perhaps your company just doesn't need any more business! But. .. -if you want 55,000 active Iowans to know about your company or product; - if you recognize the value that association with the Iowa Conservationist can bring; - if you are looking for a cost effective way to share your advertising message with thousands of outdoor enthusiasts, an ad in the Iowa Conservationist would be right for your company. Please call the State Advertising Sales Coordinator collect at (515) 242-4861 for all the details about advertising in upcoming issues of the Iowa Conservationist. How to find Your 1 ,000,000 acres Locattons And - County g . e keep hearing from readers -- such as you -- how Descriptions for ~ [OifA SPOifiS.f£fNS 'Transportation 1 W each and every issue is informative and exciting to ALL 2, 000 ovr:a..clfoto. Use the SPORTSMAN'S ATLAS to find Addrt" H UNTING SITES, ANYWHE RE IN IA. FOR CU) Srare Ltp Pheasant, Quatl, Turkey, Deer, Ducks & Geese, Mushrooms, Plums, Wtldnowers, Rare plants & ammab . Bill me Name Use the ATLA S to find areas you've never heard of ------and to keep track of the places you wtll want to find agam Send $ 18.75 + Ia. sates tax to. YOUR MOST IMPORTANT Col), Srare lop SPORTSMAN'S ATLAS P.O. BOX 132 PIECE OF OUTDOOR s~nlloo low,, Depanmenl of Narural Re\OUI" WARDEN'S DIARY by Chuck Hume ton "Don't Go Near The Dam!" " You're going to river rescue si tuation even more dangerous. training, Y ou' ll be on fast water and The second day consisted of " ... all of my career in front of low-head dams." demonstrations of rope, boat and " W HAT? EXCUSE ME?" pulley ngg111 g and an aftemoon of I've told people about "All officers w1ll have to take the trainmg 111 a <.,WIInmmg pool. the dangers of tra111111 g " The last two days were hand - low-head dams and " Well, I guess that's it then. H igh on rraimng tn n vcr read mg and water here I come." boat-handling sk.lll <., and pracucmg lightning, and yet I Tra111111g 1s probably one of the rescue scenan os found myself out in a most Important facets of law enforce The good part about the trammg ment 111 whatever the officer doe . v. as the fact the In structors stres. ed thunderstorm, on a No matter what snuauon occur , it' safe, pracucal. standard11ed tech river, during high ltkely the officer will react in and to ntques These '>tandard11ed tech now, in front of a the nuatt on in the manner the officer ntques enable a conservation officer has been tra1 ned and has practiced that to ass1st any other department w1th a low-head dam." tram mg. rescue operauon. Everyone will be But, I was not too keen on the thinkmg and acung on the same idea of work1ng on flood-stage rivers, wavelength as this tra1nmg becomes particularly near the face of a low stat ewide for other fire, rescue and me out of th1 s one, I proml'>e I will head dam. In fact, we refer to low law enforcement age ncies. never aga m . . " head dams as " drowning machines." The bad part about the training It was good tram1ng. It was The hydraulic effect created by the was the cold water, h1 gh flow and direct, spec1fic and covered the dams will trap a person who is the dam Itse lf T he very th111gs that ituatton If you ever played any unfortunate enough to go over one of made the tra1 n111 g realistiC also made sports Ill school. you remember how these dams, 111 the face of the dam, 1l dangerous, uncomfortable and you pracuced the plays and funda recirculating them and pulling them more than a lntlc wornsome. mentals and '> lluauon'> over and over under the water 111 front of the dam. I too"- my turn 111 an mflatable unlll your re'>pon-.e was automatiC. Dams and high-flow rivers are boat tethered to a backup boat in We tram much the same v,ay 1n Ia'' bad news, both to the victim and to the front of the bac "- wash of the enforce ment. A'> 1n our nvcr potenual rescuer. One of the two Burlmgton Street Dam 111 Iowa C 1ty. tratntng, we cover the fundamentals Iowa conservation officers ever killed I was ready to toss a rope and again and agam unul the response 111 the lme of duty drowned in a low throw-bag to an unagmary victim. rea lly is automatic. head dam sttuation. Sadly, many Now, all of my career I've told But, there are some Important times individuals underestimate the people about the dangers of low differences. We tra1n for real1ty, not power of the river's current and take head dams and lightning, and yet I a game, and for situations and foolish risks, gelling them in danger found myself out in a thunderstorm, conditions in which we really hope ous situations. When they do, we on a river, during high now, in front we will never have to play Winning have to respond. of a low-head dam. Talk about in this situation mean s never having So, knowing the dangers, I realistic training scenarios! to play and getting the word out to approached this training with a bit of I thmk many officers "found Iowans -- watch that dam and be trepidation. rellg1on" dunng the training Being careful on the water Th1.., -.ea-.on ·.., The first day consisted of class on a n vcr dunng flood stage. swollen streams and n vcr'> could g1ve room trammg with much cmphasi on C'> pcctally 1n front of a dam. can be us a chance to rcii\C our trammg. but why rescues fall. preplanning rescue one or tho-.c " moment'> of truth" in as good a'> 11 wa-.. I hope It'> some log1sl1cs and responses. and hypother your Ide. Ba... cd on my cxpenence. thmg no one has to do I mta A lmost all Iowa n ver water can the n ver tratnmg probably resulted be dav.. d'ied as cold water. making the 111 many officer'> -.ay mg. " l f you get 62 lo"·' ( <•n • SlATE Ll BRARY OF IOWJ'A 1 East 12th & Grand DES MOINES _iOWA 503 9