ONAWA – Due to anticipated flooding, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will close Lewis and Clark State Park along the Missouri River in Monona County beginning Monday, June 6.

The rising water table in the area will cause the park to flood around June 10 and is not expected to recede for close to eight weeks. High water will cut off the park road and infiltrate the park facilities.

“Campers currently in the park are safe,” said Eric Haakenson, DNR park ranger. “We just want to make sure the park is cleared beforehand.”

In addition to Lewis and Clark, the DNR has closed and removed the staff at Wilson Island State Recreation Area, north of Council Bluffs, and is watching the levee separating Lake Manawa State Park from the Missouri River.

The DNR has suspended the 14-day maximum length of stay rule for evacuees who choose to camp at Waubonsie State Park in Fremont County and may look at doing the same at other western Iowa parks if the need arises.

AMES, Iowa – June 3, 2011 – 10:30 a.m. – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is presently carrying out emergency contingency planning in light of the Missouri River flooding, which is expected to continue through June. The Iowa DOT is already performing some emergency response activities to assist with regional traffic impacts related to flooding occurring in South Dakota, and making other preparations in the Sioux City area.
  
As part of its planning effort, the Iowa DOT is evaluating hydrological data and conducting an assessment of elevations of state roadways and its facilities, which are located along the corridor from Sioux City to Hamburg. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine the potential for flood inundation or other impacts. Where it is warranted, state assets will be relocated.

Included in the evaluation is an assessment of the vulnerability of the interstate highways. All interstate routes remain open to traffic at this time.
If it becomes necessary to close the interstate or other state roadways due to flooding, the Iowa DOT will provide the public with as much advance notice as possible. However, the volume and rate of rising flood waters can be unpredictable and the window of opportunity to notify the public may be limited in some instances.

Local area residents planning to use state or interstate highways as evacuation routes should closely monitor travel conditions.
Commercial motor carriers with permitted oversize loads should check availability of designated routes by visiting www.511ia.org.
Any detours that are established may involve significant out-of-distance travel due to the vast area that the flood waters are forecast to impact. Therefore, persons planning to travel on the far western edge of Iowa over the next month should check travel conditions to select the best route to avoid significant delays.

A proclamation issued by Governor Branstad today outlines several Iowa regulatory provisions pertaining to commercial motor vehicle drivers and motor carriers that have been temporarily suspended for travel associated with the flood response. Complete details are outlined in the proclamation. 
To view the proclamation, live Webcam images, flood-related news releases and flood safety tips for travelers, visit www.iowadot.gov and click on the “Flooding Ahead” sign.

Visit www.511ia.org or call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (outside Iowa) for the latest road conditions.

Iowans can go fishing on any of the state’s lakes, rivers and streams for free this weekend, without having a fishing license. The Free Fishing Days event begins today (Friday) and runs through Sunday. Joe Larscheid, chief of fisheries for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says it’s a great time to go out and catch a lot of fish with family members.” Larscheid says the weekend will feature educational opportunities for new anglers.

“It’s exciting at this time of the year because bluegills and crapies are willing to bite and they’re close to shore, they’re spawning and they’re easy to fish for,” Larscheid says. “It doesn’t take sophisticated tackle and it’s a great time to go out and catch a lot of fish with family members.” Larscheid says the weekend will feature educational opportunities for new anglers.

“Fishing is a wholesome activity that’s a lot of fun,” he says. “We have fishing clinics out there for people that don’t know how to fish, they don’t know what to use and they’re not sure what to do when they catch a fish, we have fishing clinics throughout the state that people can go to and it’s free this weekend.” Larscheid says the free fishing events are for Iowa residents only.

He says people from out-of-state will need to buy fishing licenses, which are available in one-, three- and seven-day amounts to keep the sport affordable. Learn more about the events online at: www.iowadnr.gov

One note: Officials are advising people to avoid the Missouri River and its tributaries due to hazards related to flooding and impending flooding.

One Iowa-based convenience store chain is buying 22 stores from another. Ankeny-based Casey’s announced they have signed an agreement to purchase the stores from the West Des Moines-based Kum & Go chain. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Casey’s says most of the stores are in rural locations and will fit into their business model. The company has some 15-hundred stores. Kum & Go issued a statement saying that the profits of the sale will be reinvested in their remaining 400 stores.

Casey’s says the stores involved will be switched over as soon as the sale is complete. The stores are in Armstrong, Atlantic, Britt, Brooklyn, Carroll, Cedar Falls, Elk Run Heights, Garner, Iowa Falls, Mediapolis, St. Charles, Storm Lake, Washington, Chariton and two each in Centerville, Cherokee, Estherville, and Sheldon.

The manager of the Kum and Go in Atlantic referred inquires about the future of the store to their Corporate Public Relations Department, but an official there was not available for comment this (Friday) morning.

(Dar Danielson/Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today said this weekend will kick-off the prime strawberry picking season that many strawberry lovers have been waiting for all year.  Reports from growers around the state show that strawberries are maturing a little slower this year due to the cooler weather, but many farmers are saying that this year’s strawberry crop may be among their best. 

“Mid-June looks to be the peak of the Iowa strawberry season this year, so the next few weeks will be a great time to visit a ‘You Pick’ farm in your area or shop for them at your local farmers market,” Northey said.  “Fresh strawberries are delicious and when they are in season you get the best flavor, prices and nutritional value.”

It is good to call or check the farms website before going to a “You Pick” farm to make sure strawberries are prime for the picking and the conditions are favorable.  To find strawberry farms in your area visit www.IowaAgriculture.gov<http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/>. 

To store strawberries put unwashed berries loosely covered with plastic wrap in the coldest part of your refrigerator for no more than 3 days.  Do not wash berries until you are ready to eat them.  To wash them place berries in a colander and rinse under cold water.  Remove the green cap after you have washed them. Strawberries are one of the world’s most popular fruits being consumed by 94% of all U.S. households.    They are also a healthy option, serving as a great source of Vitamin C and antioxidants, are low in calories and fat-free.

Strawberries are not only nutritious and delicious but they are also one of the most versatile fruits.  Used as a sweet treat or combined with spinach in a salad, strawberries add scrumptious flavor and color to any dish. “While strawberries are one of the healthiest fruits you can eat, they also have one of the shortest harvest seasons so don’t delay in getting your fill,” Northey said.

(Press Release: IA Dept. of Ag)

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry E. Branstad today signed an emergency disaster proclamation relating to Iowa’s transportation systems within the six counties named in yesterday’s emergency disaster proclamation: Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Pottawattamie and Woodbury.

In signing the declaration, Gov. Branstad triggered the following actions:
*        Iowa regulatory provisions pertaining to hours of service for drivers providing flood response have been suspended.

*        Certain weight limit provisions have also been suspended for loads related to flood response moved on Iowa roadways, excluding the interstate.

*        Other regulations that restrict movement of oversize and overweight loads of livestock, soybeans, corn, hay, straw, and stover have been suspended.

*        Additional regulations related to operating authority registration and fuel tax reporting, as well as medical cards and minimum age requirements for commercial drivers engaged in flood response are suspended.

Drivers and commercial motor carriers are advised to review the proclamation for complete details and terms of the suspensions.

Flood updates are available at http://Governor.Iowa.Gov and www.IowaHomelandSecurity.org<http://www.IowaHomelandSecurity.org>.