The Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources said Thursday (Oct. 15th), a collision that occurred between two manure tankers owned by Schon Manure Hauling about 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 9th, led to a 9,500-gallon manure spill near Coon Rapids in Carroll County. No one was hurt. A DNR investigation Oct. 10th verified manure did not reach a water source or a tile
intake. The manure applicators cleaned up the spill, spreading manure in the crop
field and incorporated it.

Of three employees involved in the incident, only one, Brady Brehmer, was certified
as a commercial manure applicator. Chris Edwards and Jamie Hansen were not
certified, although they finished annual training in February. The business and
employees completed certification Oct. 13 by paying the required fees.

Alison Manx, DNR environmental specialist, says “Producers should make sure they are hiring certified manure applicators. Even businesses who are hiring from
another business should check to make sure the person they are hiring is certified.”

The first and easiest way to check is to ask to see their 2015 manure applicator
certificate and business certificate, and check the expiration date. Other options to check commercial certification status include:

• Look at currently certified businesses on the Iowa State University Extension
  and Outreach website at www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag/maccma.html
• Call the local Extension office
• Call Colleen Conroy at 515-725-8268 at the DNR.
• Call the regional DNR field office.

The DNR will consider appropriate enforcement action for not having current
certification as manure applicators. Manure applicators who need to renew their certificates can schedule an appointment with their local Extension office to complete video training or with their DNR field office to take a test. Certification is not complete until paperwork is filed with DNR and fees have been paid.

The Natural Resource Commission for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has approved three Resource Enhancement and Protection Public Private Cost-share grant requests from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation at its October meeting. The projects were awarded more than $440,000. Public private grants are used for land acquisition with 75 percent of the acquisition costs come from REAP and the remaining 25 percent coming from private contributions.

Among those Receiving a REAP Private Public Grant, was Guthrie County, for the Springbrook Wildlife Management Area, Doyle addition. The project received $112,725 for the acquisition of 48 acres of property, the Doyle Addition, in Guthrie County, adjacent to the 779 acre Springbrook State Park and 586 acre Springbrook Wildlife Management Area. Protection will expand the complex to over 1,413 total acres, providing additional permanent wildlife habitat in the area and a significant block of contiguous woodland.

The Natural Resource Commission of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has approved Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) grants to 24 cities for use in parks and open spaces during its October meeting. The projects were awarded nearly $2.4 million. The REAP City Parks and Open Space competitive grants help cities establish natural areas, encouraging outdoor recreation and resource management. Cities were separated into three categories: population under 2,000, population 2,000 – 25,000 and population over 25,000.

For cities with a population of under 2000:

The City of Avoca received $71,078 for the Old Nishnabotna Riverbed Wetland Preservation and Trail Project, which involves construction of a 1,900 Linear Foot trail, wetland and wildlife habitat conservation and installation of interpretive aids for public education. The project has a positive relationship to and compliments, the Nishnabotna River Trail. It also satisfies local and statewide goals for outdoor recreation by providing a wellness opportunity (trail), restoring and protecting a wetland area and habitat that is threatened and providing public educational opportunities.

And, the City of Manning received $45,811 for the Manning Hospital/Parks Connector Trail Bridge. Officials say this is the final phase in the City’s portion of the Hospital-Parks Connector Trail. Previous phases paved trail from the hospital to the West Nishnabotna River on the west and from the downtown and City Park to the river on the east. The project will build the bridge and the bridge approaches between the two dead-end trails. It will literally bridge the gap between the heart of the community, the hospital and the county park.

In the cities larger than 25,000 category:

Council Bluffs’ Fairmount Park Woodland Restoration Phase Two, received $200,000. The project includes land restoration, trail development, neighborhood connection and directional signage. Invasive plant species will be removed, chipped for trail surfacing and placed on the trails. The trails developed will be 5400 feet in length. Signs will be installed to direct park users to the trails and destination points in the park.