Tag: cedar river

Charles City Post, Oelwein Post, Outdoors1 Comment

Your comments sought about the state withdrawing a nitrate restriction for the Cedar River Watershed

Chris Baldus

By the Iowa DNR The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public comment on the DNR’s intent to withdraw the Cedar River watershed nitrate total maximum daily load (TMDL). TMDLs include analyses and methods for improving water quality for water bodies on the state’s Clean Water Act 303d impaired waters list. In 2006, the DNR finalized a TMDL for nitrate in the Cedar River. The DNR created the Cedar River TMDL due to the nitrate impairment in the segment of the Cedar River which Cedar Rapids uses as a source for municipal drinking water. The DNR has concluded … Continue reading Your comments sought about the state withdrawing a nitrate restriction for the Cedar River Watershed

Outdoors

FISHING REPORT: Try a jig and a leech on Clear Lake for walleye

Chris Baldus

Compiled by the Iowa DNR Clear Lake The water temperature is in the upper 70’s. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success slip bobber fishing the rock reefs with a jig and leech and fishing under docks with a minnow. Channel Catfish – Good: Fish the windswept shore and rocky areas with cut bait or crawlers fished on the bottom. Yellow Bass – Fair: Fish the edge of vegetation in 4 to 6 feet of water with a small piece of crawler or leech. Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City) River flows are high – about twice the normal flow … Continue reading FISHING REPORT: Try a jig and a leech on Clear Lake for walleye

Outdoors

FISHING REPORT: Catfish action picking up on Cedar River

Chris Baldus

Iowa DNR Cedar River (above Nashua) Water levels are falling, but current remains high. Water clarity is improving. Water temperatures are in the upper 60’s. Use caution when boating in higher flows. Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish action is picking up with warmer water. Use dead chubs or chicken livers fished in the impoundments or shallow slack water areas. Keep your bait on the river bottom. Walleye – Slow: Try a jig tipped with a minnow or ring worms in eddies or slack water areas. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find bass in eddies or current breaks; use spinnerbaits. Black Crappie – … Continue reading FISHING REPORT: Catfish action picking up on Cedar River

Charles City

FISHING REPORT: Try red worms for black crappies in the Cedar

Chris Baldus

Compiled from the Iowa DNR Cedar River (above Nashua) Water levels are falling, but current remains high. Water clarity is improving. Water temperatures are in the upper 60’s. Use caution when boating in higher flows. Visit theUSGS Current Conditions website for more on water levels. Channel Catfish – Fair: Catfish action has slowed, but nice fish are still being caught. Use dead chubs or chicken livers fished in the impoundments or shallow slack water areas. Keep your bait on the river bottom. Walleye – Slow: Try a jig tipped with a minnow or ring worms in eddies or slack water … Continue reading FISHING REPORT: Try red worms for black crappies in the Cedar

Outdoors

Time to start pre-application process for DNR grants to help improve local lakes, rivers and streams

Chris Baldus

From DNR’s EcoNewsWire, 12/13/2018 “DES MOINES — The DNR is now accepting pre-application questionnaires for grant funding that helps locally-led groups develop water quality improvement efforts in Iowa communities. Offered by the DNR’s Watershed Improvement Program, Watershed Planning Grants help local groups passionate about improving water quality create a nine-element Watershed Management Plan, which identifies problems in the watershed and proposes solutions for better water quality. Making changes in the watershed (the land that drains to a lake, river or stream) can reduce pollution reaching our waters. Those selected through the pre-application process will then be invited to apply for … Continue reading Time to start pre-application process for DNR grants to help improve local lakes, rivers and streams

Outdoors

FISHING REPORT: High water stymies Cedar River fishing

Chris Baldus

Dropping a line in the Cedar River in Charles City this week is almost guaranteed to be relaxing. Chances are good you won’t be pulling in many fish.While high water is plaguing the river, other nearby fishing spots have more promise. Here are the latest fishing reports from the Iowa DNR for the Cedar River, Clear Lake and the Decorah trout streams: Cedar River (above Nashua) Water levels are on the rise with poor visibility. Watercraft activities are not recommended. Walleye – Slow: Use a jig tipped with a crawler, minnow or twister tail. Channel Catfish – Fair: Catch catfish in the impoundments with … Continue reading FISHING REPORT: High water stymies Cedar River fishing

Charles City

Popular northeast and central Iowa paddling destinations closed

Chris Baldus

By the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources This weekend’s warm weather is perfect for paddlers to get out on rivers around the state. Water recreationists should avoid three popular destinations this weekend and possibly longer. A section of the Upper Iowa River in Winneshiek County is closed to all boaters after a bridge along Cattle Creek Road collapsed over the river on May 5th. The bridge was located between Chimney Rock and Coldwater Creek. Cleanup began on Tuesday and is expected to continue until at least the end of the week. Engineers hope to have the area re-opened to boaters … Continue reading Popular northeast and central Iowa paddling destinations closed

COLUMNS

Mayor Erb: Clean-up Day, bridge collapse and rural revival

Chris Baldus

By Charles City Mayor Jim Erb It’s spring time in Iowa, the planting season is almost here and we have a lot to anticipate this year.  The question is where does one start?  One starts with Spring  Cleanup, which is basically the same opportunity for our residents as has been available in past years.  The Cleanup will occur on April 24, 25, 26, and 27.  The specifics of the collections will be posted at City Hall and also in the normal media locations.  After a winter  of accumulation of items, now is the time to gather unwanted items and have them … Continue reading Mayor Erb: Clean-up Day, bridge collapse and rural revival

Charles City

Charles City closes river beneath crumbling bridge

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — The crumbling of the old railroad bridge on the Charley Western Trail is not without a tinge of irony. “We approved an agreement just last Monday with a bridge engineering firm to inspect that bridge,” Charles City Administrator Steve Diers said Monday. “Needless to say we have more than inspection needs right now.” Age and repeated flooding appear to be the main culprit causing a middle arch to sag ant the paved trail to sink and break, according to Diers. “At this point we are looking at options,” he said. He issued this statement earlier: “The Charley … Continue reading Charles City closes river beneath crumbling bridge

Floyd County

Midway Bridge boat access could be ready by July

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — A new boat ramp into the Cedar River could be ready as early as July. The river access will be next to the Midway Bridge south of Charles City. A state grant will cover $9,900 of the $13,300 estimated cost of the access. Floyd County will provide $3,400, according to minutes of the Floyd County Conservation Board. The Water and Recreational Fuel Tax Grant requires the 25 percent March. The DNR and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will likely issue permits in April, Conservation Director Adam Sears told the Conservation Board last month. Hopefully the construction will … Continue reading Midway Bridge boat access could be ready by July