The Carroll County Board of Supervisors have been reviewing a proposed North Raccoon River Watershed plan. According to Dean Schettler, it is hard for him to support or refute the plan unless they submit a comment on their thoughts. He is suggesting a brief statement outlining their disapproval of one specific aspect—that the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) target for this watershed is too high.
A constituent contacted Schettler and was very much in favor of the 48.1 percent TMDL target. However, after an explanation of comparable watersheds and the difficulty in reaching that goal right from the onset, Schettler says they did change their position.
There will be a conference call with other vested parties tomorrow (Thursday) regarding this plan prior to it going to a virtual vote, anticipated for Friday, July 24. Schettler questions the impact on the county if they do not approve the plan.
Neil Bock asked if they should be including their target TMDL in their comments.
Other concerns arising from the watershed meetings are on the taxation of counties to provide a salary for an ongoing coordinator and a segment about inhibiting counties from receiving federal grants if they do not adopt the plan—a catch-22. Schettler is hoping those issues will be cleared up on Thursday. He also says he does not see an ability to change the watershed map created by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), bringing a fear that their resolution would not carry any weight. However, he does believe Carroll County will not be the only one making these comments. A copy of the board’s approved submission and a link to the watershed plan can be found below.
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North Raccoon River Watershed plan: https://eorinc0-my.sharepoint.com/personal/pconrad_eorinc_com/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fpconrad%5Feorinc%5Fcom%2FDocuments%2FNorth%20Raccoon%20River%20WMP&originalPath=aHR0cHM6Ly9lb3JpbmMwLW15LnNoYXJlcG9pbnQuY29tLzpmOi9nL3BlcnNvbmFsL3Bjb25yYWRfZW9yaW5jX2NvbS9FaUJfVmM2dkpHOUN1T0tETE83bWRNTUJ5bDJ4RTFpSnEwYlB3WjAzS0xmQ05BP3J0aW1lPXhUNTh4a0VqMkVn
Commentary drafted on behalf of the Carroll County Board of Supervisors by Dean Schettler:
Carroll County comment to North Raccoon River Watershed Management Coalition plan.
Carroll County feels that the TMDL reduction target is too high at 48.1 %. The cost of achieving this goal would be too high. Carroll County understands that many of our water quality issues would go away if the 48.1% target could ever be reached, however that goal is not practical or reasonable.
The plan on page 94 gives a comparison of other watershed TMDL targets.
Des Moines River at Des Moines——–34.4%
Cedar River at Cedar Rapids————–35%
Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy ——41%
These are reasonable goals, yet in themselves difficult to achieve.
If this plan were to be accepted as it is, Carroll County would never want its residents to be forced into solutions to achieve the 48.1% Nutrient Reduction Goal.
