Iowa Public Television

Narrator: FUNDING FOR "IOWA PRESS" WAS PROVIDED BY FRIENDS OF IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION; AND BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS.

THIS IS THE SUNDAY, JULY 8 EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." HERE IS DEAN BORG.

Borg: THERE WAS A TIME WHEN IOWANS WERE JUSTIFIABLY PROUD OF THE CONDITION OF THE STATE'S ENVIRONMENT AND CONFIDENT THAT PROBLEMS AFFECTING SOME MORE URBANIZED STATES WOULDN'T AFFECT IOWA. IN FACT, CLEAN AIR AND CLEAR WATER HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED A FACT OF LIFE IN IOWA. BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED, AND THAT CONFIDENCE HAS BEEN SHAKEN. IOWA'S RIVERS AND STREAMS, FOR YEARS, HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY NITRATES AND OTHER CHEMICAL RUNOFF. LAKES, RIVERS AND STREAMS ALSO PAY THE PRICE OF OTHER CONTAMINANTS. TODAY, IOWANS ARE INCREASINGLY AWARE OF THE DEGRADATION OF SOME OF IOWA'S BETTER-KNOWN LAKES. THE STATE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS COULDN'T COME AT A WORSE TIME FOR THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. ADDITIONALLY, THE DNR'S MISSION IS BROAD-BASED, SO THE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AFFECT EVERYTHING FROM STATE PARKS AND BOATING MARINAS TO STATE GAMING LICENSURE AND MAINTENANCE. WELL, JOINING US TODAY IS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, WHO'S BEEN ON THE JOB SINCE MARCH AND IS NOW BEING ASKED TO DO MORE WITH LESS. MR. VONK -- JEFF VONK, WELCOME TO IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

Vonk: THANK YOU, DEAN.

Borg: AND ACROSS THE TABLE, REPORTERS DAVID YEPSEN OF "THE DES MOINES REGISTER" AND MIKE GLOVER OF "THE ASSOCIATED PRESS."

Glover: MR. VONK, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT BUDGET CUTS AND ITS IMPACT ON AVERAGE IOWANS. WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF THE VACATION SEASON. YOUR BUDGETS HAVE BEEN CUT. HOW WILL IOWANS WHO USE STATE PARKS NOTICE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LEGISLATURE?

Vonk: MIKE, WE HAD TO ADJUST TO A HALF-MILLION-DOLLAR CUT IN OUR PARKS BUDGET. THE WAY WE'VE DEALT WITH THAT IS BY NOT HIRING 70 PEOPLE THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE WORKING IN OUR PARKS TO DO EVERYDAY MAINTENANCE: MOWING, RESTROOM CLEANING, LITTER CONTROL, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SO I SUSPECT THAT AS IOWANS CONTINUE -- AND WE HOPE THEY WILL CONTINUE TO USE OUR STATE PARKS -- THEY'LL SEE AREAS THAT WILL LOOK A LITTLE SCRUFFIER. THERE PROBABLY WILL BE SOME RESTROOMS THAT MAY BE LOCKED AND NOT IN SERVICE BECAUSE OF LACK OF PERSONNEL TO MAINTAIN THEM.

Glover: WILL THERE BE A SIGNIFICANT, NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE? WILL THE TYPICAL, AVERAGE IOWAN WHO WANTS TO GO TO A PARK AND CAMP FOR A WEEKEND ACTUALLY FEEL THAT DIFFERENCE?

Vonk: I THINK THEY'LL SEE A DIFFERENCE. IN SOME AREAS, THEY'LL FEEL A DIFFERENCE. WE'VE HAD TO MAKE SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR ORIGINAL PLAN. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS SAVE THE HALF MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE.

Glover: FORGIVE ME FOR BEING CRUDE, BUT IF YOU HAVE TO GO OUT BEHIND A TREE INSTEAD OF USING ONE OF THE LOCAL RESTROOMS, IS THAT GOING TO CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM FOR CAMPERS?

Vonk: WELL, WE WOULD HOPE THAT PEOPLE WOULD USE THE AVAILABLE RESTROOMS AND NOT THE TREES.

Yepsen: MR. VONK, YOU GET A LOT MORE THAN A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. NOW, IF MANAGING THE STATE PARKS ISN'T THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY FOR THE DNR, WHAT IS? WHAT ELSE IS GETTING A DIP IN THE BUCKET BEFORE THE PARKS GET IT?

Vonk: THE PARKS BUDGET WAS OUR MOST SEVERE HIT THIS YEAR. WE ALSO TOOK CUTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, WHICH ARE ALSO GENERAL -- SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE FUNDED BY THE IOWA GENERAL FUND. SO MOSTLY, IN OUR CASE, FOR THIS GO-AROUND, IT WAS PARKS.

Yepsen: ARE YOU -- EXCUSE ME.

Vonk: THE LEGISLATURE ALSO USED THE WHOLE SERIES OF ONE-TIME FIXES, WHERE THEY USED OUR WATER PROTECTION FUND, FOR EXAMPLE, AND MOVED SOME OF THAT MONEY OVER TO PAY STAFF IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

Yepsen: ARE YOU MANAGING THIS IN SUCH A WAY SO THAT IOWANS DO FEEL IT, SO THAT IOWANS DO HAVE TO, AS MIKE SAYS, GO OUT BEHIND A TREE AT A STATE PARK?

Vonk: ABSOLUTELY NOT. WE'RE TRYING TO MANAGE THIS WITHIN THE REALITIES OF THE BUDGET WE'RE GIVEN. WE WANT TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT ON IOWANS.

Borg: WELL, PART OF THE IMPACT COULD BE TO START CHARGING THEM TO USE. IT WOULD GIVE YOU SOME MORE REVENUE. IT'S TOO LATE FOR THIS SEASON, OF COURSE. BUT IS THAT SOMETHING YOU MIGHT PROPOSE TO THE LEGISLATURE NEXT TIME AND REALLY PUSH IT?

Vonk: I WAS HEARTENED TO HEAR THAT BRENT SIEGRIST, I THINK, HAS EVEN TALKED ABOUT PERHAPS REINSTITUTING A PARK ENTRY FEE, WHICH THE "USER PAYS" KIND OF CONCEPT I THINK WOULD WORK IN THIS CASE.

Glover: DO YOU THINK THAT'S POLITICALLY FEASIBLE? THEY TRIED THAT ONCE BEFORE AND CAME IN THE NEXT YEAR AND REPEALED IT.

Vonk: YEAH, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE POLITICS OF GETTING IT DONE. I THINK THAT IOWANS EXPECT WORLD-CLASS PARKS. I THINK WE HAVE A WORLD-PARK SYSTEM THAT WE'VE BEEN INVESTING IN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, IMPROVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE. I THINK IT'S HOPEFULLY A ONE-YEAR ABERRATION IN TERMS OF OUR MAINTENANCE ABILITIES.

Yepsen: MR. VONK, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT STATE PARKS. LET'S TALK ABOUT LAKES AND BEACHES. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY WE'RE GETTING SOME WARNING OUT OF YOUR AGENCY OR SOMEBODY THAT SOME LAKE OR RIVER IS POLLUTED, SOME SORT OF FECAL BACTERIA IN IT. HOW SAFE ARE IOWA'S LAKES AND BEACHES?

Vonk: IN GENERAL, OUR LAKES AND BEACHES ARE SAFE. WHAT WE SEE HAPPENING IS, IN ESSENCE, ABOUT EACH TIME WE HAVE A RAIN EVENT, AND AS WATER WASHES FROM THE UPPER WATERSHEDS DOWN THROUGH THE RIVERS INTO THE LAKES WHERE OUR BEACHES ARE, WE GET A SPIKE IN NUTRIENTS, WHICH LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN THE FECAL-CHOLORINATE.

Yepsen: WELL, IS YOUR AGENCY UNNECESSARILY ALARMING PEOPLE, THEN? IT MAY BE EVEN HURTING THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE BY CONSTANTLY COMING OUT AND SAYING, WELL, CLEAR LAKE HAS GOT THIS IN IT AND THIS LAKE HAS GOT THAT IN IT. AND PEOPLE THINK, GEE, I DON'T WANT TO SWIM IN THAT.

Vonk: I DON'T THINK -- WE WOULDN'T CERTAINLY UNNECESSARILY ALARM -- NECESSARILY ALARM ANYONE. I THINK THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO EXPECT CLEAN BEACHES, AND IF THERE ARE SHORT-TERM SPIKES IN BACTERIA, THEY OUGHT TO KNOW THAT AND THEN MAKE THEIR OWN DETERMINATION ABOUT WHETHER THEY USE THE PLACE.

Glover: LET'S EXAMINE THE HEALTH OF SOME INDIVIDUAL -- SPECIFIC LAKES IN THE STATE. LAKE OKOBOJI, HOW IS IT DOING?

Vonk: AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT'S DOING OKAY.

Glover: NO PARTICULAR PROBLEMS UP THERE?

Vonk: WELL, MOST OF OUR NATURAL LAKES HAVE PROBLEMS WITH -- THEY TEND TO BE SHALLOWER, SO THERE'S AN ONGOING RESTORATION NEED. THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH OUR WATER BODIES IN THIS STATE BASICALLY COMES FROM SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENTS. SO OVER TIME, AS SEDIMENT WASHES INTO THESE LAKES, THEY BECOME MORE SHALLOW, THEY BEGIN THE PROCESS CALLED NUTRIFICATION. TO MAINTAIN THE PRISTINE NATURE OF THOSE LAKES, IT REQUIRES SOME INVESTMENT.

Glover: THERE'S AN EVENT COMING UP IN CLEAR LAKE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. A COUPLE OF LOCAL-DEVELOPMENT TYPES ARE GOING TO GET TOGETHER AND HAVE AN EVENT THAT PROVES -- THAT SAYS THIS LAKE REALLY ISN'T POLLUTED. HOW IS CLEAR LAKE DOING?

Vonk: CLEAR LAKE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT. OVER TIME, EVEN THOUGH THE WATERSHED IS RELATIVELY SMALL, SEDIMENT HAS WASHED IN. THE WIND AND THE SHALLOWNESS OF THE LAKE TENDS TO KEEP IT STIRRED UP. CLEAR LAKE NEEDS SOME CLEANUP, BUT IT'S NOT A TOXIC WASTE SITUATION.

Glover: WELL, IF IT NEEDS CLEANUP, WHAT'S IT NEED?

Vonk: IT NEEDS PROBABLY SOME LAKE DREDGING, SOME SHORELINE RESTORATION. THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME CARP CONTROL, WHICH ADDS TO THIS PROBLEM OF STIRRED UP SEDIMENT AND TURBIDITY. THERE'S A RATHER LARGE WETLAND AREA THAT COULD USE SOME IMPROVEMENT AND CLEANUP.

Borg: DIDN'T YOU JUST USE THE WORD "PRISTINE"? AS I WAS WRITING AND CONSIDERING HOW TO INTRODUCE YOU TODAY, I CONSIDERED USING THE WORD "PRISTINE," AND I ABANDONED IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE'RE FAR DOWN THE ROAD FROM PRISTINE HERE IN IOWA. ARE YOU REALLY SURE YOU WANT TO USE THAT WORD "PRISTINE"?

Vonk: WELL, I WOULD AGREE WITH YOUR STATEMENT THAT WE'RE FAR, IN THIS DAY AND AGE, FROM THE PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT THAT IOWA HAD A COUPLE HUNDRED YEARS AGO; HOWEVER, I THINK THE LIMITED RECORDS THAT WE HAVE SHOW THAT WATER QUALITY IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS HAS IMPROVED OVER ITS LOW POINT. THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE DON'T HAVE A LOT TO DO.

Glover: LET'S STEP BACK FOR JUST A SECOND, THEN, AND GIVE US KIND OF A STATUS REPORT. WHERE ARE WE? WHEN WE DID THIS SHOW WITH PAUL JOHNSON, YOUR PREDECESSOR, HE SAID THAT IOWA WAS GETTING A LITTLE BETTER, THAT WATER WAS GETTING A LITTLE CLEANER, AND THINGS WEREN'T AS BAD AS THEY WERE. IS THAT THE CASE. ARE THINGS GETTING BETTER? WE'VE HIT THE LOW POINT FOR WATER POLLUTION?

Vonk: I THINK TWO THINGS ARE GOING ON. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE HIT -- I ASSUME WE HAVE HIT THE LOW POINT. THE STATE'S DECIDED, THROUGH A WATER QUALITY INITIATIVE RECENTLY ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE, SPONSORED BY THE GOVERNOR, TO INVEST FUNDS IN CLEANUP EFFORTS, TO WORK IN THE WATERSHEDS, TO APPLY MORE BUFFERS IN RIPARIAN AREAS. WE'VE ALSO, AS A PART OF THAT, BEGUN A MORE EXTENSIVE SYSTEM OF MONITORING WATER QUALITY. SO WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A DATA BASE THAT WILL TELL US AND PROVIDE US WITH CURRENT QUALITY AS WELL AS TREND INFORMATION, WHICH IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO TREATMENT.

Yepsen: MR. VONK, WHAT SHOULD INDIVIDUAL IOWANS DO TO HELP SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? MIKE MENTIONED OKOBOJI AND CLEAR LAKE. BOTH OF THOSE ARE LAKES WHERE YOU HAVE A REAL COMMUNITY AROUND THEM THAT'S TRYING HARD TO HELP YOUR AGENCY SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. SO IF WE'RE A LITTLE SHORT ON FUNDS AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO HELP IMPROVE THE LAKE OR PARK IN THEIR COMMUNITY, WHAT SHOULD THEY DO? WHO SHOULD THEY CALL?

Vonk: THEY NEED TO MAKE THEIR CONCERNS KNOWN TO THE LEGISLATURE. IN ESSENCE, IN ANY STATE GOVERNMENT, WE ARE LIMITED TO THE MONEY THAT'S TAKEN IN, IN TERMS OF THE MONEY THAT CAN BE INVESTED. IF THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS THAT, THAT THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ARE IMPORTANT TO IOWANS, THEN THOSE PRIORITY CHOICES WILL BE MADE TO SPEND THE FUNDS ELSEWHERE.

Yepsen: SO THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO AS INDIVIDUALS OR AS A COMMUNITY TO HELP WITH BUFFERS AND THAT? IT'S JUST GET MORE STATE MONEY?

Vonk: NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. EVERY IOWAN HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO RECYCLE, TO MAKE DECISIONS ON HOW WE -- HOW WE USE OUR RESOURCES, THE WATERS. I THINK WE JUST NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS.

Glover: GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF THE WORST LAKE IN IOWA.

Vonk: THE WORST LAKE IN IOWA.

Glover: MM-HMM. WHERE IS OUR BIGGEST WATER POLLUTION PROBLEM?

Vonk: I'M NOT SURE I COULD IDENTIFY A SINGLE WATER BODY THAT I WOULD SAY IS OUR BIGGEST. WE KNOW, DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE, CEDAR LAKE HAS SOME PROBLEMS FOR WATER QUALITY ISSUES FOR WATER SUPPLY.

Glover: WHAT ARE THOSE PROBLEMS?

Vonk: MY UNDERSTANDING IS SOME AG CHEMICAL PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS SEDIMENT AND TURBIDITY.

Borg: WHERE IS THAT LOCATED?

Vonk: CEDAR LAKE IS --

Borg: IS THAT THE ONE NEXT TO QUAKER OATS IN CEDAR RAPIDS?

Vonk: I THINK IT'S OFF THE CEDAR -- YES, IN THAT AREA.

Glover: LET'S STEP BACK AND TAKE ANOTHER BIG-PICTURE LOOK AT THE SITUATION. THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE THROUGH REDISTRICTING, THROUGH REAPPORTIONMENT, BECOMING MORE URBAN THAN SUBURBAN AND LESS FRIENDLY TO FARMER INTERESTS. AT WHAT POINT IS THE LEGISLATURE AND STATE GOVERNMENT IN THIS STATE GOING TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO SAY TO FARMERS, "YOU JUST CAN'T DUMP ANIMAL WASTE AND CHEMICALS INTO OUR WATER SUPPLY ANYMORE"?

Vonk: I THINK FARMERS ALREADY KNOW THAT THEY CAN'T DO THAT.

Glover: BUT THEY "DO" DO THAT. EVERY YEAR THERE ARE WARNINGS THAT YOU CAN'T DRINK THE WATER IN THE CITY OF DES MOINES BECAUSE THERE'S ANIMAL WASTE IN THE WATER SUPPLY.

Vonk: WELL, CERTAINLY THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN OUR WATER SUPPLY IN THE DES MOINES AREA IS FROM THE SPIKES IN NITRATES, WHICH CAN, IN MANY CASES, BE TRACED BACK TO AG OPERATIONS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK AG UNDERSTANDS THAT. THERE'S THE RACCOON RIVER WATERSHED EFFORT THAT'S, AT THIS POINT, STILL A VOLUNTARY EFFORT, TO GET COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER APPLICATORS TO -- OF THE DECISION TO NOT APPLY ANHYDROUS UNTIL THE SOIL TEMPERATURE IN THE FALL REACHES 50 DEGREES OR BELOW.

Glover: WHEN DO YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU TELL FARMERS, "YOU CAN'T DUMP THAT STUFF IN OUR WATER SUPPLY"?

Vonk: WELL, WE'RE --

Glover: WHEN DO YOU STOP SAYING "PLEASE DON'T DUMP IT IN OUR WATER SUPPLY" AND SAY "DON'T DO IT"?

Vonk: FARMERS KNOW THEY CAN'T DO THAT.

Glover: BUT THEY "DO" DO IT.

Vonk: WELL, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE AG COMMUNITY. AT WHAT POINT? I SUSPECT THAT PART OF THAT POINT IS GOING TO COME WHEN WE GET RULES FROM THE EPA ON THE ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS. THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME NEW REQUIREMENTS I THINK THAT'LL COME OUT.

Glover: WHAT'S THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE? WHAT ARE THE NEW RESTRICTIONS ON, LIKE, BIG HOG LOTS GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

Vonk: WHAT I SUSPECT WILL HAPPEN IS FROM -- WE WILL MOVE FROM A STANDARD DETERMINED ON NITROGEN TO ONE DETERMINED ON PHOSPHORUS, WHICH WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE STRICT. AND I THINK WHEN THAT COMES ABOUT, AS IN MOST OF THE EPA PROGRAMS, THE DNR WILL PROBABLY HAVE THE DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITY TO DELIVER THAT PROGRAM. AND WE'LL WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO DELIVER AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM, TO WORK WITH AG, AND IT WILL BE A REGULATORY PROGRAM.

Yepsen: HOW LONG ARE YOU LOOKING AT BEFORE THAT HAPPENS? TWO YEARS? THREE YEARS? HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE TO CLEAN THIS PROBLEM UP OURSELVES BEFORE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMES IN AND, AS MIKE SUGGESTS, STARTS TELLING PEOPLE THEY CAN'T DO THESE THINGS ANYMORE?

Vonk: I THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS WELL ON ITS WAY TO SETTING THESE STANDARDS. I THINK THAT IN IOWA, WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE EFFORTS THAT ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY. THOSE STANDARDS -- THE FINAL RULE KIND OF A PERIOD ENDS AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. I WOULD EXPECT A FINAL RULE TO BE ISSUED SOMETIME TOWARD THE END OF THIS YEAR, FIRST PART OF NEXT YEAR. AT THAT POINT, THOSE STANDARDS WILL BE OUT, THE CHANGES WILL BE IN EFFECT, AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.

Borg: YOU MENTIONED THE EPA REGULATIONS, BUT THERE'S A NEW FARM BILL THAT'S BEING WRITTEN AND SECRETARY -- NOT SECRETARY, BUT SENATOR HARKIN ON THIS PROGRAM LAST WEEK SAID HE WANTS CONSERVATION TO BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT NEW FARM LEGISLATION. IF YOU WERE ADVISING CONGRESS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY OUGHT TO BE IN THAT FARM BILL?

Vonk: THE HARKIN PROPOSAL FOR STEWARDSHIP PLANS IS AN EXCELLENT PROPOSAL. IT BASICALLY CONTINUES THE TREND THAT I THINK HAS EXISTED IN PREVIOUS FARM BILLS TOWARD MOVING TOWARD A MORE CONSERVATION-BASED SUBSIDY PROGRAM. FARMERS NEED TO DEVELOP CONSERVATION PLANS. THEY NEED TO IMPLEMENT THOSE PLANS. AND FOR THAT, IN RETURN FOR THEIR GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR SUPPORT PAYMENTS.

Yepsen: MR. VONK, WHAT IS THE STATE OF SOIL CONSERVATION IN IOWA? YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND IN THAT. HOW ARE WE DOING?

Vonk: WE'VE MADE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS. THE CONSERVATION COMPLIANCE PROVISIONS THAT WERE FIRST STARTED IN THE 1985 FARM BILL, CARRIED OUT THROUGH THE '90S, HAD A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ACROSS IOWA AND, ACTUALLY, ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE NATIONAL RESOURCES INVENTORY WOULD TELL US, WHICH IS A FIVE-YEAR INVENTORY TAKEN BY THE USDA ON SOIL EROSION WOULD TELL US THAT EROSION RATES ARE MOVING WELL IN THE DIRECTION OF BEING WITHIN WHAT WE DEFINED AS A TOLERABLE LEVEL.

Glover: LET'S HEAD OFF IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. YOUR AGENCY DOES A BUNCH OF STUFF.

Vonk: YES, WE DO.

Glover: AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOUR AGENCY DOES IS YOU REGULATE HUNTING AND FISHING. HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES WENT UP THIS YEAR, AS A RESULT OF THE LEGISLATURE'S ACTIONS.

Vonk: NOT FOR IN-STATE FOLKS.

Glover: WELL, NOT FOR IN-STATE FOLKS, BUT THEY DID GO UP. WHAT ARE HUNTERS AND FISHERS GOING TO SEE AS A RESULT OF THAT?

Vonk: THE SITUATION WE WERE IN -- WHAT HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN ARE GOING TO SEE IS ACTUALLY FEWER PROJECTS ON HABITAT DONE THAN WHAT WE HAD IN THE HOPPER TO GET DONE. THE DNR HAD PROPOSED AN INCREASE IN LICENSE FEES FOR ALL HUNTERS, IN STATE AND OUT. THE LEGISLATURE DECIDED THAT THE IN-STATE HUNTERS WOULD GET A PASS THIS YEAR AND INCREASE THE FEES FOR OUT-OF-STATE HUNTERS QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY. THE RESULT OF THAT AS WE'LL TAKE IN LESS MONEY THAN ANTICIPATED, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO LESS WORK THAN WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IN TERMS OF HABITAT.

Glover: SUCH AS?

Vonk: WE DO A LOT OF WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS. THERE'S SOME LAND ACQUISITIONS THAT WON'T HAPPEN THAT PLUG IN NATURALLY TO SOME WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS, THE PRAIRIE RESTORATIONS IN OUR AREAS, SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE AREAS. I HAD A CALL ON A RADIO SHOW RECENTLY ABOUT A PERSON COMPLAINING ABOUT OUR INABILITY TO MAINTAIN FENCES AS GOOD NEIGHBORS. WELL, WE WANT TO DO THAT. SOME OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS TEND TO TAKE SECOND SEAT.

Yepsen: WILL YOU BE BACK IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATURE NEXT YEAR ASKING FOR HIGHER LICENSE FEES FOR HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN?

Vonk: WE HAVEN'T MADE THAT DETERMINATION AT THIS POINT, BUT MY INCLINATION WOULD BE TO SAY "YES." I THINK WE NEED THAT. WE OPERATE OUR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE TRUST FUND, AND THE TRUST FUND IS GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF A BOOST. IT HASN'T HAD A BOOST IN NEARLY TEN YEARS FROM LICENSE FEE INCREASE. WE GET A SLIGHT BOOST, BUT I THINK TO RUN A VIABLE, SIGNIFICANT, AND IMPROVING PROGRAM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THAT.

Glover: DAVID IS ALWAYS OVERLY DELICATE WHEN HE ASKS QUESTIONS LIKE THAT, SO LET ME REPHRASE THE QUESTION. ARE YOU GOING TO ASK GOVERNOR VILSACK TO ASK HUNTERS TO PAY MORE TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR SPORT IN HIS ELECTION YEAR?

Vonk: NOT ONLY WOULD I ASK THAT, I THINK HUNTERS ARE GOING TO ASK HIM TO ASK THAT. THERE WASN'T A SINGLE SPORTSMEN GROUP THAT I'VE HEARD OF THAT WAS OPPOSED TO PAYING MORE FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO HUNT AND FISH IN THE STATE OF IOWA.

Yepsen: ANOTHER HUNTING RELATED ISSUE, DOVE HUNTING. WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON DOVE HUNTING?

Vonk: THE DOVE HUNTING ISSUE WAS DEALT WITH BEFORE I GOT HERE, FORTUNATELY. [ LAUGHTER ]

Yepsen: NOW YOU'RE HERE.

Vonk: AND I'VE MADE SOME INQUIRIES AMONG SPORTSMEN'S GROUPS, AND I DON'T EXPECT IT TO COME BACK AS A POLITICAL ISSUE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

Glover: ANOTHER HUNTING ISSUE THAT ALWAYS COMES UP IN THIS STATE IS THE DEER POPULATION. GIVE US A REPORT ON THE DEER POPULATION AND WHAT THE STATE OUGHT TO DO TO EITHER RAISE OR LOWER IT.

Vonk: OUR DEER POPULATION SEEMS TO BE INCREASING, EVEN IN SPITE OF ONE OF THE MOST SEVERE WINTERS, I THINK, THAT IOWANS EXPERIENCED IN RECENT TIMES. WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MANAGE DEER IS BASICALLY THROUGH THE HUNTING PROCESS. IN ANSWER TO THE RISING POPULATION, WE HAVE MADE A DECISION AND THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMISSION HAS APPROVED THE DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OFFERING ADDITIONAL ANTLERLESS DEER PERMITS -- THAT WOULD BE HUNTING DOES AND YOUNG DEER -- BE ABLE TO TAKE MORE OF THOSE TO BASICALLY BRING THAT POPULATION DOWN SOME TO GET IT MORE IN CONTROL.

Glover: HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET THE POPULATION BACK INTO SOME KIND OF AN ACCEPTABLE RANGE? THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS AN EMOTIONAL ONE FOR A LOT OF FARMERS THAT SEE A LOT OF DAMAGE IN THEIR FIELDS.

Vonk: YOU BET. IT WILL TAKE A YEAR OR TWO. AGAIN, THAT DEPENDS ON WEATHER AND SUCCESS RATE OF HUNTERS, AS WELL AS THE WILLINGNESS OF HUNTERS TO TAKE DEER THAT DON'T HAVE BIG ANTLERS.

Yepsen: ANOTHER THING YOUR AGENCY GETS INVOLVED IN IS ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, IN DEVELOPING AND FOSTERING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: WIND ENERGY, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THIS STATE. WHAT'S THE STATUS OF DEVELOPING MORE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY IN IOWA?

Vonk: THAT'S ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS. WE PROMOTE THAT, AS YOU JUST POINTED OUT. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THAT. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE GOVERNOR HAS AN ENERGY TASK FORCE. WE'RE WAITING TO GET THE FEEDBACK FROM THAT TASK FORCE. THE DNR HAS HAD INPUT INTO THAT. WE HAVE SET A GOAL OF 10 PERCENT OF OUR ENERGY OUGHT TO BE PROVIDED THROUGH RENEWABLE OR ALTERNATIVE SOURCES. SOME FOLKS THINK THAT GOES TOO HIGH AND MAY BE UNREALISTIC, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S ONE THAT WE OUGHT TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD.

Glover: AS THE CONVERSATION HERE TODAY HAS SHOWN, YOUR AGENCY IS INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THINGS. SOME PEOPLE SAY SOME OF THOSE GOALS AND THINGS THAT YOU DO ARE CONTRADICTORY. YOU HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. YOU HAVE OUTDOOR RECREATION. YOU HAVE WATER RECREATION. YOU HAVE WATER POLLUTION. SHOULD THE DNR BE SPLIT UP AND HAVE DIFFERENT AGENCIES ACCOMPLISHING THESE GOALS? ARE THERE CONTRADICTORY MISSIONS THAT YOU HAVE?

Vonk: WELL, I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO SIT HERE ON MY FIRST TIME ON "IOWA PRESS" AND SAY THAT WE OUGHT TO SPLIT THE AGENCY UP. WHAT I WILL DO IS TELL YOU THAT AS A PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER TO HAVE A TOTAL REVIEW OF STATE GOVERNMENT, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT ALL ASPECTS OF THE DNR ROLE, WHETHER THERE IS CONFLICT. YOU LAID OUT SOME AREAS THAT MAY -- INSINUATE THAT THERE IS CONFLICT. ON THE OTHER HAND, I CAN LOOK AT REGULATING THE WATER QUALITY KINDS OF ISSUES AS BEING OF BENEFIT TO THOSE WHO USE WATER. THERE DOESN'T SEEM -- WE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CONFLICT, I NEVER HEAR ANYBODY TALK ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH HAVING GAME WARDENS WORK FOR THE SAME DIVISION THAT HAS BIOLOGISTS THAT WORK TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE OUR WILDLIFE POPULATIONS.

Glover: ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DO IS YOU REGULATE, FOR EXAMPLE, ANIMAL CONFINEMENT FEEDING OPERATIONS, COMMERCIAL LICENSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT MEANS YOUR AGENCY COMES UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY TO REGULATE THAT INDUSTRY IN A CERTAIN WAY. YOU ALSO REGULATE WATER QUALITY, SO YOU'RE UNDER PRESSURE FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO REGULATE THAT INDUSTRY IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT WAY. SHOULDN'T THOSE BE COMPETING PRIORITIES, NOT UNDER THE SAME ROOF?

Vonk: ACTUALLY, I THINK THEY LEND THEMSELVES TO -- I MEAN, I THINK IN ALMOST ANYTHING YOU DO, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE INTERESTS THAT WANT THE DECISION TO GO ONE WAY AND ANOTHER INTEREST THAT WANTS IT TO GO THE OTHER WAY. THAT DOESN'T DISTURB ME AT ALL. I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE RESOURCE, FOCUS ON THE OUTCOME THAT WE WANT, AND PUT IN PLACE REGULATION AND RULES THAT WILL HELP US ACHIEVE THAT.

Yepsen: I WANT TO GO BACK TO THIS: HOW DO YOU BALANCE IT, THEN? YOU'RE CHARGED WITH PROMOTING THE USE OF A RESOURCE AT THE SAME TIME YOU'RE REQUIRED TO REGULATE IT. AREN'T THOUGH INHERENTLY CONFLICTING MISSIONS, AND HOW DO YOU REACH THAT CONCLUSION ABOUT WHAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO?

Vonk: ALL RESOURCES HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE USED WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THAT RESOURCE, SUSTAINABLE LIMITS. SO AS LONG AS WE HAVE GOOD SCIENCE AND CONTINUE TO SEEK GOOD SCIENCE, TO DEFINE WHAT THAT SUSTAINABLE LEVEL OF USE IS, I DON'T SEE THE CONFLICT.

Glover: I'D LIKE TO BACK UP FOR A SECOND AND GO BACK TO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DEAN MENTIONED IN HIS OPENING. HE SAID THAT IOWA HAS HAD A HISTORY OF WHERE, IN THE PAST, WE HAD RATHER PRISTINE PARKS, WE TOOK FOR GRANTED THAT OUR WATER RESOURCES WILL BE UNPOLLUTED, AND THAT THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE. IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT?

Vonk: I THINK IT'S A FAIR STATEMENT THAT CERTAINLY THE WATERS AND THE AIR AND OTHER RESOURCES IN THE STATE AREN'T AS PURE AS THEY WERE ORIGINALLY. IOWA IS A VERY WELL USED STATE. MUCH OF OUR INDUSTRY DEPENDS ON NATURAL RESOURCE USE... AGRICULTURE, OF COURSE, SOIL AND WATER. OTHER INDUSTRIES ARE DEPENDENT ON CLEAN WATER FOR THEIR SURVIVAL. SO IT'S A CHALLENGE, AGAIN, TO COME BACK AND FOCUS ON MAKING THE RIGHT KINDS OF IMPROVEMENTS, USING THOSE RESOURCES WITHIN THEIR TOLERABLE LIMITS.

Yepsen: WELL, ISN'T IT UNREALISTIC TO EVEN THROW THIS WORD PRISTINE AROUND? CAN WE AFFORD TO EVER GET BACK TO A PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT? IS THAT REALLY A DESIRABLE THING TO TRY TO DO?

Vonk: "PRISTINE," IF I USED IT, WELL, I'M SORRY I DID BECAUSE WE SEEM TO BE A BIT FOCUSED ON THAT. I THINK IT'S AN ACHIEVABLE GOAL TO GET OUR WATERS IN THE SHAPE, MAYBE NOT THAT THEY WERE 200 YEARS AGO, BUT CERTAINLY IN THE PROPER CONDITION TO ALLOW GOOD BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, HUMAN CONTACT IN MOST TIMES, CLEAN WATER FOR DRINKING, LESS EXPENSE IN TERMS OF HOW WE TREAT IT TO MAKE IT DRINKABLE.

Borg: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SEEMS TO BE IN CONFLICT HERE IN IOWA, TOO, IS THE BUILDING OF TRAILS. LAND OWNERS DON'T ESPECIALLY LIKE THEM; INCREASING USE OF TRAILS BY RECREATIONALISTS DO. BUT I'VE HEARD IT SAID -- MAYBE YOU CAN CONFIRM IT -- THAT IOWA HAS MORE MILES OF TRAIL THAN MOST OTHER STATES. THE TROUBLE IS, THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED. WHAT CAN THE DNR DO, OR DO YOU WANT TO EVEN INCREASE THAT USE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES?

Vonk: I THINK WE HAVE A VERY FINE TRAIL SYSTEM, AND IT'S ONE THAT ALL IOWANS SHOULD BE PROUD OF. TO MAKE THEM CONNECTED IS A GOAL THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD. IN TERMS OF LARGE-SCALE EXPANSION, I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S NEEDED AT THIS POINT.

Yepsen: MR. VONK, WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? YOU'RE THE NEW GUY ON THE BLOCK HERE RUNNING A VERY CONTROVERSIAL AGENCY IN OUR STATE. GIVE US YOUR GOALS FOR THIS AGENCY. WHAT YARDSTICK DO I USE ON YOU IN ANOTHER YEAR WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR A JOB REVIEW AND WE HAVE YOU BACK? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

Vonk: WELL, MY GOALS AS DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ARE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AIR AND WATER QUALITY HERE IN THE STATE; TO EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GOOD, CLEAN, HEALTHY, SAFE RECREATION FOR IOWANS... THAT INCLUDES PARKS, THAT'S HUNTING AND FISHING; AND TO DO THAT, AS YOU POINTED OUT EARLIER IN THE SHOW, WITH LESS RESOURCES. AS A PART OF OUR REVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT, WE HOPE TO REALLOCATE WHERE EXISTING STAFF IS AND PUT FOLKS CLOSER TO THE FIELD WHERE THE PUBLIC WILL SEE THE BENEFIT OF THEIR WORK.

Glover: DESPITE THE BUDGET CUTBACKS, THERE ARE TALKS WITHIN YOUR AGENCY OF DEVELOPING WHAT'S CALLED DESTINATION PARKS.

Vonk: YES.

Glover: WHERE DOES THAT STAND?

Vonk: WE JUST, IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, RECEIVED A MILLION-DOLLAR APPROPRIATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DEVELOPING BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS, DOING ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEYS AT THE HONEY CREEK STATE PARK AREA, WHICH IS ONE OF THE SITES THAT'S UNDER STUDY. SO WE EXPECT TO TAKE THAT CONCEPT ONE OR TWO STEPS FURTHER.

Glover: WHAT ARE THESE?

Vonk: THE DESTINATION PARKS?

Glover: MM-HMM.

Vonk: THOSE ARE PARKS THAT OFFER, PROBABLY, MORE MODERN AMENITIES THAN MOST IOWANS WOULD THINK OF WHEN YOU THINK OF GOING TO A STATE PARK. WE'LL HAVE A MODERN HOTEL THERE, POSSIBLY AT SOME POINT A GOLF COURSE. IT TAKES A RURAL SETTING -- A NATURAL SETTING.

Glover: THIS IS PARK SPELLED "RESORT."

Vonk: IT POTENTIALLY HAS A RESORT FLAVOR TO IT, YES.

Yepsen: MR. VONK, ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THIS STATE, ALL ALONG THE WESTERN HALF OF THE STATE, INVOLVES THE MISSOURI RIVER. HOW DO WE MANAGE THIS THING? HOW MUCH FLOW SHOULD WE HAVE? HOW DO WE BALANCE THAT? WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MISSOURI RIVER?

Vonk: WELL, I HAVEN'T, TO BE HONEST, HAD A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TO GET INTO THE UPS AND DOWNS OF HOW WE MANAGE THAT.

Yepsen: THERE'S A HUGE FIGHT IN CONGRESS GOING ON OVER IT.

Vonk: THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OF COURSE, HAS JURISDICTION. THERE IS A MISSOURI RIVER MANAGEMENT BOARD THAT THE STATES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND HELP THE CORPS WITH SOME OF THOSE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS. THE CONFLICT SEEMS TO BE ENVIRONMENT VERSUS COMMERCIAL IN SOME CASES. I TEND TO LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE BOTH THINGS. I THINK WE CAN -- TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE RIVER, TO HELP THE STURGEON AND A COUPLE OF THE PLOVERS THAT ARE THREATENED.

Yepsen: SO YOU'RE GOING TO STAY OUT OF THAT LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO STAY OUT OF THE DOVE HUNTING DEBATE; IS THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT?

Vonk: I THINK THAT'S REASONABLE.

Glover: AND IS THERE A ROLE THE STATE CAN HAVE? CAN ONE STATE GET INVOLVED IN DOING THAT, OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE A MULTISTATE OPERATION?

Vonk: I THINK THE CORPS LOOKS FOR MULTISTATE CONSENSUS. SOMETIMES YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET THE SOLID, CLEAN ANSWERS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE WHEN YOU GO FOR A CONSENSUS ANSWER, BUT CONSENSUS WILL HAVE MORE WEIGHT WITH THE CORPS IN TERMS OF HOW THEY MAKE THEIR DECISIONS.

Glover: WHAT'S YOUR TOP PRIORITY FOR THE STATE'S PARK SYSTEM?

Vonk: FOR THE PARK SYSTEM?

Glover: MM-HMM.

Vonk: I WANT TO GET OVER THIS, WHAT I HOPE TO BE, A ONE-YEAR BUDGET PROBLEM; GET FOCUSED ON THE POSITIVES OF A GREAT STATE PARK SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE; AND TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DESTINATION PARK.

Borg: MR. VONK, WE'RE OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Vonk: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

Borg: THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." WE'LL BE BACK, OF COURSE, NEXT SUNDAY AT NOON AND 7:00. I HOPE YOU'LL WATCH THAT. UNTIL THEN, I'M DEAN BORG. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

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