Major Water Sources in Iowa

The Major Water Sources list was created by IDNR to address concerns that new confinements would be constructed within view of "floatable/canoeable" rivers. The definition of major water source in Iowa Administrative Code - Natural Resource Commission - Chapter 65 is: "a water source that is a lake, reservoir, river or stream located within the territorial limits of the state, or any marginal river area adjacent to the state, if the water source is capable of supporting a floating vessel capable of carrying one or more persons during a total of a six month period in one out of ten years, excluding periods of flooding." The list was created by getting the counties to identify "canoeable" streams and with additional input from DNR staff.