Did you know that Palo Alto County has 4 Endangered Bird Species (Barn Owl, King Rail, Northern Harrier, and the Les Tale), not to mention several Threatened Species including but not limited to (birds, bats, plants, and reptiles).    Lost Island Lake and Surrounding areas has several Conservation and wetland preserves and it is imperative that we help save our beautiful area. (Dewey's).  It can be found that Wind Farms should avoid conservation areas as well as Important Bird Areas (IBA)

 

Please read below and sign our petition to voice our concerns that Wind Farming should not be anywhere near Lost Island Lake due to so many Endangered Birds and Threatened Bats in our area.  Help keep our community a great conservation area.

Vestas (aka: Lost Island Wind), is wanting to house a wind farm in our community. Ruthven, IA and the Lost Island Lake area.  

According to the Iowa DNR "In summary, adverse effects of wind turbines on birds and bats have been documented in some locations, but much remains to be learned." (Wind Energy and Wildlife Resource Management in Iowa: Avoiding Potential Conflicts)

"...with Iowa’s mostly open landscape, birds generally are widely dispersed throughout much of the year and chance of interaction with turbines is small." (Wind Energy and Wildlife Resource Management in Iowa: Avoiding Potential Conflicts) 

"However, bats usually are associated with trees or wooded areas and wetlands, where the insects on which they feed are abundant. Wind turbines placed near woodlands and wetlands thus might reasonably be expected to result in more bat deaths than turbines situated in open farmlands. " (Wind Energy and Wildlife Resource Management in Iowa: Avoiding Potential Conflicts)

"Siting Recommendations:
� Avoid placing turbines at locations where any species of fish, wildlife or plants protected under the federal Endangered Species Act have been documented. Information may be obtained by contacting the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Endangered Species Coordinator or Wildlife Bureau staff. Any action resulting in losses to federally-listed
species could result in substantial fines or other penalties.

� Avoid placing turbines in or near recognized bird concentration areas or migration pathways, including lakes, wetlands, forests, river valleys, ridge tops or bluff tops, large grasslands, known bird roosting areas, public wildlife areas, parks, and areas with frequent incidence of fog mist or low clouds. While there is no firm information on the amount of buffer zone needed between turbines and these habitats, a separation distance of at least one mile might be considered an absolute minimum (more for prairiechickens—see below).

� Avoid placement of turbines in or near areas where highly “area-sensitive” wildlife species, such as prairie-chickens, are known. Area-sensitive species require expansive, unfragmented habitat. For prairie-chickens in particular, a separation distance of at least 5 miles from all known leks (breeding grounds) is strongly recommended.

� Avoid placing turbines near documented bat hibernation, breeding or nursery colonies and in migration corridors (see bird recommendation above) or between known colonies and feeding areas.

� Avoid placement of multiple turbines in close proximity to one another or perpendicular to known migration pathways (typically north-south). Widely spaced turbines, in arrays parallel to normal bird migration routes, can reduce collisions.

� Reduce or eliminate availability of carrion within wind farms, to reduce chances of attracting eagles, vultures and other raptors colliding with turbine blades. Neither dead livestock nor wildlife should be left within or near wind farm boundaries. 

� Place wind turbines in areas already fully developed for agriculture, especially row-crop farming, where there is minimal extant wildlife habitat—Iowa is especially rich in such lands, and it has been estimated that as much as 80% of Iowa’s landscape might be considered suitable for wind energy development with few adverse effects upon wildlife.

� If wildlife habitat losses or fragmentation must be mitigated, develop a plan to create or restore habitat away from the wind farm site. This will serve to attract birds, bats and other wildlife away from the development and reduce collisions. Wherever possible, coordinate habitat mitigation sites with other public or private wildlife lands, to connect, enlarge or enhance those areas.

� Certain landscapes, such as the Loess Hills in western Iowa and the “Iowa Great Lakes Region” in northwest Iowa, are known for their beauty, rarity and for extensive wildlife breeding and migrating activities. Such landscapes should be avoided entirely both for biological and aesthetic reasons.

� Consider possible cumulative regional effects of multiple wind energy projects. While one project alone may result in few concerns for wildlife, multiple projects across one landscape could significantly multiply adverse effects. " (Wind Energy and Wildlife Resource Management in Iowa: Avoiding Potential Conflicts)

"It has been demonstrated that if proper siting of wind turbines is not carefully planned, certain locations may result in collisions with, and death of, both wild birds and bats. In one or two noteworthy instances, excessive mortality of hawks, eagles and other birds of prey has resulted in major modifications to both design and placement of wind turbines, or even periodic shut-downs of large facilities." (wind and wildlife)

 

 

Citations :

Dewey's

IBA

Wind Energy, Wildlife and Natural Resources Management

Iowa DNR Website - Wind and Wildlife