Navigating the interactive map:

Go to the Animal Feeding Operations (AFO) Siting Atlas then click to enter.

Step 1: Click on the word LEGAL. A small window will pop up. (If this step does not work, it is probably because you have a pop-up blocker turned on. You may need to adjust your internet security settings to use this feature.)

Step 2: Type in the Tier, Range, and Section following the illustrated method. Click on Find Legal Description. This will take you directly to the section you have indicated, or to a menu. If you get the menu, click on the number of the section you wish to view.

Step 3: Click on the eraser under the word "clear" to remove the yellow-orange color overlaying the section that you have selected. A small pop-up will appear that reads "selection cleared." Click on OK.

Step 4: Locate your site and determine whether the site is in "potential alluvial soils" (blue) or "within 1000 feet of a mapped sinkhole" (pale red) or in "potential karst" (purple). You should be able to see the 2002 Infrared Aerial Photo with the karst and alluvial layers superimposed above the photo.

Step 5: You will need to print out the map for documentation (see below). To print an image of your site, click on the print icon (on the left side of the screen). A pop-up box will come up with printing directions.

Map interpretation and documentation

Since it was impossible to analyze the soil and subsurface properties of every piece of land in Iowa, the Iowa Geologic Survey created maps that contain all of the potential karst and potential alluvial areas in the state. If a producer wishes to locate a site in these potential areas, they will have to consult with a DNR geologist who will take a closer look at maps of the area and use other information to make a definitive determination of the site's properties.

Alluvial soils. If the footprint of the proposed confinement or manure storage structure is within "Potential Alluvial Soils" (area shaded blue), please contact the DNR geologist at (515) 242-6848.

Karst terrain. If the footprint of the proposed confinement or manure storage structure is within "Karst" or "Potential Karst" (areas shaded red and purple), please contact the DNR at (515) 242-6848.

Producers/Consultants: To document the determination, please attach a printed copy of the map, with the footprint of the proposed structure marked clearly, to the appropriate materials:

1. Permitted confinements - Submit with construction permit application and send to DNR main office in Des Moines.
   
   
2. Non-permitted confinement sites - Submit with MMP and send to the appropriate DNR field office.
   
   
3. SAFOs (small animal feeding operations) do not need to submit documentation, but should keep a copy with their plans.

If you receive correspondence from the DNR geologist, please include a copy of that correspondence with your submitted materials.