Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has nominated a top adviser on agriculture and natural resources, Kayla Lyon, as director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The DNR is the lead state agency in preserving natural lands and providing environmental protection, and it routinely is engaged in debates with farm interests regarding runoff and other farm-related pollution. Lyon has “spent her career working on agriculture, renewable fuels, water quality and environmental policy while representing farmers and agribusiness,” a news release from Reynolds’ office stated. “As my legislative liaison and lead policy adviser on agriculture and natural resources, Kayla oversaw DNR operations including regulatory permitting, conservation efforts, and wildlife issues,” Reynolds said. “She also played an instrumental role in the 2018 comprehensive water quality funding bill.” That legislation, which provided money for water-quality efforts, was praised by ag interests but roundly criticized by environmental groups and Democratic legislators because the bill fell short of what was needed, in their view, and took money from existing programs. Lyon, the eighth director of an agency created by former Gov. Terry Branstad, replaces Bruce Trautman, who had been acting director since May 2018. Lyon grew up in Decorah and now lives in Ames.