DES MOINES – Meetings originally scheduled to discuss results of a DNR study to improve water quality in lake environments for bacteria will move to an online-only presentation due to COVID-19 precautions.
The meetings were originally scheduled for March 18, March 24 and April 1. A presentation, originally created for the meetings, will be available on the Iowa DNR’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/iowadnr through May 18. All public comments are due by May 18 to Jeff Berckes at jeff.berckes@dnr.iowa.gov.
Multiple lakes throughout the state are on the state’s list of impaired waters for high levels of indicator bacteria. The current study, or DNR water quality improvement plan, focuses on three lakes to show where the bacteria comes from and how these problems can be addressed. This first phase of the document focuses on Nine Eagles Lake, Hickory Grove Lake, and Clear Lake. More lakes will be added to the document as additional information is collected and analyzed.
The plan explores the amounts and contributing source areas of bacteria entering the lake systems and offers potential solutions to reduce those levels and work toward fixing the problem. The document functions as a guide for local resource agencies, partners, stakeholders and residents to improve the lakes and specifically the beach and swimming area.
More information on the study is available at https://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/WaterQuality/WatershedImprovement/WatershedResearchData/WaterImprovementPlans/PublicMeetingsPlans.aspx.
After gathering Iowans’ comments, the DNR will forward the final plan, also called by its technical name of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval.