Okoboji Protective Association

Spring, 2003

President's Message

Dear OPA Members,

Thanks to all of you who responded to our membership survey! A more detailed report appears in this newsletter, but the results show that boating and land use are your major concerns. To address the first issue, I have created a panel to discuss boating issues at our annual meeting. Gary Owen, DNR State Conservation Officer for Dickinson County, has just returned from Oshkosh Wisconsin where he was trained in new technology to enforce compliance with noise levels. He will speak about this and other regulatory and safety issues dealing with boating. Because Gary tells me we may need to change some of our laws to have more teeth, I have invited our State Senator Dave Johnson, who serves on the Natural Resource committee, and Representative Greg Stevens to be on hand. Phil Petersen will tell us about the newly formed Iowa Great Lakes Water Safety Council. We will also have our DNR Natural Resource Commissioners, Joanie Schneider and Randy Duncan, on hand. This should be a great discussion. Please read inside the articles on new boating rules and the Iowa Great Lakes Safety Council.

Speaking of the annual meeting, please note the date, time and especially NEW location of our annual meeting. Because Lakeside Lab's Mahan Hall is being renovated, the annual meeting will be held at the Hedberg Theatre at the MARITIME MUSEUM on Saturday, July 26. As usual we will have coffee and donuts at 7:30 am and the meeting will begin at 8:00 a.m.

Along the lines of the Maritime Museum: As you know the OPA was a proud partner in Save the Park campaign. We continue to support the Maritime Museum's efforts to make the park a major, family oriented tourist destination, and especially their efforts to enhance visitors' knowledge and appreciation of the unique ecology and history of the Iowa Great Lakes. For example, the informational signs on the park pier overlooking the lake tell about the geology, archeology and history of the IGL. The lake-friendly lawn care demonstration in the green space tells visitors about the importance of using zero phosphorus lawn fertilizer. We are especially pleased the Maritime Museum Board meetings are now open to the public. The OPA looks forward to continued partnering with the Museum on environmental projects. We are especially supportive of their plans to resurface the parking lot using innovative new technologies that reduce and treat runoff rather than shedding it directly into the lake.

Back to the member survey. The other top item of concern you expressed in the survey is land use impacts on water quality. This issue focuses on urban land use. Unlike agricultural runoff, addressing urban sources of pollution means becoming active in local government, and doing what we can as individuals to be more responsible, lake-friendly homeowners. Look inside this issue for articles about Low Impact Development and lake-friendly lawn care.

This is my last year as your president. It has been an honor to serve you. I encourage everyone to continue to work together through the Clean Water Alliance and other lake organizations and levels of government to protect West Okoboji and the Iowa Great Lakes watershed for future generations.

Conservationally Yours,

Jane Shuttleworth