Okoboji Protective Association

Spring 2009

From the OPA President

Dear Membership,

This year we are blessed with extra days of summer. Memorial Day is a week earlier and Labor Day weekend is a week later than usual. Plan to take full advantage of these extra weeks to enjoy the Iowa Great Lakes.

Your association has been busy this spring with providing funding for important priorities supporting our clean water and water safety mission:

1. The OPA contributed $5,000 to the Iowa Environmental Council to support their efforts for clean water on a statewide basis.
2. Another $5,000 was paid to the Friends of Lakeside Laboratories to support the Cooperative Lakes Area Monitoring Program (CLAMP) for water testing of the Iowa Great Lakes.
3. We also are supporting the Friends of Lakeside Laboratories with a $2,500 contribution to their scholarship program to bring environmental students to Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.
4. The OPA is funding $4,200 for the annual billboard rental to keep the Zebra Mussel billboard on Highway 86 near Perkins restaurant.

The OPA remains concerned about the lack of action regarding the Corps of Engineers (COE) recommendations to prevent flooding of the Iowa Great Lakes. Back in 1997, the COE made several recommendations for a change at 230th Avenue, so the County road did not block the natural flow of water out of the Iowa Great Lakes. Because of complaints from Lower Gar property owners Dickinson County has delayed the construction work. Our concern is that inaction makes our lakes higher in spring that 1) complicates the installation of docks and hoists and 2) exposes lakeshore property to greater shoreline erosion. (See separate article.)

The Dickinson County Clean Water Alliance has made improvements on their website www.cleanwateralliance.net – check it out. The Iowa Great Lakes Watershed Assessment and Management Plan has been completed! We knew many of the pollution sources, now we have it documented. The Watershed Assessment will allow the Clean Water Alliance and others to apply for government grants that were unavailable without the documentation. To access the watershed report click on the “news” tab.

Iowa Lakeside Laboratory has hired a water chemist. Dennis Heimdal comes from the University of Iowa Hygienic Lab and has already had his lab certified for water testing. This is a great step forward for our lakes area. If you are aware of water testing that has been sent to Ames or Iowa City in the past we can do water testing right here.

One area of mutual concern for the lake protective associations is the threat of Aquatic Invasive Species. Last summer we organized boat ramp volunteers to educate boaters and inspect their boats to be sure AIS does not become the problem here. We are only asking volunteers for two hours a month during the summer to protect our lakes. Please join in this very important work to protect our lakes. (See separate article)

The mapmakers have been busy this winter. Kirk Stauss has developed a “car map” of the lakes area that includes a water safety and invasive species message. The DNR has created a separate “boaters map” for West Lake, East Lake, and Spirit Lake. The boater’s maps feature lake contours along with the location of hazard buoys, marinas, and gas docks. On the map backside is an Aquatic Invasive Species message.

The OPA would like to increase our membership. There are a thousand homes around West Lake Okoboji while last year we had 450 dues paying members. The strength of OPA membership shows the DNR, legislature, city councils, board of supervisors, and other organizations how strongly we feel about protecting our valuable natural resources. Talk to your friends and neighbors about joining the Okoboji Protective Association.

The OPA Annual Meeting is Sunday, July 19th at 2 PM at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory – Mahan Hall. This will be an interesting meeting with stimulating discussion. Be sure to place this date on your summer calendar.

The OPA Board of Directors meets April through September on the last Saturday of the month at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. For May, June, July, and August our one-hour meetings will start at 8 AM to accommodate Okoboji Yacht Club sailors.

We welcome your ideas and suggestions. Feel free to discuss your concerns with the officers or directors of the association. Do not forget to visit our website www.okobojiprotectiveassociation.org. Email can be sent to information@okobojiprotectiveassociation.org.

Phil Petersen
President