(Spirit Lake)– Extremely high water levels on the Iowa Great Lakes have resurrected controversy over the Lower Gar Outlet.
Discussion was had at today’s (Tues.) Dickinson county board of supervisors meeting regarding the process that would need to be followed to ask the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to put in a variable height-weir below the Lower Gar Outlet, replacing the permanent height structure already there.
The extremely high water levels, especially on West Lake Okoboji, have resulted in several bank collapses in recent days. Supervisor Paul Johnson and several others who spoke are concerned even more damage may be forthcoming in the event additional rain falls and the wind picks up.
Others though, including those who live downstream on the Little Sioux River, expressed concern over the possibility of any additional water being released from the Iowa Great Lakes. Del Brockshus, a member of the Clay County Board of Supervisors, said while he sympathsizes with lakes area residents and visitors, that he must also be concerned for the residents of Spencer and Clay county.
Another man who spoke made reference to what’s going on right now on the Missouri River saying “I’d like to ask the board to go down to Sioux City and visit with people and see how they like living downstream from a controlled water area and see how they like that right now.”
The supervisors took no formal action as a result of today’s (Tues.) meeting. Johnson says it was intended as strictly informational in nature.
