(Des Moines)– A proposal to dam a creek and create a resort lake is being criticized after reports that the creek is polluted and could create health problems for swimmers.
The damming of Mill Creek south of Milford would create South Okoboji Lake…a proposal that project organizers say would boost development by adding shoreline.
However an Iowa Department of Natural Resources report lists the creek as seriously polluted because it has low oxygen and huge algae blooms. Those conditions can often create bacteria that cause intestinal and other problems for swimmers.
On average, more than 60 percent of Milford Creek’s flow is treated sewage…and at times it’s more than 90 percent. The Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary Sewer District’s treatment plant is upstream.
Water quality experts say the project can still be safe. If deep enough the lake’s dangerous bacteria could remain at the bottom and away from swimmers. In addition, the wastewater treatment plant would probably have to be relocated since it’s in or very close to the area that would be flooded.
The project was recently proposed by Marina Operator Butch Parks. He says the glacial lake chain known as the Iowa Great Lakes is running out of lakefront land and more shoreline is needed for construction.
State staffers say they’ll investigate the environmental affects of the project.
(Story from the Associated Press.).
