(Okoboji)– A public informational meeting will be held later this month on a proposal by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for potential lease agreements at some state-owned accesses in the Iowa Great Lakes for boat storage. Kelli Huser, an attorney representing the DNR, tells KUOO news it stems from public comments they’ve been getting…
“In 2024 we started digging into this issue much more deeply to try to see how we could address this with the public. One of the options that we have under Iowa law is we have the ability under our administrative code, chapter 17, to issue leases for limited time periods on state-owned land.”
From there, Huser says they held a meeting with commercial operators regarding vessel storage and what the needs were, comparing that with needs of the public…
“What came out of that meeting was to start looking at using our existing authority to issue leases. We’ve identified four different locations that went through an environmental review and all of our, kind of behind the scenes review to see what are the environmental impacts of allowing vessel storage at certain locations. We’ve identified four locations that might be available for a lease opportunity. We would be proceeding under existing law with accepting applications for a one year lease at these locations. It would be a non-exclusive lease and the concept of the lease would be that these four locations are available for these different vessels to park at any of these locations as long as there is space available during the recreation season.”
Huser says the four accesses identified are the Highway 9 boat ramp on East Lake Okoboji in Spirit Lake; the Templar Park boat ramp; the boat ramp across from Trigg’s Resort and the Minnewashta boat ramp.
Huser says while commercial vessels would likely be the most interested in seeking leases, they wouldn’t be limited to that…
“Under chapter 17 it is not limited to commercial vessels. We do expect that because of the locations many folks may not be as interested in this program, but we expect the commercial vessels to be the main group interested in this kind of program.”
Huser says a fee would be charged for the one year leases. She says the amount is spelled out under Iowa Code.
The public informational meeting on the proposal will be held at 6:00 pm Monday, November 16th at Maser Monarch Lodge in Okoboji. Huser says more specifics on the proposed lease program will be available at that time and those attending will be able to give comment and ask questions.
