(Milford)– Another study into water quality of the Iowa Great Lakes is getting underway. Mike Hawkins, a fisheries biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural resources says the Iowa Great Lakes Diagnostics Study is being done by the same University of Iowa entity that conducted a hydrological study of the lakes several years ago…
“So far we have 24, University of Iowa, I should say, has 24 groundwater wells interspersed around the Iowa Great Lakes to look at shallow groundwater that would be moving towards the lakes so that groundwater component is a big component here. And then also they’re putting in staff gauges to look at water movement through the lakes at key entry points you know, up in the Welch Lake complex, up at Loon Lake in Minnesota. These staff gauges will allow them to calculate the amount of water coming out of those different areas of the watershed.”
Hawkins says study will be extremely in depth and will involve another important component as well…
“We’re in discussions with a couple of different researchers about doing some in-lake, so once the nutrients and sediment get there, what’s the fate transfer of those sediments and nutrients between the lakes, that movement that you get between the lakes. And so this should be a very comprehensive survey, comprehensive study that looks at those things, and that would help us then, and the community, to prioritize and target conservation in the future, so.”
Hawkins says the study will likely two to three years to complete.
Hawkins gave his report at Monday evening’s Milford City Council meeting. Mayor Steve Anderson says the findings will play a key role in any future options that may be considered for the Lower Gar Outlet.
