(Des Moines)– Concern is mounting as groundwater levels continue to drop in northwest Iowa due to the ongoing drought conditions.
Even though the state has had above normal precipitation for the second month in a row, officials say streamflow conditions and groundwater levels remain extremely low across most of the state. In a statement issued today (Thurs.), the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the levels are at or near historic lows.
Especially hard hit, the DNR says, are Osceola, Palo Alto and Sioux counties in northwest Iowa.
The agency says “concrete” frost exists across northern Iowa, especially north of U.S. Highway 20. They add the precipitation in December and January resulted in the top layer of ground freezing nearly solid, and that until the ground thaws, more runoff than normal will occur from snowmelt or rainfall. They say that could result in river flooding or even flash flooding.
On a positive not, they say the expected fish kills from the low levels didn’t happen.
