(Spirit Lake)– A portion of a cemetery is in jeopardy of washing into one of the Iowa Great Lakes.
Wally Jorgenson, a Center Grove Township official, told the Dickinson county board of supervisors today (Tues.) a severe erosion problem is threatening to wash a portion of Okoboji Cemetery in Arnolds Park into Lake Minnewashta.
Jorgenson showed the supervisors photos depicting a large chunk of the cemetery’s shoreline about to literally fall into the lake.
Jorgenson told the supervisors the problem is serious and needs to be addressed very soon, as the erosion is only 15 to 20 feet away from a grave…and is spreading toward the rest of the cemetery. He said there are two areas along the cemetery’s 475 feet of shoreline that are in immediate danger of going into the lake–one is 140 feet, the other about 80 feet long. Eventually, Jorgenson says the entire shoreline will have to be addressed.
Jorgenson requested help from the county road department, saying the township would eventually reimburse the county for the expense of rock and hauling it. The supervisors directed County Engineer Dan Eckert to work with Jorgenson on the matter.
Jorgenson said they have applied to the DNR and U.S Army Corps of Engineers for the needed permits.
