(Wahpeton)– The fact the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has included a portion of West Lake Okoboji on its list of impaired waterways comes as no surprise to atleast one person.
The agency Tuesday released an updated list of impaired waterways that will be reported to the federal Environmental Protection Agency as part of the federal Cleanwater Act. Emerson Bay of West Lake Okoboji is on the list.
Steve Anderson, Coordinator of the Iowa Great Lakes Cleanwater Alliance, says it’s because high levels of bacteria were detected in the bay in recent years. Anderson says efforts to address the problem have already been made. He says a sanitary sewer lift station and some private sewer systems in that area have been identified as possible sources. He says drain fields from the septic systems have been diverted away from the lake to alleviate the problem.
Anderson says additional testing will be done on the beach this summer, and if results come back favorable, Emerson Bay will be removed from the impaired list.
While other local bodies of water have been on the list in the past, this was the first time Emerson Bay was included.
