(Milford)– Plans by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to improve water quality in Milford Creek, also known as Mill Creek, will be the topic of a special meeting August 13th in Arnolds Park.
Chris Van Gorp of the DNR’s Watershed Improvement Section tells KUOO news the creek has a long history of poor quality and currently on the state’s list of impaired waterways because it isn’t supporting the amount and diversity of aquatic life it should.
Van Gorp says they’ll be taking public comments on the DNR’s plan to clean it up at the August 13th meeting. It begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum in Arnolds Park.
Van Gorp says those unable to attend the meeting will be able to submit comments in writing. They should be addressed to Van Gorp at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 502 East Ninth Street, Des Moines, 50319 or via e-mail to chris.vangorp@dnr.state.ia.us or by calling Van Gorp at (515) 281-4791.
Van Gorp says they plan to submit the proposal to the U-S Environmental Protection Agency sometime in mid-September. Once that’s done, Van Gorp says the DNR will work with those who have interests along the creek, including the Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary Sewer District and any non-point source groups, watershed groups and others that want to work on urban storm water projects or non-point source projects to reduce the amount of phosphorous getting into the stream.
