WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Your generosity will contribute to the cost of the flood study, whose recommendation will provide lake level management, help prevent flooding, protect high water damage to shorelines, docks, lifts and hoists.
Who We Are
The Iowa Great Lakes Association, or IGLA, was found in 2008 as a nonprofit 501(c)4 environmental organization existing to protect, preserve and enhance the Iowa Great Lakes.
IGLA is a multi-issue organization that strives to be an active influence in promotion for environmental health and quality of life in the Iowa Great Lakes region. We support organizations whose environmental missions include protection of the Iowa Great Lakes watershed area.
What We Do
The Iowa Great Lakes Association supports clean water efforts as well as other environmental and social initiatives to protect the quality of life for those in the Iowa Great Lakes area. Click on a topic below to view our video updates and learn more about our work.
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Featured News
Proposed Campground Draws Protest
It was standing room only in the April Dickinson County Board of Adjustment meeting as a 174-site campground was proposed at the Woodlyn Hills Golf Course. One of the developers of the proposed campground, Brian Schmidt said this would fill a void in our community. Neighbors voiced concern over public safety, noise, aesthetics, traffic and … Read more
Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been detected in almost all of Iowa’s 99 counties, including Dickinson County. The emerald ash borer’s larval stage is responsible for the damage that leads to the death of its host. The larvae’s feeding under the tree bark, eventually damaging the tree’s ability to transport moisture and nutrients from the soil … Read more
Gillnetting Season
Gillnetting has started on the Iowa Great Lakes. Mike Hawkins, Fisheries Biologist with the Iowa DNR, stated that the process for Northern Pike is already underway. Netting Walleye & Muskies are slated to begin in a week or so. Gillnetting allows for the harvest of eggs to be hatched and delivered throughout the state to … Read more
SF2312 Threatens Environmental Groups & Landowners
Many must have been wondering whether there was something in Iowa’s water on March 4, 2019. That morning, thousands of Iowans from all corners of the state and with little notice, moved and spoke as one. In the weeks prior, email accounts, text messages, and social media were buzzing with rumors of a concerning proposal … Read more
Bur Oak Blight Continues to Plague the Lakes
(Des Moines)– The only oak species that is native in all of Iowa’s 99 counties is facing some disease issues. The D-N-R’s Tivon Feeley says they are seeing a lot of Bur Oak Blight, which is a fungus that appears on the leaf. He says Burr Oak Blight numbers have been “kind of fluctuating,” and … Read more
DNR Updates Impaired Waterways List
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources seeks public comment on its updated lists of Iowa’s impaired waterways, including several bodies of water within Dickinson County. Emerson Bay, West Lake Okoboji Lower Gar Center Lake Diamond Lake Little Spirit Lake Pleasant Lake Little Swan Lake Silver Lake Little Sioux River Prairie Lake Both Marble Lake … Read more
Melissa Etheridge Headlines Blue Water Festival
The Okoboji Protective Association announces Melissa Etheridge to headline Blue Water Fest. One of rock’s most enduring and favorite female singer-songwriters will headline the evening concert at this summer’s Okoboji Blue Water Festival on Saturday, August 13. Melissa Etheridge – the artist with the raspy, smoky voice who has remained one of America’s favorite performers … Read more
Proposed Silver Lake Development Stirs Controvery
A public hearing regarding a developer’s request to rezone land from Highway Commercial to Resort Commercial was held on Monday, Feb. 14th’s Lake Park City Council meeting. Seth Hellinga is proposing to build 63 cabins on the south side of Silver Lake. Water quality, safety, boat volume, noise and aesthetics were concerns posed by the … Read more
Lower Gar – City of Milford & County Continue to Work on Agreement
The Milford City Council met Monday, February 14th and reviewed a proposed agreement with Dickinson County pertaining to the Lower Gar Outlet, saying they want changes made to it. Supervisor Tim Fairchild informed fellow supervisors of the matter at the Tuesday, February 15th supervisor’s meeting. “They want to go to a 25-year maintenance agreement. They … Read more
IGLA Donates to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
IGLA started 2022 with a $30,000 contribution to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation [INHF] helping to purchase the 50-acre Bedell property and its 2000 feet of pristine East Lake Okoboji shoreline. Adjacent to Elinor Bedell State Park, the 50-acre tract will never be threatened by development, thus preventing the installation of potentially 200 boat slips … Read more
Here’s a “snap” of a whopper of a snapping turtle!You smile for the camera when it's #WorldTurtleDay!
You wouldn't know by looking at this one, but newly hatched snapping turtles are about the size of a quarter! As adults, they can weigh up to 40 pounds, with a shell of eight to 15 inches long. (The one in the photo was 33 pounds, if you're wondering.)
More cool things about Iowa's snapping turtles: bit.ly/2YRUwOn ... See MoreSee Less
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Where was this lovely discovered
How old do you estimate this one to be?
Ribbon cutting & bike ride to celebrate the Tatanka Ska Trailhead!🚴
#dickinsoncountytrails #iglapromotes #iglaprotects ... See MoreSee Less
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Help the Keep Okoboji Blue endowment with your purchase of this NEW West O Beer!💦🍺Come to West O Beer Saturday, May 21st from 2-4pm to celebrate and taste the new beer for Keep Okoboji Blue. Beer sales will help raise funds for the endowment! Cheers! ... See MoreSee Less
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Here are some interesting facts about the dandelion flower:
The dandelion is the only flower that represents the 3 celestial bodies of the sun, moon and stars. ☀️ 🌙 ⭐️. The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball resembles the moon and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars.
The dandelion flower opens to greet the morning and closes in the evening to go to sleep. 😴
Every part of the dandelion is useful: root, leaves, flower. It can be used for food, medicine and dye for coloring.
Up until the 1800s people would pull grass out of their lawns to make room for dandelions and other useful “weeds” like chickweed, malva, and chamomile.
The name dandelion is taken from the French word “dent de lion” meaning lion’s tooth, referring to the coarsely-toothed leaves. 🦁
Dandelions have one of the longest flowering seasons of any plant.
Dandelion seeds are often transported away by a gust of wind and they travel like tiny parachutes. Seeds are often carried as many as 5 miles from their origin!
Animals such as birds, insects and butterflies consume nectar or seed of dandelion.🐦 🐛 🐜 🦋 🐝.
Dandelion flowers do not need to be pollinated to form seed.
Dandelion can be used in the production of wine and root beer. Root of dandelion can be used as a substitute for coffee. 🍷 🍺
Dandelions have sunk their roots deep into history. They were well known to ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, and have been used in Chinese traditional medicine for over a thousand years.
Dandelion is used in folk medicine to treat infections and liver disorders. Tea made of dandelion act as diuretic.
If you mow dandelions, they’ll grow shorter stalks to spite you.
Dandelions are, quite possibly, the most successful plants that exist, masters of survival worldwide. 💪
A not so fun fact: Every year countries spend millions on lawn pesticides to have uniform lawns of non-native grasses, and we use 30% of the country’s water supply to keep them green.
Bee Happy Gardens 🐝
Read more: bit.ly/3Lseaoa
#wedontdeservethisplanet ... See MoreSee Less
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Check out the progress! ... See MoreSee Less
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Amazing
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This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Comment on Facebook
Nor do you want to step on them.😳
Ours is a small private lake but our boats have to be sprayed down by an official before it is allowed on the lake.
I was down there last weekend. A lot of changes…saw your place in Maywood, Matt!
I have heard people up north are happy to have them
Jeremy Rienhardt
sooooo gross. or when you take in the boat hoist and they’re all over the legs- so sick
Birds can spread them but us boaters are the biggest spreaders of all. Almost impossible to get every boater to follow all the rules necessary to stop the spread. www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticanimals/zebramussel/index.html
Horrible. DNR was not doing their job to prevent these. Between these and the weeds - the lake will be a mess.
Ugh
Beth Lister
Can’t believe that’s today, no leaves on the trees in mid-May? 😮
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Wow.Bald Eagle's nest with a ranger for scale. Wow
Wildlife news at: returntonow.net ... See MoreSee Less
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Amazing how huge they are!!
Awesome! I have never seen it displayed so that you knew how big it was! Thank you for sharing
WOW IS RIGHT!
That's a big nest
Awesome!!!
Wow 😯
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Kansas Citians are letting lawns grow wild during 'No Mow May' to help save bees ... See MoreSee Less
Kansas Citians are letting lawns grow wild during 'No Mow May' to help save bees
www.kcur.org
Local homeowners have taken up the cause of No Mow May, which encourages people to temporarily pause their lawn-mowing in order to support the bees, butterflies and moths vital to pollination. In earl...Comment on Facebook
Sounds like an awesome idea! Can’t even convince people to leave dandelions around here for the bees.
What do you think of this idea?
#iglapromotes #iglaprotects #iowagreatlakes ... See MoreSee Less
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Would they let you ? Some cities have strict codes. I know that in some places having a laundry line in the back yard is now illegal .
Would like it on the lakeshore hill!
Looks messy.
Does it take over everything?
can you get as seeds or as potted plants ?
No
That's stupid for your area. You aren't living the cities.
It's beautiful 🌻
I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT
Teri Koopman
I grew Mother of Thyme as a ground cover. It is a xeric plant and smell wonderful when walking near it.
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The time to act is NOW. ... See MoreSee Less
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Amen
Her majesty getting a few repairs. ... See MoreSee Less
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I think they are great 👍
Spirit Lake 7th grade students advocating for our Iowa Great Lakes! ... See MoreSee Less
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