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As we wrap up 2022, let's reflect on all of the work that you helped the Iowa Great Lakes Association make possible.
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
Milford City Council Approves Agreement for Bridge at Lower Gar Outlet
On Tuesday, October 11th the Milford City Council approved an agreement with Dickinson County with regards to the outlet at Lower Gar. The county will replace some of the culverts with a bridge. IGLA’s own Bill VanOrsdel is thrilled with the development as our nonprofit has been working on a solution for over a decade … Read more
City of Milford Contributes to Eurasian Watermilfoil Fight
(Milford)– Another governmental entity has voted to set aside funds in the battle against eurasian watermilfoil on the Iowa Great Lakes. The Milford City Council Monday evening voted unanimously in favor of a motion by councilman Andy Yungbluth… “I’ll make a motion that we take $6,000 from the Water Quality Commission remaining money this year, … Read more
County Supervisors Unanimously Approve Emergency Allocation to Battle Eurasian Watermilfoil
9/6/2022 KUOO Radio (Spirit Lake)– We told you several weeks ago about eurasian watermilfoil being found in several of the Iowa Great Lakes. The invasive plant was discovered nearly a month ago in Upper and Lower Gar, East Lake Okoboji and Lake Minnewashta. Terry Wilts of the East Okoboji Lakes Improvement Corporation told the Dickinson County … Read more
DNR Discourages Swimming at Emerson Bay Due To Bacteria Levels
Spirit Lake, IA (KICD 107.7 Radio)– A public beach in the Iowa Great Lakes has a swimming advisory headed into the last weekend before labor Day. The Iowa DNR does periodic tests at public beaches, and the last test on Wednesday indicates a higher than normal level of E Coli bacteria at Emerson Bay on … Read more
E. Coli Levels Alarming on Big Spirit Lake Beach
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the water concentration of E. Coli on Crandall’s Beach on Big Spirit Lake has surpassed the capabilities of DNR test kits. The beach registered more than 24,000 viable bacteria. This is 10 times what is considered unhealthy. Rapid bacteria growth may be due to recent summer temps or … Read more
Okoboji Blue Water Festival
The Okoboji Blue Water Festival has fast become an Okoboji summer tradition. Join fellow lake lovers this Saturday, August 13 for a full day of fun along the shores of our majestic lakes. Schedule of 2022 Festival Events • 8 AM-Chalkstock • 8:30 AM-James L. Pease presentation “Connecting Wildlife and Water Quality” • 9:30 AM-Kid’s … Read more
RV Parks & Campgrounds in the News
IGLA has been monitoring the number of proposed campgrounds at both the county & city level in our area. Here are headlines from the past 6-months. People are paying attention.
Iowa DNR Treating Eurasian Watermilfoil in Iowa Great Lakes
SPIRIT LAKE – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil is growing at multiple locations in East Okoboji Lake, Upper Gar Lake, Lake Minnewashta, and Lower Gar Lake in Dickinson County The Iowa DNR Aquatic Plant Management team monitors 153 sites at the Iowa Great Lakes each year. Each site is visited … Read more
Supervisors Approve Planning & Zoning Recommendations
June 28, 2022 Dickinson County Board of Supervisors approved a recommendation from the county’s Planning & Zoning Commission to move campgrounds in areas zoned R-1 suburban residential & resort enterprise from permitted uses to conditional uses in those areas. Zoning Administrator David Kohlhaase says the move will allow for some “additional checks & balances”. At … Read more
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
Help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species‼️
Clean - Drain - Dry
IAGreatLakes.com
#iglaprotects #iowagreatlakes #iglapreserves #aquaticinvasivespecies ... See MoreSee Less
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Free fishing weekend is THIS weekend!🎣Mark your calendars, Free Fishing Weekend is June 2, 3 and 4!
Iowa residents can try fishing without buying a license (all other regulations remain in place).
Find fishing clinics, places to fish and more: bit.ly/428tHC9 ... See MoreSee Less
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Photos from Iowa Lakeside Laboratory's post ... See MoreSee Less
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We are excited to reveal the new Anita Garatoni DeKock learning dock at Lakeside. This learning platform will allow our instructors to get the kiddos close the water in a form that allows everyone to safely see the action. ... See MoreSee Less
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Nice dock!!!
That is awesome.
Wow! That's awesome!
So cool!
Nice
VERY NICE👏🏻👍🏻
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Honor. Respect. Remember.🇺🇸
IAGreatLakes.com
#iglapreserves #iowagreatlakes #iglaprotects #memorialdayweekend2023 ... See MoreSee Less
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Memorial Weekend🇺🇸
#iglaprotects #iowagreatlakes #iglapreserves #memorialdayweekend2023 ... See MoreSee Less
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Thanks to all who did put the flags. Looks great
Enjoyed helping to put these flags out for Memorial Weekend.
This Saturday! ... See MoreSee Less
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🐢Smile, it's World Turtle Day! 🐢
Iowa has 13 species of wild turtles, including these big ol' snappers! Learn more about them: bit.ly/32SYxSb ... See MoreSee Less
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Ohhhh. That big boy would definitely put the hurt on ya!!
I almost hit a turkey on my bike riding around West Okoboji on Sat. No incident though, but I saw his pupils!😅
Something to 'SNAP' about.🐢
IAGREATLAKES.COM
#worldturtleday #iglaprotects #iglapreserves #iowagreatlakes ... See MoreSee Less
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In the past decades, every since the road has existed so many have gotten hit by traffic at the south curve on hwy 86 at Milford.
Just take a look at this musky caught & released during walleye opener. The Iowa Great Lakes is an anger's paradise!OKOBOJI WALLEYE OPENER! Musky season is still closed on the Iowa Great Lakes. But just one hour into the walleye opener Calvin's walleye jig stopped. He set the hook and the fish shot straight out of the water 3-times....then very politely gave himself up for a photo. That's an incredible catch on 8-lb test and and a VMC 1/8th Oz jig head. She was a shade over 50-inches. No girth measurement. But massive.
Striker
Rapala
ICE FORCE
Otter Outdoors
MarCum Technologies ... See MoreSee Less
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Congratulations!! Great job on catch and release....bound to catch again!!
I would have thought I had died and gone to heaven! How awesome 🐳🦈🐟
Nice fish! And lives again. Help me with some math, perhaps…., Say a 20 pound fish eats 10% body weight per day…., so 2 pounds. Why do they bother with 1/8 ounce bait?
Amazing!
🏆🏆🏆
WOWZER!!!
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In the event you were wondering where the sun went…. ... See MoreSee Less
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🎥 The 2023 FREE Movies by the Lake Schedule 🎥 Sponsored by Jensen Real Estate. Arnolds Park Preservation Plaza | Showtime at Sunset | Grab your chairs and blankets | buygreatlakes.com/movies | Please share | #okoboji #boji #lakelife #lakeokoboji #okobojilife #arnoldspark #iowagreatlakes #okobojiiowa #youmeokoboji ... See MoreSee Less
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Jason Petersen Noel Helphand Petersen
Great line-up!