IGLA News

Emergency No Wake Zone

Emergency No Wake Zone

Emergency 600-foot 5 mph/No-Wake rule now in effect for some lakes in Dickinson County On June 26, 2018, the level of East & West Lake Okoboji rose above 6.05 feet on the USGS Gauging Station. Per the Dickinson County Emergency Management Commission’s No-Wake...

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Spring 2017 Environmental Update

Spring 2017 Environmental Update

Iowa Great Lakes Association Environmental Update Spring 2017 Zebra Mussels Zebra mussel populations continue to expand in the Iowa Great Lakes. The populations is expected to continue to increase in the coming years before reaching a limit and moderating. The biggest...

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Johnson-Ross New IGLA Community Development Manager

Johnson-Ross New IGLA Community Development Manager

Iowa Great Lakes Association President, Bill VanOrsdel, has announced Jen Johnson-Ross as the new Community Development Manager of the association dedicated to protecting, preserving and enhancing our lakes and environment. A Spirit Lake graduate, Johnson-Ross is a...

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IGLA Video: Lower Gar Outlet

IGLA Video: Lower Gar Outlet

Did you know? A little-known area holds significant power in maintaining and preserving the Iowa Great Lakes. Three box culverts at Lower Gar Outlet near Milford have saved Lakes-area residents and businesses from sustaining significant damage when water levels...

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Meeting on Trumbull Lake Restoration Set for Oct 23 in Okoboji

Meeting on Trumbull Lake Restoration Set for Oct 23 in Okoboji

OKOBOJI, Iowa – One of Iowa’s larger shallow lakes will be the focus of a water quality improvement project that was born out of the historic drought of 2012. The 1,200-acre Trumbull Lake and its 1,000 acres of connected marshes, in Clay County, are nearly dry which...

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Zebra Mussel collected in Iowa Great Lakes

Zebra Mussel collected in Iowa Great Lakes

SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa – The Iowa DNR recently collected a single live juvenile zebra mussel from Upper Gar Lake on a sampling plate used to monitor for the presence or absence of zebra mussels. Additional sampling was immediately conducted in Spirit Lake, West Okoboji...

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Nebraska law cracks down on invasive carp

Nebraska law cracks down on invasive carp

One fish, two fish Asian carp fish ... no fish. It's not exactly Dr. Seuss’ original story line, but it is what can happen when an invasive species such as Asian carp enters a lake. Asian carp are voracious eaters. They deplete the food supply for native fish, said...

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Westergard receives photo contest prize

Westergard receives photo contest prize

Iowa Great Lakes Association Executive Director Phil Petersen presented Sue Westergard with the prize check for her winning entry in the Iowa Great Lakes Association's Photo Contest. Westergard receive $250 for the winning photo. The People's Choice Contest Continues....

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Blue green algae causing problems on Big Spirit Lake

Blue green algae causing problems on Big Spirit Lake

Courtesy of Explore Okoboji - Fri 7-20-2012 (Orleans)-- Blue-green algae is starting to make an appearance on some of the Iowa Great Lakes. Mike Hawkins, a fisheries biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resouces tells KUOO news it's most notable right now on...

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