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

Spring Flooding in Iowa

Frozen soil, melting snowpack, and additional precipitation this spring are the cause for devastating flooding in many communities across the state of Iowa and in neighboring Nebraska. Thousands of Iowans have lost everything as their homes, businesses, and livelihoods have been swept away by floodwaters. As the Missouri and Mississippi rivers continue to experience extreme … Read more

IGLA Engages University of Iowa in Flood Analysis

IGLA (Iowa Great Lakes Association) and Clary Lake Service was honored to bring the world renowned hydrologist, Dr. Larry Weber and his colleagues working to evaluate the Iowa Great Lakes Area Watershed, to a packed house at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center at Okoboji. This study will take approximately 6-months to complete and findings will … Read more

IGLA efforts receive thanks

Click to read the full letters: Governor Reynolds Arnolds Park Center Lake Letter DNR Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary District

Student Made Sculpture Placed at Junction of Hwys 9/71

Crews on Thursday, November 2 installed a new sculpture welcoming people to the City of Spirit Lake at the intersection of Highways 9 and 71. The stunning welded sculpture was constructed by students in the J-Term program at Spirit Lake High School under the guidance of teacher Brad Travis. What a welcoming sight for residents … Read more

Okoboji ice is out

The Iowa Great Lakes have shed their ice for the season. East Lake Okoboji was declared ice-free March 21st, and the last bit of ice on West Lake Okoboji went out on March 29th.

Supervisors Vote To Send Survey To Other Counties Regarding Revisions To Master Matrix System

The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to send a survey to other Iowa counties asking them if they feel the Master Matrix system should be revised to give local authorities more control over the placement of large confined animal feeding operations, or CAFOS. The supervisors took the action after hearing from Jim Youngclass, a former Dickinson County Extension Director who now lives in Grinnell and serves on the board of directors of Concerned Citizens of Iowa.

Educational meeting planned Oct. 22

The Dickinson County Clean Water Alliance will host an educational meeting Oct. 22 to learn more about Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy and efforts to fund a state trust fund devoted to natural resources and outdoor recreation, which Iowa voters overwhelming approved in 2010. The meeting will take place at 7:00 PM at the Dickinson … Read more

Dead bacteria could help reduce zebra mussel infestations

By Russ Mitchell, Managing Editor Dickinson County News Local officials think a population explosion for zebra mussels may be inevitable. A research scientist from New York will be in the area Thursday and Friday to discuss potential solutions. DNR officials and ecology watchdogs have been bracing for an explosion of zebra mussels — the imported … Read more

Important Zebra Mussel Meeting Friday

The Iowa Great Lakes community has been concerned about the spread of zebra mussels ever since the first signs of zebra mussels were found two years ago. Although the numbers of zebra mussels have not been huge so far, we could be on the verge of witnessing a major explosion in their population and the … Read more