DNR seeks comment on clean up plans for five lakes

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is taking public comments on the plans for cleaning up five Iowa lakes. D-N-R spokesman Chris Van Gorp says his agency has put together draft plans called Total Maximum Daily Loads or T-M-D-Ls, that determine how dirty the water has to get before it can’t be used for fishing or swimming. The reports detail problems at Lake Darling, Lake Icaria, Arbor Lake, Badger Creek Lake and Lake of Three Fires He says the documents also address the source of the pollution and how it’s getting into the water. Van Gorp says most of the pollutants are silt runoff. He says they’re asking the public to comment on the plans for cleaning them up.Van Gorp says the cleanup if part of an E-P-A mandate and they have to address 13 water bodies this year. They’ve already worked on three, and have four more to add to the public comment after these five. Van Gorp says work is already underway to clean up most of these lakes.The draft TMDLs can be obtained and comments can be made by calling Van Gorp at (515) 281-4791. Or on at the D-N-R website at: www.state.ia.us/dnr/ Here is more information on the five lakes:Lake Darling in Washington County is impaired by siltation and excess nutrients; Arbor Lake in Poweshiek County is impaired by siltation and excess nutrients; Badger Creek Lake in Madison County is impaired by siltation and excess nutrients; Lake of Three Fires in Taylor County is impaired by siltation and excess nutrients; Lake Icaria in Adams County is impaired by siltation.