Regional, Iowa (RI) – The Iowa Environmental Protection Commission voted this past Tuesday to continue a program with the state Ag Department to improve the watershed runoff into the Iowa Great Lakes.
The DNR’s Ginger Murphy says the Lakes are a key part of Dickinson County.
Information from 2019 shows an economic impact from travel to the region at nearly $378 million. Murphy says those numbers are likely higher as travel has picked up since the pandemic. She says the goal is to improve the water quality.
The plan has a limit of up to $129,500 dollars using an EPA grant.
The plan was first implemented in 2018.
Murphy says one success in the project is Lower Lake Gar, which met water clarity goals.
Murphy concluded by saying they still feel that phosphorus will continue to be the primary pollutant of concern in the Great Lakes and they want to continue seeing progress.
KIWA Staff Photo
