DNR officials discuss Beeds Lake problems at community meeting

By: 
Jeff Forward

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The serious challenges facing Beeds Lake were laid out to the public by Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials on Aug. 29 at a special meeting at Maynes Grove.

     Chief among the issues discussed was the recurrent problem of high phosphorus levels in the lake, which causes unsafe levels of blue-green algae – which can be dangerous to humans or animals.

     Also revealed at the meeting was that the swimming area at Beeds Lake had been closed "50 percent of weekends" this summer due to E. coli bacteria levels being dangerously high.

     The meeting was led by two DNR officials, Jeff Berckes – the DNR state coordinator for the Total Maximum Daily Load program – and William Graham, a senior environmental engineer with the DNR.

     The meeting was set up to address concerns that locals and members of the Friends of Beeds Lake group had about recurring algae build-ups as well as e. coli closures and water quality in general.

     Berckes said that the request for help from the DNR was an unusual one.

Read the full article in the Sept. 4 edition of the Hampton Chronicle.

Hampton Chronicle

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Hampton, IA 50441
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