There are many factors that determine the health of a lake. Negative impacts can be caused by weather, boat activity, agriculture practices, wetland deterioration, invasive fish species, algae and over growth of water plants. Positive influences include the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and its monitoring program and mitigation efforts, urban landowners who do rain gardens and plant native plants along the shoreline, county conservation boards, farmers who establish buffer and prairie strips that filter nitrogen and phosphorous and plant cover crops. Maintaining the integrity of a lake is never just one modification.
Communities understand the importance of a lake that is nearby because of visitor traffic, lake activities, fishing, four seasons of fun and the monetary benefit. Because of this interest organizations have been formed throughout towns that boast a lake. The protective associations are usually non-profit, have a mission to preserve the lake’s water quality, maintain a membership and help fund projects that will better the body of water.
Palo Alto County is no different. Three shallow lakes are located within the county and provide citizens and visitors with exceptional lake experiences. Each lake is on the IDNR’s Impaired Waters Report. Silver Lake near Ayshire, Lost Island Lake near Ruthven and Five Island Lake in Emmetsburg are working towards improving the shortcoming of each lake’s water. The efforts are supported by local people who have formed an association to assist county and state experts.
The Lost Island Protective Association’s mission is “To encourage and to promote high environmental quality of the lake area. We support steps that are essential to maintain the continuing proper usage of Lost Island Lake and its surroundings.”
Silver Lake has an informal group of supporters who came together with Lost Island and Five Island lakes as a planning group to help fund a long-term comprehensive lake plan.
Five Island Lake Association (FILA) was formed as a non-profit in 2018. FILA’s purpose is to focus on lake improvements through conservation and preservation of the lake’s natural resources. Another focus is providing information to the public and to make them aware that a lake does not have to be on the state’s impaired list forever.
FILA has seven committee members dedicated to the lake’s restoration. Committee Chairperson is Dan Cooper. Kathy Mehan serves as the secretary/website caretaker, and Kathy Gunderson is the treasurer. Rounding out the seven are committee members Mollie Munn, Steve Carney, Tim Renfeldt and Diane Weiland. The group’s contact information is as follows:
Website – https://fiveislandlake/wixsite.com/fila In the upper right-hand corner there is a link to the Facebook and blog. Email: fiveislandlakeassociationfila@gmail.com
Previous question’s answer: The south bay consists of 90acres
Question: From 1990-1999 which of the following was the amount spent on the lake’s restoration? $2.5m $1.8m $3.75m
Written by Diane Weiland
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