LITTLEFIELD LAKE RESIDENTS ASKED FOR INPUT ON WATER
> > QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
> > PLAN 
> > 
> > EXIRA - Iowans interested in improving water
> quality
> > at Littlefield
> > Lake can attend a public meeting July 18.  The
> > meeting will begin at 10
> > a.m. at the beach shelter at Littlefield Lake,
> > located four miles
> > southeast of Exira on Highway F58.
> > 
> > The DNR will present a draft water quality
> > improvement plan at the
> > meeting. The plan includes suggestions for
> improving
> > water quality
> > through conservation efforts in the watershed, or
> > the area of land that
> > drains into the lake. After receiving public
> > comments, the DNR will
> > submit the draft plan to the U.S. Environmental
> > Protection Agency for
> > final approval.
> > 
> > The water quality improvement plan is also known
> as
> > a TMDL, or Total
> > Maximum Daily Load. TMDLs are calculations used to
> > determine how much of
> > a pollutant a water body can receive and still
> > maintain water quality
> > standards.
> > 
> > High levels of algae and turbidity, or cloudy
> water,
> > have led to the
> > water quality problems at Littlefield Lake. The
> high
> > algae levels
> > develop from increased levels of nutrients in the
> > lake, particularly
> > phosphorous. The poor water clarity is a result of
> > the algae blooms and
> > also from sediment suspended in the water.  
> > 
> > The cloudy water comes from sediment from two
> > sources: the land area
> > that drains to Littlefield Lake, and re-suspension
> > from within the lake.
> >  High levels of algae and turbidity make the less
> > visually appealing and
> > less desirable for uses like swimming, but do not
> > pose a specific human
> > health threat. 
> > 
> > The DNR will accept comments on the draft plan
> > through August 7. 
> > Copies of the draft plan are available from the
> > following sources, which
> > can also be used to submit comments:
> > * Internet:
> >
>
www.iowadnr.gov/water/watershed/tmdl/publicnotice.html
> > 
> > * E-mail: [log in to unmask] 
> > * Telephone: Chris Van Gorp at (515) 281-4791
> > * Mail: Chris Van Gorp, care of Iowa DNR, Wallace
> > State Office
> > Building, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, Iowa 50319 
> > 
> > For more information, contact Chris Van Gorp at
> > (515) 281-4791.


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