09/17/20: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

No new COVID-19 deaths in O'Brien, Clay counties

The total number of deaths associated with COVID-19 in O'Brien and Clay counties remained unchanged over the past week.

Clay County has three recorded coronavirus-related fatalities while O'Brien County has eight. Overall, O'Brien County has had 263 total confirmed coronavirus cases since March and 150 recoveries, while Clay County has had 255 cases and 218 recoveries.

The COVID-19 outbreak at Prairie View Campus in Sanborn grew by one over the past week. According to the state's coronavirus update page, the facility has had 25 confirmed cases and 16 recoveries.

Statewide, there have been 75,069 positive cases, 55,466 recoveries and 1,233 deaths.

The percentage of positive cases among those tested over the past 14 days is 14.4 percent in O'Brien County. That number is tied for eighth-highest among all 99 counties. Clay County's positivity rate is 3.9 percent, which ranks 90th.

Clarification

It has come to Sentinel-News' attention that the headline for the article "Failing the test" led some readers to believe there are positive COVID-19 cases at Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley. That is not the case, and that fact was specifically noted in the article. The piece was about the facility's inability to find rapid result COVID-19 testing strips to adhere to federal guidelines. CMHC remains coronavirus-free.

The Sentinel-News apologizes for any confusion and encourages its readers to read beyond the headline.

Emergency support to area producers is available

Agricultural producers in Minnesota and neighboring Iowa counties may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture physical loss loans. The Farm Service Agency offers the low-interest loans to agricultural producers who incurred losses due to recent natural disasters.

Approval is limited to applicants who suffered severe physical losses only, including the loss of buildings and livestock. Applications are due by May 4, 2021.

Physical loss loans are available to eligible agricultural producers in Nobles County, Minn. who suffered losses due to high winds and hail that occurred on June 4, and who suffered losses due to hail that occurred on July 11.

Producers in four contiguous Minnesota counties and Lyon and Osceola counties in Iowa are also eligible to apply for emergency loans.

Physical loss loans can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses. Examples of property commonly affected include essential farm buildings, fixtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit and nut bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay.

Visit farmers.gov/recover for more information on FSA disaster assistance programs or to find your local USDA Service Center.

Lake temps taking a dive in NWI

Iowa Great Lake water temperatures have dropped in the past week with the cooler temperatures and are 62 degrees or lower. This week's extended forecast calls for warmer temperatures with highs in the lower 70s to lower 80s.

The area walleye bite should start to pick up as water temperatures start to fall. The panfish bite has been excellent in deeper water, especially on West Okoboji. The yellow perch bite has started to pick up.

East Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is open. The water temperature is 62 degrees. Bluegill, good. Find schools in deeper water. Black crappie, fair. Yellow perch, good. Yellow bass, good.

Lake Pahoja: Bluegill, good. Use small jigs tipped with waxworms. Black crappie, good. Try small jigs tipped with waxworms. Largemouth bass, good. Use rubber worms or other slow-moving jigs.

Lost Island Lake: Yellow perch, fair. Walleye, fair.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Walleye, good.

Spirit Lake: The walleye season is open. The water temperature is 58 degrees. Bluegill, good. Schools are starting to move deeper off shore post-spawn. Walleye, fair. A fairly-good bite lately can also be seen from shore. Try bottom bouncers or crankbaits to cover more water. Black bullhead, fair. Anglers have been successful at the north grade. Yellow perch, good. The bite has really picked up; fish are starting to be found closer to shore from accessible areas such as docks. Other areas to try are small humps in the main basin or weed edges. Many 10-inch fish being have been caught.

West Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is open. The water temperature is 62 degrees. The panfish bite has been great. The ability to anchor or use Spot Lock is very useful to stay on fish in about 20-30 feet of water. Bluegill, excellent. Schools are deeper off shore. Try fishing in 20-30 feet of water off most points. Anglers have had success using pilkies. Smallmouth bass, fair. Find smallmouth bass on rock piles or on the points. Largemouth bass, fair. Find largemouth bass on the weed lines. Yellow perch, fair. Schools have started to move deeper off shore. Yellow bass, excellent. Easily found while fishing for bluegill.

Water Summary Update: August brings drought conditions to nearly entire state

August 2020 was the third-driest August in 148 years of statewide records despite the derecho storm event, according to the latest water summary update from the Iowa DNR.

Significant statewide dryness throughout August caused an expansion of drought conditions, with nearly the entire state rated in some form of dryness or drought. The last United States Drought Monitor depiction for August showed that 99 percent of Iowa was in the D0-D3 category (abnormally dry to extreme drought), which was the largest expanse since Aug.27, 2013.

Barely more than an inch of rain fell last month. For the summer, the state was short on rainfall by nearly five inches, meaning that Iowa has a significant deficit of moisture to make up for this fall.

Precipitation deficits of two to four inches were reported across much of Iowa during August, leading to an intensification and expansion of dryness and drought. Some stations in southeastern Iowa observed deficits of more than four inches. Monthly precipitation totals ranged from 0.11 inch at Salem in Henry County to 5.31 inches at Lake Mills in Winnebago County.

Widespread rainfall last week should help to improve conditions in September, and the latest drought monitor showed some limited improvement. According to the report, the past several Septembers and Octobers have been wet. A repeat of that pattern will help hydrologic conditions as Iowa heads into the fall months.

Compared to overall warm conditions in July, temperatures moderated across Iowa in August with a statewide average temperature of 71.9 degrees, 0.4 degrees above normal. August 2020 ties 1921 as the 72nd-warmest on record, with a warmer August last occurring in 2016.

Streamflow conditions across much of the state are in normal conditions. The Des Moines, Skunk, Raccoon, Chariton and East Fork 102 River basins have moved into the below normal condition since the last water summary update. Field crews have been out collecting low flow measurements.

DNR state parks making progress with derecho damage

Three weeks after a devastating derecho tore through a large portion of Iowa and left major damage to residential neighborhoods, farms and cities, state parks across Iowa continue their clean-up efforts.

• Palisades-Kepler State Park (Linn County) will remain closed until further notice due to extensive tree damage.

• Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area (Linn County) campgrounds and day-use lodge remain closed as well as most of the north side of the park, including the beach and north shelter. The main boat ramp on the south side of the lake is open, as well as the northwest and southwest boat ramps, which are accessible by the gravel road.

• Lake Macbride State Park (Johnson County) is open; however the north and south campgrounds and day-use lodge all remain closed. Because of the extensive tree damage and clean-up efforts, visitors are asked to avoid using all of the trails, except for the North Shore Trail, at this time due to safety reasons.

• Wapsipinicon State Park (Jones County) and Union Grove State Park (Tama County) are both now open for visitors.

• Rock Creek State Park (Jasper County) is partially open – the east side of the park, where the campground, disc golf course, picnic areas and trails are located, remains closed except for the marina area with the concession and the west side of the park is open.

DNR staff will continue to work diligently to assess damage, remove debris and get these areas open as soon as possible, while ensuring safety of visitors at all times.

DNR launches new Iowa Deer Exchange

The Iowa Deer Exchange is the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' new free online database at http://www.iowadnr.gov/deerhunting where deer hunters willing to provide venison can connect with Iowans who want venison.

Hunters enter their information to the database, including their location. Recipients choose the condition they want the meat when they register – boned out, whole (field dressed), quartered, frozen, jerky/sausage or any, and in what amount. They also set the length of time their offer is open and may opt out at any time by contacting the Iowa DNR.

Once connected, the parties work out the details of the transfer. Donors are responsible for reporting the harvest and encouraged to properly care for the deer from the field to the recipient. It is illegal to sell venison in Iowa.

"We're excited about this new opportunity to connect Iowans with this resource – both hunters and the venison recipients," said Todd Bishop, chief of the Iowa DNR's Wildlife Bureau, in a news release. "It allows hunters who want to keep hunting a way to provide high quality, lean protein directly to those who want it."

The Iowa Deer Exchange does not replace the popular Help Us Stop Hunger (HUSH) program but offers another way for Iowans to get high quality lean protein. Iowa has 27 lockers participating so far in the HUSH program for the upcoming deer season. You can learn more by visiting: http://www.iowadnr.gov/deerhunting.