08/11/22: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

Awarded Vogel Paint Scholarship at NCC

The Vogel Paint Scholarship has been awarded by the Northwest Iowa Community College Foundation. The $750 scholarships are awarded annually and supported by Vogel Paint, of Orange City. Recipients are selected due to their academic achievement and potential for success.

This year's recipients include Wyatt Borden, of Sanborn, an Accounting student at NCC.

OCPH offering home visiting program

Effective July 1, O'Brien County Public Health now offers a home visiting program for local parents.

Funded by Early Childhood Iowa, Best Care for Better Babies & Children programs are delivered by a team of family support professionals trained in: Prenatal care, developmental milestones, breastfeeding support, community resources, immunizations, car seat safety and parent education.

Individualized in-home visits with children will provide one-on-one time with parents and children. Developmental screenings assess overall health, development, language, hearing and vision with the goal of preventing difficulties later in life.

For more information, contact O'Brien County Public Health at (712) 957-0105 or email [email protected].

Haying or grazing allowed on area CRP acres

Twelve Iowa counties have been authorized for emergency haying or grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for fiscal year 2022. The Farm Service Agency's fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.

The six counties approved for emergency haying or grazing include Buena Vista, Clay, Ida, Palo Alto, Pocahontas and Sac. Six additional counties are restricted under Emergency Haying Criteria Based on LFP Triggers: Cherokee, Monona, O'Brien, Plymouth, Sioux and Woodbury.

Counties are automatically approved for CRP emergency haying and grazing when they reach the D2 (severe drought) level on the U.S. Drought Monitor and are outside of the primary nesting season (May 15-Aug. 1).

According to FSA Executive Director Matt Russell, a CRP participant must receive approval for emergency haying from their county FSA office before any action is taken. The emergency haying authorizations end on Aug. 31, 2022. Participants must also receive approval for emergency grazing from their local FSA office. The emergency grazing period for these counties will end Sept. 30, 2022.

CRP participants are eligible to seek approval for either emergency haying or emergency grazing, but cannot do both on the same acres.

There will be no CRP annual rental payment reduction for 2022 emergency haying and grazing authorizations.

CRP participants in counties not eligible for Emergency Haying and Grazing are eligible for Non-Emergency Haying and Grazing as of Aug. 2. CRP participants should check with their local FSA office to determine their eligibility and specifics. They need to sign up and get approval from their local FSA office before any haying or grazing is started.

Spencer Hospital Board approves emergency dept. project

The Spencer Hospital Board of Trustees approved construction of a new emergency department at a special meeting on Aug. 5.

The trustees also selected L&L Builders, of Sioux City, as the project's general contractor, which submitted the low bid following an open public bidding process. The project will commence within the next 30 days and completion is estimated for early summer 2024.

"The new emergency department will facilitate a better care experience for our patients and an enhanced work environment for our healthcare team," said hospital president Bill Bumgarner in a news release. "We especially value that the project will greatly improve public access and visibility of this critical service. That could not have been accomplished without the support and collaboration of the Spencer City Council and city planning officials."

Bids were submitted by three general contractor companies, with the low bid of $16,974,800 submitted by L&L Builders. In addition to the construction scope of the project, additional expenses for equipment, supplies and professional fees add another $5 million for a total cost of $22 million.

CMBA Architects of Spencer is the project's lead architect. NEXT Inc., of Sioux Falls, is offering project management services. Bumgarner said that many Spencer and Iowa Lakes corridor area specialty subcontractors will also be engaged in the project.

The new emergency department will be constructed on East 11th Street between the Medical Arts Building and the hospital. It will feature patient-centered improvements to include additional and larger treatment rooms; two trauma bays; and two rooms specifically designed for the care of behavioral health patients.

Patient privacy will be enhanced by using an "on-stage, off-stage" design model through which a center core work area is dedicated for use by healthcare providers to reduce background sound and activity near patients receiving care.

Plans also include a larger, comfortable waiting area. An attached, temperature controlled ambulance garage will accommodate two ambulances, and will feature more efficient access for out-of-town ambulances transporting patients to Spencer Hospital. A partial basement will be constructed under the new department to provide utility service and an additional general storage area. A new ambulance storage garage is also included to accommodate the hospital's on-campus fleet.

The initial work will focus on campus infrastructure improvements, so the public may not notice construction activity in the project's early stages. Initial work will include improvements such as mechanical and electrical upgrades; a new generator; a new loading dock with improved access for delivery trucks; renovation of a tunnel that runs from the hospital's power plant to the main hospital building; utility relocation; and additional parking. Eventually, the location of the new emergency department will require the permanent closing of a portion of East 11th Street.

Drought expands in Iowa after another dry month

Iowa's July precipitation was 3.75 inches, 1.51 inches below normal for the month, according to the latest Iowa DNR Water Summary Update. Some locations in southern Iowa had July rainfall of four inches less than normal.

An area of extreme drought returned to Iowa for the first time since August 2021, and drought conditions were deteriorating as the month ended. Streamflow, groundwater and soil moisture conditions are below normal in parts of Iowa.

July was the fourth below-normal rainfall month in a row, and the sixth month this year that was drier than normal. Continued deterioration of conditions across northwest Iowa was observed, as well as the introduction of drought conditions across a large area of southern Iowa. July is normally a fairly wet month, according to records, but the expected rainfall did not occur in much of the state.

NWI fishing report

Most area lake temperatures are in the mid-70s to 80s. This week's forecast calls for continued temperatures in the 80s-90s. Bass and panfishing have been great on most lakes out along weed lines in 15-plus feet of water. Most bigger fish have been caught out in deeper water as temperatures have increased.

East Okoboji Lake: Lake temperature was in the lower 80s last Thursday. The water level is at crest. Fish are out deeper during warm water temperatures. Trolling has been working very well. Find crappie and yellow bass in 12-17 feet of water. Try fishing weed lines where there is new vegetation growth.

Black crappie, good. Best bite is in 10-15 feet of water along weed lines. Bluegill, good. Walleye, fair. Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps in the main basins. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset. Yellow bass, good.

Lost Island Lake: Fishing/trolling is getting more difficult as aquatic vegetation reaches the surface in many places. There has been a decent-sized algae bloom lately. Black crappie, fair. Walleye, slow. Try trolling crankbaits or with lindy rigs off weed lines. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset. Yellow perch, fair.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): The late afternoon bite has been fair. Many anglers are targeting fish schools during the day. Vegetation growth and a large algae bloom are making fishing more difficult in many areas. Many large schools of young of the year bullhead are swimming around the lake. Walleye, fair. Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps.

Spirit Lake: Water temperature was in the upper 70s last Thursday. The lake level was 3 inches below crest last Thursday. The walleye season is open. Most species are out deeper in 17-plus feet of water. Black bullhead, fair. Try fishing the northern grade of Spirit Lake.

Black crappie, fair. Use a tube jig and bobber. Bluegill, fair. Walleye, fair. Use spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps; try to find weed lines. Yellow perch, good. Many perch can be caught, you may need to sort for size.

West Okoboji Lake: Water temperature was in the upper 70s last Thursday. The water level is at crest. Most fish are out deeper in 15-plus feet of water. Rocky points and areas with new vegetation growth have seen the most success. Black crappie, good. Use crankbaits or shad raps. Bluegill, good: Try small shad raps. Largemouth bass, fair. Smallmouth bass, fair. Try fishing off points with surface baits or jerk baits. Walleye, fair. Try fishing off points by trolling crankbaits or with lindy rigs. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset. Some fish have been caught while trolling for crappie.

DNR will treat Iowa Great Lakes for invasive Eurasian watermilfoil

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil is growing at multiple locations in East Okoboji Lake, Upper Gar Lake, Lake Minnewashta and Lower Gar Lake in Dickinson County

The Iowa DNR Aquatic Plant Management team monitors 153 sites at the Iowa Great Lakes each year. Each site is visited twice each year to detect invasive plants in early stages of growth and allow the DNR to quickly develop management plans to control the plants.

Surveys conducted in Spirit Lake, Center Lake, and West Okoboji Lake did not detect Eurasian watermilfoil. Additional surveys were conducted after Eurasian watermilfoil was discovered to determine the spread of the plant.

"We are aggressively developing a management plan to immediately treat areas of the lakes where the plant has been detected with an aquatic herbicide approved for use on lakes and drinking water sources," Mike Hawkins, Fisheries Biologist for the Iowa DNR, said in a news release. "These aquatic herbicides have very few label restrictions. Contact with the water after treatment is safe for fishing or other recreational activities."

Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive rooted aquatic plant native to parts of Europe and Asia, can spread quickly and outcompete beneficial native plants. It reproduces by fragmentation, which means small pieces of it grow into new plants and form thick beds.

The DNR has been working closely with the community to treat curly-leaf pondweed each year in East Okoboji Lake, Lake Minnewashta and Lower Gar Lake. Eurasian watermilfoil represents another immediate challenge for these lakes. The timing and methods for treatment of curly-leaf pondweed differs from Eurasian watermilfoil.

Iowa's Aquatic Invasive Species Program has been a national leader in control efforts to stop Eurasian watermilfoil for the past 30 years.

"Iowa DNR has successfully eradicated the plant in many lakes throughout the state. However, the size and complexity of the Iowa Great Lakes will present real challenges for management," explained Hawkins. "Lakes with healthy, diverse native aquatic plant communities may be less susceptible to an infestation that takes over the native plant community."

Boaters and anglers can unintentionally spread Eurasian watermilfiol and other aquatic invasive species if they do not take the proper precautions – clean, drain, dry – after each time out on the water.

It is illegal to possess or transport prohibited aquatic invasive species, such as Eurasian watermilfoil, in Iowa. Boaters must also drain all water from boats and equipment before leaving a water access and must keep drain plugs removed or opened during transport.

Koi herpes is cause of Storm Lake carp kill

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources last week confirmed the Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) killed thousands of young common carp at Storm Lake.

It marked the first time the virus has been detected in Iowa. Outbreaks have previously been identified in Minnesota and Wisconsin. There have been no instances of the virus infecting humans or other fish species.

"We have collected live, healthy fish from 13 different species in Storm Lake to be tested to confirm that the virus is not spreading to other species," said Ben Wallace, DNR fisheries biologist, in a news release.

The virus is very contagious and deadly among carp. It attacks the fish's gills and can produce lesions on their bodies. The virus is unlikely to eliminate the entire Storm Lake carp population.

"The common carp spawning created the perfect conditions to spread the disease with fish making direct contact with each other all over the lake," explains Wallace. "The virus could have been here a long time within the adult population with many having some level of immunity to the virus and were asymptomatic."

Young common carp began to die and wash ashore in recent weeks. Thousands of dead carp have been found along Storm Lake's shore.

"Scavenging animals and decomposition should take care of the dead fish fairly quickly," said Wallace. "The best way Storm Lake users can help is to push the dead fish back into the water. Make sure you wear gloves when you handle the fish."