Restoration operation set at Big Creek Lake
The state has launched a $4.4 million, 20-year effort to save Big Creek Lake, a hugely popular swimming and fishing spot north of Des Moines that has been plagued by fecal bacteria and toxic algae the past few years.
Big Creek is in big trouble.
The 781-acre lake is fed by three streams that are prone to picking up livestock waste, crop fertilizers and human waste from septic systems. Geese congregate on the beach, littering the swimming area with their droppings.
And the lake is shrinking. Over the past 18 years, Big Creek has lost at least 7 percent of its volume to siltation.
Home to the Iowa state park system's biggest beach and a park that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, Big Creek is too valuable to the economy and summer recreation to be allowed to die prematurely, those leading the restoration effort say.
An Iowa State University study found the lake generates $19 million a year in economic activity, supporting 233 jobs with a combined payroll of $4.7 million.
"This is a very important project," said Adam Kiel, a key Iowa Department of Natural Resources staffer. "It's one of the most used beaches in the state."
Sean McCoy, who is coordinating the project for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, added: "There are multiple things that need to happen."
An 82-page study of the lake identified these problems:
» The lake takes runoff from dozens of livestock operations and thousands of acres of crop fields.
» Dozens of geese roam the beach, littering it with their wastes and contributing to high fecal bacteria levels.
» Septic tanks, another potential source of fecal pollution, are also abundant in the area draining into the lake.
» Phosphorus runoff enters the water from nearby cornfields, producing toxic algae blooms capable of killing dogs and making people sick.
The high bacteria warnings have occurred often enough to land Big Creek Lake on the federal government's list of seriously polluted waterways. That prompted a full-scale assessment of the lake and plans for the cleanup.
Despite the problems, the lake drew 794,000 visits in 2010, considerably more than the Iowa Cubs' record attendance of nearly 600,000, and has been the site of triathlons and a wide array of other recreational activities. But with its sometimes unhealthful water, Big Creek's beach may struggle to keep drawing people if something isn't done.
Earlier this week, the DNR posted a toxic-algae warning at the beach just a day after the park hosted a triathlon. There were no reported illnesses, and park officials said there was no evidence of a bloom the day of the race.
Still, some of the race participants called the DNR after hearing about the warning and Monday's tests confirming an algae toxin at levels that exceeded swimming limits.
The Cy-Man Triathlon website noted a "bit of green" in the water on Sunday. Park official Greg Van Fosson said he noticed a bloom early Sunday during the race, but not the kind that emits toxins. He steered racers to a part of the water without a bloom. Later in the day, he saw the conditions worsen. Monday brought sky-blue algae, and the DNR warned swimmers and pulled test samples.
"It seems that the conditions for the race were fine," said race organizer Kody Waldstein. Dozens participated. No one reported getting sick.
The algae toxin can cause rashes, intestinal problems and liver damage in humans. It occurs mostly during warm, stagnant conditions in lakes with a lot of runoff.
This week's warning was the latest in a string of health threat warnings going back years. Big Creek also has a history of fecal bacteria problems at the beach. The lake was built in 1972 as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project that also created Saylorville Lake. The 3,550-acre state park surrounds Big Creek.
The DNR is joining the state agriculture department, local soil and water conservation officials, and area landowners to reduce future problems. The project will cost an estimated $4.4 million, paid for with a combination of state and private money.
Kiel of the DNR said that for the project to succeed, the government agencies involved and nearby landowners will need to work closely with each other. That's because Big Creek takes runoff from 47,665 acres of what is mostly farmland, spread across parts of Polk, Boone and Story counties.
A series of up to 10 silt basins -- similar to those that protect Easter Lake in Des Moines -- are planned around Big Creek. The structures would prevent soil carrying fertilizer and animal wastes from being washed into the lake.
The work will include trapping and relocating young geese before they become too accustomed to the beach. It is hoped most adults can be scared away. Park staffers are also exploring whether to build a second beach just for geese, keeping them out of the swimming beach.
The plan also calls for farmers to build fences that would keep cattle out of the three tributaries that feed into the lake: Big Creek, Turkey Creek and Little Creek. Also included would be incentives for farmers who switch to soil-saving cropping practices.
"Voluntary action is really our only tool at this point," said Mary Skopec, a water-quality worker at DNR. "We don't have any other way to address it."
Skopec said the problems that afflict Big Creek lake are varied, and there is no easy, single solution.
"There are a lot of different sources" of runoff, Skopec said. "There is no silver bullet. Everyone in the watershed has to come to the table."
The DNR plans a series of meetings to encourage landowners to help, including a major event at the lake in June.
