“The flood is over but there is still a lot of work to be done.”
Joe Wilkinson, Iowa Wildlife Federation
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| Lake Delhi dam breached last July; left one heck of a mess in its wake |
When floodwaters broke through an earthen section of the Lake Delhi dam last July, it was like pulling the plug on an oversized bathtub. The nine-mile-long lake, which had weathered storms for 92 years, drained within hours. Its waters rushed along the bulging shores of the Maquoketa River, spilling into cropland and threatening towns downriver. In the end, the towns were spared, but what was left in the wake of the flood was a mess.
The Lake Delhi Homeowners Association, politicians, and bureaucrats have been dealing with the legal mess. The dam was privately owned by the homeowners association, and estimated costs of replacing it range from $10 to $15 million. Last month the Iowa Senate approved $5 million to help with repairs.
As for the physical mess, homeowners have been cleaning up their sodden homes and insurance companies have been grappling with the costs. Downriver, debris still clutters the shores of the Maquoketa River nearly a year later. Students from West Delaware High School in nearby Manchester, Iowa (population 4,872) decided to do something about it. Last week, they rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Trudging along the shoreline, the kids pulled out everything from life jackets and flip flops to pieces of dock and a refrigerator. It was a long day and in the end they cleaned up about 200 yards. There’s still a ways to go, about 2 miles according to the Iowa Wildlife Federation. 200 yards down; 2 miles to go. Any volunteers?
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