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Resident raises water‑quality and drainage concerns after Sherwood Forest park opening; supervisors explain runoff is untreated
Summary
A member of the public urged supervisors to study where runoff from Sherwood Forest and other projects is going and whether it is treated before reaching Okoboji and other lakes; supervisors replied that drainage is surface runoff, not treated, and that DNR plans to draw down 12 Mile Lake could affect Drainage District 61.
During general discussion and public comment, resident Patrick Kelly of Okoboji thanked county staff for engagement but urged more scientific study of water flows and drainage from recent projects (including Sherwood Forest), asking whether runoff is treated before it reaches Okoboji or other nearby lakes.
"Does that water that's coming off of Sherwood Forest, does that get treated before it goes in Okoboji, or is it just drain right into the lake?" Kelly asked, expressing concern about local water quality and historical health impacts.
A supervisor responded that surface runoff from the development "does not get treated" and that drainage must naturally flow; the board noted that the DNR plans to draw down 12 Mile Lake to reestablish natural filtration and that staff are investigating whether annexing the lake into Drainage District 61 would be useful and what costs or maintenance implications that would carry.
Supervisors also reported on the Sherwood Forest ribbon cutting, local pantry activity and other community programs; staff said they will continue monitoring drainage and collaborate with the DNR on the lake drawdown's potential effects on district infrastructure.
