Restoring the Lake Delhi dam

Gazette Editorial Board

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We appreciate the Whitewater Coalition's advocacy for returning Iowa's rivers to a more natural state. Left largely to themselves, rivers can take a self-healing course toward water quality and more abundant wildlife. And the water quality in many Iowa rivers has much room for improvement, as has been frequently documented.

But trying to sink the Lake Delhi dam restoration project, especially at this point in the process, is not justified.

When torrential rains upstream breached the dam in July of 2010, the result was more than draining a 92-year-old lake. Much property was heavily damaged, property values plummeted and businesses suffered.

The issue of whether the state should help restore the dam has been debated intensively since the catastrophe. The dam and much of the land surrounding the lake were privately owned, but the lake waters were a state-owned resource with public access.

Resident and visitor spending dropped sharply after the catastrophe. Property values will be down 38 percent next fiscal year, a significant hit on what had been 8 percent of Delaware County's tax base.

The tipping point for whether to proceed with the restoration came in November when

95.1 percent of nearly 900 property owners voted themselves a substantial, 20-year property tax increase toward raising $6 million for the estimated $12 million project. And a private campaign has already raised $1.7 million.

Clearly, Lake Delhi residents are invested. Last week, Gov. Terry Branstad this week signaled his support for $5 million in state assistance over two years. Last year, the Legislature voted intent to help.

Removing Iowa's small, aging low-head dams is gaining interest and support. It makes environmental, public safety and economic sense in many cases. But restoring the Lake Delhi dam will bring more benefits than drawbacks.

The project should proceed with legislators' support and oversight.

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