Boaters at Lake Manawa are being warned that low water conditions are creating navigational challenges.
The lake level was more than three feet below full pool as of Monday.
The low water conditions can create boating and jet skiing dangers not normally encountered when the lake is at normal water level including problems launching vessels, pull behind activities such as skiing, tubing and wake boarding are in much shallower water and obstructions normally under water becoming potentially harmful hazards.
“Certainly, when we have conditions that are much different than normal such as at Lake Manawa, we urge boaters and jet skiers to use much more caution,” said Susan Stocker, boating safety coordinator of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
“It is worth the extra time from a safety standpoint to make a trip or two around the lake at slower speeds to get familiar with where potential hazards may be,” Stocker said.
Stocker said the unseasonably mild winter and spring have left many water bodies lower than normal.
“We would advise operators of all water vessels to be using extra caution because of potentially low water levels,” said Stocker.
