Photos Courtesy of PRWD
Detroit Lakes , MN (KDLM)-
Cleanup efforts are continuing on Floyd Lake following the EF-2 tornado that struck the west side of the lake on July 6, with volunteers removing debris from the water each Thursday.
Shanna Rix-Bach, interim director of the Pelican River Watershed District, says the effort is going well and volunteers have made a significant dent in the cleanup.
Crews have completed a pass along Oakland Beach, the area hardest hit by the tornado. Cleanup is now moving to Floyd Point, where the tornado exited the lake.
Volunteers, including some lake residents, have been using pontoons and scuba gear to locate and remove debris. Bach has been scuba diving herself, with Josh Beranek, Water Resource Coordinator, driving the boat.
According to Bach, much of the material, including shingles, cannot be seen from the surface. Most of the debris is located in four to six feet of water, where people often swim, and she is urging swimmers to use caution.
The Pelican River Watershed District staff and its volunteers have been out on the lake five Thursdays so far and will continue the cleanup every Thursday until the water becomes too cold.
Bach says the effort has brought together people who were affected by the tornado, as well as others who simply want to help their neighbors.
For more information or to volunteer, contact the Pelican River Watershed District office. https://prwd.org/
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