Monticello Campground Owner Blames Dam Association for Flooding
By Katie Wiedemann, Reporter
Walnut Acres campground owner Chip Smith also lost his home (in background) to the recent flooding in Monticello on Thursday, July 30, 2010. His house sits on the 266 site campground sits along the Maquoketa River.(Cliff Jette)
By
Becky Ogann
Story Created:
Jul 29, 2010 at 3:57 PM CST
Story Updated:
Jul 29, 2010 at 5:24 PM CST
MONTICELLO, Iowa - Some people living down river from the Delhi Dam blame dam operators for the flood damage they’re dealing with.
In Monticello the Maquoketa River swallowed up several summer hot spots. That includes Walnut Acres Campground and McDunnough Canoe Rentals. Both are several miles south of the Lake Delhi Dam on the Maquoketa River.
On a typical sunny July afternoon, McDunough’s canoe rental is packed with people.
Angie McDunough said, “You can’t walk anywhere on this beach without running into a person or a canoe or a tube or a Kayak. It’s just pandemonium. It’s great, it’s wild.”
But on Thursday McDunough’s is quiet, the gates are locked, and no one’s on the river.
This is the peak of canoeing season. And also the camping season at Walnut Acres. But instead of enjoying the outdoors, everyone’s cleaning up the mess caused by the dam failure. And owner’s say the Delhi Dam Association is to blame.
Owner Chip Smith said, “This time they got caught. They didn’t anticipate it coming down for whatever reason over the two day period as much as it did.”
Chip Smith believes the Dam Association did not take proper care of the equipment. He says that’s what caused the flooding he’s dealing with. Smith says he now needs the help of the Iowa National Guard.
Smith said, “We need heavy equipment, skid loaders, and trucks to haul the sand. We are looking at hauling probably 1000 load of sand out of here.”
Smith says he’s losing money as all 266 camp sites sit empty. And that’s at least 266 people missing out on summer fun.
McDunough Canoe Rentals hopes to re-open early next week.
As for the campground, Smith says it could be almost an entire month until it’s back to normal.
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