Much of Iowa, including parts of Guthrie County, saw some nasty weather this past weekend as heavy rains and strong winds hit the area.

Out at Lake Panorama, Association General Manager John Rutledge says his organization is able to take steps that prevent debris created by storms from finding its way into the lake, and one particular measure was utilized over the weekend: a debris boom.

“It is just a chain of floats that have an anchor on one end and then an anchor to the shore on the other end, and it is just a net to catch trees and… it’s not a mesh net but it is a plastic float with wire panels below it.  It is very similar to if you were to net something and it’s been very effective for us.”

Rutledge says the lake can deploy two debris booms if impending weather is a concern.  There is a main basin debris boom in the far upstream side of the lake, and that will be deployed until late fall prior to the lake freezing over again.

The second boom can deployed in Burchfield Cove, and that was set up to handle this past weekend’s weather.

“We do deploy the Burchfield boom periodically when the weather dictates that we should so we can harness the debris into the upper areas (of the cove) so that we’re not chasing it.  We can then do a much better job of getting it out as opposed to letting it float.”

To hear Rutledge talk more about Lake Panorama’s debris booms and about the invasive species boating rules that were recently passed by the LPA Board, tune-in to today’s Let’s Talk Guthrie County during the 9am, noon and 5pm hours.