CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa state agency says the longest dock in a northern Iowa city may need to be shortened, raising concerns that a shortage of dock space will hurt tourism. The Globe Gazette reports that the Department of Natural Resources says the dock at Sunset Bay Marina in Clear Lake could be cut down from its current length of almost 500 feet to less than 300 feet in order to comply with a 2008 state regulation on private docks.
The dock’s late owner, Dale Entner, had a contract waiver with the department that allowed the dock to remain at the longer length. The department says Entner’s contract can’t continue once dock ownership transfers to a new owner. Shortening the dock could displace up to 70 boats.