Orleans, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — The Iowa Great Lakes was declared ice free last week. DNR Research Biologist Jon Meerbeek says typically East Lake is typically the first to go, but Big Spirit Lake had a large open spot all winter.

East Lake was declared ice free on the 18th and West March 19th.

One theory on why there were open spots on the Iowa Great Lakes is rotting water vegetation releasing warm gases.