Estherville, IA (KICD) — The city of Estherville is hoping to make a negative into a positive by replacing a dam on the West Fork of the Des Moines River with a system that would both remove a hazard and provide new recreational opportunities.

City Administrator Penny Clayton says the river improvements would offer new opportunities for recreation.

The current estimate on all of those improvements in 1.3 million dollars. The Estherville City council hired a grant writer Monday night to assist them in applying for state help.