Lake Manawa is full of happy campers ready for the 4th of July

• Campers are glad flooding and rain didn’t ruin their Fourth of July plans
• Richard Price, Iowa DNR conservation officer, said they saw a record number of visitors after their fireworks show last weekend.
• Watch to learn more about safety at Lake Manawa

TRANSCRIPTION OF THE SHOW:
We spoke to a group of happy campers at Lake Manawa, they are thrilled that flooding and rain didn’t ruin their July 4th plans.

Richard Price, Iowa DNR conservation officer, said they had a record number of visitors after their fireworks show last weekend and wants to remind lakegoers of the importance of water safety.

“The most important thing is to make sure that everyone has a life jacket on every boat that fits their size. Children under 13 must wear it at all times. And that includes kayaks and canoes. So a lot of people always forget that kayaks and canoes also need to have life jackets,” Price said.

Jordyn and Jocelyn Renner spent their birthday camping in the national park. They were there with their grandparents when the storm hit town earlier this week.

“We were all sleeping and watching movies while the sun was shining,” Renner said.

Although rain wasn’t on this couple’s radar, it was at the forefront of campers’ minds like Bill Boggle who came from Minnesota.

“We were a little worried about having to take a longer detour to get here,” Boggle said.

All boat launches on the lake are open for use, but the state parks riverboat launch is still closed due to flooding.

A $5 fee is required for park entry for non-residents.