An Ames teenager drowned Sunday in a Story County lake 4 miles north of Ames, but conservation officials say even with the death, the lake will remain without a lifeguard.

Michael Noel-Russell, 17, of Ames, was swimming with his friends in Peterson Pits on Sunday. He and a friend were swimming by the deep-water buoys, trying to see if they could touch the bottom. When Russell did not surface, his friend dove under and brought him up by his arm, but could not hang on to him and he went under again.

Story County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Gary Foster said a call was placed to 911 at 6:20 p.m. Divers from the Central Iowa Underwater Search and Rescue Team recovered the body at approximately 7:15 p.m., after which it was transported to Mary Greeley Medical Center, according to a release by the Story County Sherriff’s Office.

Story County Conservation Director Steve Lekwa said it is hard to find lifeguards trained to work on beaches and lakes, which is a separate certification process than lifeguards who work at public pools. Lekwa said none of the lakes in Story County have lifeguards and he does not believe a lifeguard would have saved Russell’s life.

“Visibility is nil in the water,” he said. “You can’t see your nose in front of your face.”

Russ Belz, the dive coordinator on the scene Sunday, said the area where Russell was swimming is approximately 15-20 feet deep. He said the rescue team regularly trains in Peterson Pits and visibility only lasts up to four or five feet.

Russell’s lower leg was entangled with the rope that anchors the deep-water buoy when the divers found him, Belz said.

Lekwa said the last drowning in Peterson Pits happened more than 10 years ago when a group of friends went to the lake after they had been drinking. Lekwa said the victim dove into the shallow water, hit his head and drowned. Since alcohol was involved and the group was swimming after park hours, Lekwa said the case has no relation to Russell’s death.

Peterson Pits has employed waterfront aides in the past, Lekwa said. The aides’ job was to keep the beach clean and watch for risky behavior. Lekwa said the positions were terminated because it was a “questionable investment of public funds.”

“They weren’t lifeguard staff,” he said.

Lekwa said it is highly unlikely lifeguard staff will be employed in the future.

“Our insurance carriers say it is OK as long as it is posted ‘swim at your own risk,'” he said.