As warmer weather begins to melt the snow and send runoff back to the local waterways, College Creek has once again become a concern for Ames residents.”We will be monitoring the creek again in the spring when the snow thaws and the creek is flowing again,” said John Dunn, assistant director of the Ames Water Pollution Control Plant.Last fall, the creek showed abnormally high levels of fecal chloroform, which spread waterborne diseases.”The banks of the creek in West Ames basically have sewage lining the walls. It’s knee deep in some spots,” said Eric Abrams, co-founder of the College Creek Action Committee.The sewage contained high levels of fecal chloroform, bacteria that originate in the intestines of mammals. According to the City’s College Creek Web site, www.city.ames.ia.us/waterweb/CollegeCreek/college_creek.htm, the bacteria themselves are harmless, but their presence indicates the water has been contaminated with the fecal material of humans or other animals.Local residents were concerned about health risks and formed CCAC with the help of Abrams and Anita Mahr-Lewis.The contamination levels are highest near the start of the creek by the Bentwood Subdivision, said Bob Kindred, assistant city manager for the City of Ames.Dunn said the biggest problem is present in the first few thousand feet of the creek, but normal levels of bacteria are found once it reaches South Dakota Avenue.Abrams, however, estimates the polluted portion of the creek extends as far as two miles, to approximately the location of Ames Middle School, 321 State St.The city gave the residents the option of cleaning out the creek, but residents decided to let it degrade naturally, he said.Although the problem first came to the attention of officials a year ago, many believe it has been an issue for years.”The mobile home parks have been there for years and years,” Dunn said. “This has probably been a problem for some time.”Two restaurants, The Broiler, 6008 Lincoln Way, and Chef’s Inn, 6400 Lincoln Way, were cited as sources of the problem. Dunn said three mobile home parks, LPM Homes Country Terrace, 6100 W. Lincoln Way, Hillsdale Mobile Home Park, located on a county road south of Lincoln Way, and Crestview Mobile Home Park, 5615 W. Lincoln Way, were also responsible for the contamination.The restaurants have corrected the problem and Country Terrace was granted an extension until June 1, Dunn said. The three mobile-home parks didn’t meet the deadline, but because the homes are out of city limits the counties and the Department of Natural Resources have to address the problem, Kindred said.The other two mobile homes parks will be referred to the Iowa attorney general by DNR, Dunn said. The parks need to have new sewer systems or they will be subject to fines from the state attorney general.The city also hopes to expand its water-quality assessment to other creeks, streams and lakes in the area.”We’re trying to get volunteers to help with ongoing water monitoring,” Kindred said. “Later, this month we’re going to bring back a program of proposed testing for all creeks in the area.”The program would involve testing local waterways four times a year. The proposal will be presented during the March 27 city council meeting, Kindred said.”Lots of people come into contact with the water in the creek,” Kindred said. “This is a major problem.”