DES MOINES (AP) -- State park administrators have applied for money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to repair damages to at least 16 state parks, forestry areas, and wildlife and fisheries bureaus damaged by storms and flooding in recent weeks.

At Backbone State Park in Delaware County, $100,000 in damage includes the cost of removing four inches of silt - left from what was once six feet of standing water from park shelters. Backbone's sewage lagoon was also flushed out by heavy rains.

"This is actually the worst flood we've ever had," said Mary Shea, park manager at Backbone. "The boat ramp is lying in what used to be the road, and our trails are in serious shape.

"This damage is all beyond anything we have the equipment to repair, and it's something that's going to be that way for a while until (FEMA) goes through the process."

Damage estimates by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources range from as little as a few thousand dollars at some parks to as much as $217,000 at Springbrook State Park in Guthrie County.

Stan Cramer, FEMA public affairs officer at the agency's Urbandale location, said the agency should finish processing the parks applications before summer ends.

Once federal officials determine the cost of restoring damaged areas, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the cost, while the state pays the rest.

High waters have washed away entire bridges and large portions of creek banks along Springbrook campsites, said Heather Cline, information coordinator for state parks.

So far, damage has been concentrated to state parks in northeast and central Iowa, according to Kevin Szcodronski, bureau chief of state parks for the natural resources department. The damage isn't as bad as the damage parks suffered in the floods of 1993.

"It's not comparable," Szcodronski said. "In '93 the water was so high that it was devastating. This water warrants a lot of cleanup activity more than anything."

The flooding has caused some parks to close campgrounds and forced parks employees to turn away visitors and cancel lodge reservations for weddings.

Szcodronski praised parks employees who put park facilities back into operation quickly to minimize a loss of revenue. However, permanent damage remains and the state could lose even more money if park users stay away this summer because of the damage.

Although parks await relief and repair, parks employees say visitors and campers are still welcome.

"We want to bring people in, not scare them away," said Shea at Backbone park. "We stock our trout stream once a week, and our concession stand and boat rentals are open. We are up and running as usual, with a few glitches here and there."