(Ruthven)– The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be lowering water levels in a northwest Iowa lake this fall in an effort to control common carp. Officials say the water level management plan at Virgin Lake near Ruthven is part of a project to improve water quality in the 222-acre lake.
A similar water level management project was done on that same lake in 2011. It was re-filled in 2012. DNR officials say water quality, habitat conditions and recreational opportunities improved immediately following that draw down. However they say record amounts of precipitation in 2018 and 2019 caused water to overtop fish barriers and allowed common carp to get back into Virgin Lake.
Plans call for the draw down to begin yet late this summer. The lake will be re-filled in 2024 pending conditions and will be re-stocked as conditions allow.
