(Spirit Lake)– A dedication ceremony was held Saturday for a newly restored lake in Dickinson county.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Ducks Unlimited teamed up for the project to restore Diamond Lake, which was made possible through the donation of 52-thousand dollars from 10 local and regional people.
Part of the project involved the draw down of the lake, killing of rough fish such as carp and re-filling the lake. Natural vegetation, including wild celery, grew back on its own.
Mark Gullick, DNR Wildlife Supervisor, says Diamond Lake is one of the first lakes in Iowa to be restored through the agency’s lake restoration program. The program was made possible several years ago through a legislative appropriation.
Even though Diamond Lake is now restored, Gullick says work continues on various projects to also improve its 1,600-acre watershed. He says they’ll be working closely with landowners on that.
Gullick says they’re hopeful the restoration will last eight to nine years before the lake will have to be drained again and the process repeated.
He says similar restoration projects are already underway, or soon will be, on Jemmerson Slough in Dickinson county, Dan Green Slough in Clay county, Four Mile Lake in Emmet county and Burr Oak Lake…also in Emmet county.
