"Everyone involved would like this project to be moving more quickly," said area fisheries biologist Chad Dolan, who serves as spokesperson for the lake renovation portion of the project, which has encountered a number of delays that has pushed the completion time into fall 2012.
He said delays have come from a number of different areas, including the discovery of an archaeologically significant site in the dam area that requires further exploration before the work could resume. There were also delays in getting necessary permits and engineering designs for some important lake structures.
Dolan will be part of a panel that will be discussing the entire Lake Darling restoration project, on October 6, at the Lake Darling State Park Lodge. The agenda includes a meal from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by the meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The meeting is open to the public. There are a lot of partners and supporters who have helped this project along the way and some are concerned with the delays. If the project could not go forward, why did the DNR drain the lake when it did?
"Mainly it was necessary to explore potential archaeological sites along the shoreline. We also had to draw the lake down because we could not be sitting on a full lake and have the project ready to go," Dolan said.
"We have a lot of very interested people who love this park and they would like this project to be further along. We would too. When discussing the initial timeline, in hindsight, we were too optimistic. This is a huge project and it takes time," he said.
The lake project includes installing two silt dams - one in the campground arm and one in the upper arm - that will protect water quality and collect silt before it enters the lake. Dolan said it is necessary that these two dams are designed and ready to go in the spring.
The dam will be raised two feet, increasing the size of the lake to 303 acres. An additional 4,400 cubic yards of rock mounds and reefs will be installed for fish habitat. The shoreline will be protected in areas that staff could not reach with the lake filled. But the main part of the lake project and one of the most expensive is the removal of 300,000 cubic yards of sediment from the lake bed.
Other work includes creating deeper water near shore and installing a universally accessible fishing pier.
Dolan said the lake has been battling poor water quality since shortly after it was built. In fact, over the past 30 years, the lake water looked more like chocolate milk. "The lake was good for catfishing, but not much else," Dolan said.
Once the work is completed and the dam closed, the lake will be stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, red ear sunfish, channel catfish and black crappies.
Campground work to start in 2011
Plans for the Lake Darling campground include installing new water lines and building a shower house, increasing the electrical service to 50 amps, adding a number of sites offering water and sewer connections, leveling the camping pads, adding new fire rigs and installing a new dump station.
"We will lose a few campsites, but the upgrades will offer higher quality campsites over high quantity," said Tom Basten, state parks supervisor for southeast Iowa. "The lodge, beach shelter and new playground have been done for a few years. We will be installing a universally accessible fishing bridge connecting the two campgrounds, a new boat ramp just prior to entering the campground.
"Once we are done, this park will be a top draw for fishing and camping in southeast Iowa," Basten said.
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