IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
July 26, 2007
For immediate release
1. DNR invites Iowans to learn about Lake Darling restoration at
Aug. 8 meeting
DNR INVITES IOWANS TO LEARN ABOUT LAKE DARLING RESTORATION AT AUGUST 8
MEETING
MEDIA CONTACT: Don Kline, Lake Darling Fisheries Biologist, at (319)
694-2430 or Mike McGhee, DNR Lake Restoration, at (515) 281-6281.
BRIGHTON — Major changes are taking place at Lake Darling to improve
water quality, and the DNR is inviting Iowans to learn more at an Aug. 8
meeting.
Dr. John Downing from Iowa State University will explain the lake
assessment process, speak about watershed improvement and lake
restoration efforts, and discuss the next steps for improving Lake
Darling.
The DNR will hold the meeting at Brighton City Hall, located at 100 E.
Washington St. Appetizers will be served at 5 p.m. with presentations
beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Water quality in the lake has already seen a boost from the Lake
Darling Watershed Project, which works with landowners to install
conservation practices that keep pollutants from reaching the lake.
Since 2001, the project has reduced the amount of sediment reaching the
lake by about 3,500 tons per year. Put 3,500 tons of soil in dump
trucks, and you’d have a line of trucks more than a mile long.
The project continues to improve the land and the lake by further
reducing the amount of pollutants — such as sediment, bacteria and
nutrients — that reach the lake.
Building on these land-based efforts, lake restoration work in Lake
Darling will continue to improve the lake’s water quality.
“It’s critical that we have watershed projects in place first, and
the folks in the Lake Darling watershed are doing a great job,” said
Mike McGhee, the DNR lakes and rivers project coordinator.
“Restoration can be expensive, and we want to make sure that work
lasts. The work in the watershed is preventative maintenance, continuing
to keep the lake clean after restoration.”
The DNR and local partners will consider a number of restoration
options to improve water quality, including improving shoreline access,
lake dredging, protecting the shoreline from erosion and eliminating
rough fish, like carp.
For more information about the meeting, contact the Southeast District
Fisheries office at Lake Darling at (319) 694-2430.
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