Lake Meyer project is finished

Several projects aimed at improving Lake Meyer have now been completed.

The work included building a wetland with a grouted rock chute spillway in the headwaters of the lake on the northeastern shore, a project that was funded with Watershed Improvement Review Board and Fish Habitat funds. Fish habitat structures were also added throughout the lake with the assistance of Iowa DNR Fisheries.

In addition to building the wetland and installing habitat structures, several small fractures in the lake's limestone shoreline were sealed with bentonite, a type of clay.  The work was done because several small sinkhole-like springs in the southern shore near the dam were discovered.  County Conservation Director Barb Schroeder says the construction project required dropping the level of the lake by 9 feet, but the lake has begun rising with the recent rainfall.  Although the dam was never in danger of failure, officials took the opportunity while the water level was lowered to plug those holes with bentonite to help prevent future seepage.

County supervisors had appropriated $50,000 towards sealing the sinkholes, but only slightly under $18,000 of that amount was spent on the repairs.  The County Conservation Department will use the $32,000 in remaining funds towards the Neste Valley Recreational Area purchase.