Diamond Lake named one of “10 Waters to Watch”

April 28th, 2010, Author: admin, Categories: General Fishing

The National Fish Habitat Action Plan has unveiled the 2010 10 “Waters to Watch” list, a collection of rivers, streams, lakes and watershed systems that will benefit from strategic conservation efforts to protect, restore or enhance their current condition.

The 10 “Waters to Watch” are representative of freshwater to marine waters across the country including lakes and reservoirs that are improving through the conservation efforts of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan-a bold initiative to reverse persistent declines in aquatic habitat.

The Action Plan’s 10 “Waters to Watch” Initiative was first unveiled in 2007 through its Fish Habitat Partnerships. Since 2006, the Fish and Wildlife Service has provided $8.5 million to support 188 on-the-ground projects in 36 states, leveraging $20 million in partner match, to address the priorities of the Fish Habitat Partnerships, along with funding from several other State and Federal Agencies and NGO’s.

Diamond Lake, Iowa -(National Fish Habitat Partnership – Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership)

This project focuses on improving water quality by shifting the lake to a clear water state using water-level management to consolidate bottom sediments, re-establish aquatic plants, and control common carp populations. The restoration of Diamond Lake is Iowa’s inaugural shallow lake restoration project providing resource management professionals with experience and expertise for managing shallow lakes. The project also provides stakeholders a demonstration of the restoration potential for other shallow lakes.

The only other nearby lake named on the list was Lake Vermilion, in MN.

This restoration project, under the Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership, through the National Fish Habitat Action Plan involves Diamond Lake, a 166-acre shallow natural lake in northwest Iowa. Historical records indicate this lake once had a thriving and diverse aquatic plant community, clear water, and a healthy aquatic ecosystem. For the past 80-100 years, however, the lake has exhibited poor water quality, excessive blue-green algal growth, and extremely limited fisheries and wildlife habitat.

During winter 2006-07, the initial efforts to enhance this 166-acre basin were completed with the installation of a drawdown tile designed to allow the lake to be periodically dewatered to eliminate rough fish and to allow for the germination of aquatic plants and consolidation of bottom sediments. A winter rotenone project in January 2008 eliminated the few remaining rough fish in the lake. Excessive rain in late summer 2007 prevented a successful drawdown. However, a successful drawdown was realized in summer 2008 through the continuous use of the drawdown tile and the temporary use of an auxiliary diesel pump, which was purchased with Lake Restoration funds. The outlet of the lake was also lowered about one-half of a foot to a more natural elevation, which will prevent excessive shoreline erosion, tree toppling and should provide for water levels more conducive to aquatic plant growth. Despite a cool spring, re-growth of vegetation did well over the summer.

A “reef” fish barrier was installed during winter 2008-09 to prevent the re-infestation of rough fish into Diamond Lake. The barrier is best described as a flow-through rock weir. At present, the lake contains exceptionally clear water and has diversified stands of emergent vegetation on the lake’s perimeter and sub-mergent vegetation within the lake. Migratory bird use has been excellent with several thousand shore birds and waterfowl observed on the lake during early fall 2009. Fingerling yellow perch were stocked spring 2009 and northern pike will be stocked in 2010.

This is the Diamond Lake in Northern Iowa, off Hwy 86 , not the Diamond Lake near Montezuma, off HWY 63 near Lake Ponderosa.