McFarland Lake Restoration Update:

Ryan Wiemold, Parks Superintendent

Various Parks

• Prescribed burns at several locations

Work has been slow but steady as weather dictates this project’s progress. The contractor has been busy shaping the spoil site (northwest of the lake in prairie area) and the lake outlet area (on the backside of previous dam). The lake’s dam was notched in early December, in preparation for the new outlet structure to be installed. This new outlet structure will allow IDNR/ SCC the ability to fully drawdown the lake in the future when the need arises.

In early February, the contractor began mechanically excavating spoils, or sediment, from the lake bottom. Each truck hauls up to 22 cubic yards of sediment, with two to three trucks working at a time and making around 100 trips per day! With that math, excavation of dredge material would take about three weeks total–weather and circumstances-permitting. As of the printing of this newsletter, however, crews still have not been able to wrap up with dredging due to moisture levels.

Nutrient-dense sediment excavated from the lake’s bottom is being deposited at spoil sites northeast of the lake near Interstate 35, where it will later be turned into reconstructed prairie.

Once the lake is excavated, the inlake fish habitat improvements can begin. Forebay excavation, shoreline stabilization, and the outlet structure installation are the major future items to be completed.

In the meantime, the lake and surrounding Touch-A-Life Trail remain closed. Sadly no fishing will take place this summer in McFarland Lake.

Make sure to follow Story County Conservation on Facebook for project updates moving forward.

While McFarland Lake is closed...

Consider Tedesco Environmental Learning Corridor (TELC) or Ada Hayden Heritage Park for accessible, paved trails. Visit Dakins Lake (Zearing) or Hickory Grove Lake (Colo) for other great fishing opportunities this season!