Danville, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will start another phase of work at Geode State Park to improve water quality at Lake Geode and enhance accessibility and recreational opportunities in the park.
Lake restoration construction work at Lake Geode started in January 2018. About 80,000 cubic yards of sediment has been removed from the lake. Planned work will remove an additional 112,000 cubic yards of sediment, stabilize the eroded shoreline, build fishing jetties, and add fish habitat structures. Local angling groups will help place additional fish habitat features in the lake bottom. The DNR will replace the existing lake drain valve and complete maintenance work on the concrete spillway. Construction work is expected to be finished in the spring of 2020. Final efforts to stabilize the shoreline will be done via barge after the lake refills.
Campground improvements, started in March 2018, are expected to be completed this summer. Improvements include a new shower building, pit toilet, and dump station, and 14 campsites with full utility hook-ups and 52 campsites with electrical hook-ups.
Lake Geode is one of the lakes in the state selected for lake restoration work designed to improve water quality, habitat, and provide a positive economic return to the community. Poor water quality has impacted the fish population and affected all water based recreation at the lake. Implementation of water quality improvement practices in the watershed is currently underway.